Ferret Care

Fun Facts

• A young ferret is called a kit.
• A group of ferrets is called a business.
• The Black-Footed Ferret, a distant cousin of domestic ferret, is the most endangered mammal in North America.
• Ferrets are not allowed to be kept as pets in California and Hawaii. Some other states and cities have restrictions on ferrets too.

Breeds
Ferrets were Domesticated at least 2,500 years ago.  Ferrets can be many different colors.  Most are light brown with dark brown legs, tail and mask.  Local shelters have many wonderful ferrets waiting for adoption.  If you are thinking of bringing a Companion animal into your family, read Who is the Best Pet For You?

Lifespan
Ferrets usually live 8 to 11 years.  Responsible care and regular veterinary visits will help ferrets live long and happy lives.

Identification
A ferret can't ask for help back home if he gets out of the house alone or is lost. That is why it's so important for ferrets to have identification.  A ferret's head is smaller than his neck so he can't wear a collar with ID tags. Your ferret should be microchipped instead.  A pet Microchip is a tiny chip about the same size as a grain of rice.  Each chip has a different code that is linked to all the information about the animal's family. This information can be read by a special scanner.  If an animal gets lost, shelters and veterinarians can scan the chip, read the code number and contact the animal's family.

Spay & Neuter
Spay and neuter are the names of simple surgeries that prevent ferrets from having babies. Spay is the surgery for girls and neuter is the surgery for boys. Ferrets are put under anesthesia so they don't feel any pain, just like people are during surgery. Most ferrets are spayed or neutered before being sold in pet stores or adopted from shelters.

Spaying and Neutering has many benefits.  It reduces the risk of some types of infection and cancer.  It helps reduce companion animal overpopulation.  It also helps with Behavior issues.  Animals who have been spayed or neutered are also less likely to bite people.

Food
Just like you, ferrets need good food to grow and stay healthy.  Ferrets are carnivores or meat eaters.  They need a food that is high in protein and fat.  High quality foods specially designed for ferrets can be found at pet supply stores.

Do not give the following foods to ferrets:

• Fruits and vegetables. Ferrets cannot digest these foods very well. Hard foods like carrots can get stuck in their intestines.
• Cat food. Most brands of cat food do not have enough fat and protein for ferrets. Their eating it can lead to health problems.
• Dog food. Dog food does not have enough meat protein either for ferrets. Their eating it can lead to health problems.
• Milk and cheese. These foods are hard for ferrets to digest and cause stomach upsets.

Water
Ferrets need to drink water frequently.  They should have a water bottle and a heavy water dish that cannot be tipped over.

Shelter
Ferrets should live inside your house where they have an enclosure of their own and can also socialize with their human family.  The enclosure should be as big as possible and at least four times bigger than your ferret.  The floor of the enclosure should be solid. Wire-bottom or slatted floor cages are painful for ferrets to stand on and can cause injury if their feet get caught. 

Inside the enclosure should be a litter box, water, food, bedding and toys.  Ferrets love to nap in hammocks and shelves, too.  Ferrets are good escape artists, so make sure the cage door has a lock or other secure fastener. 

Play & Exercise
One of the most important things you can do to care for your ferret is play with her everyday.  Always remember to play gently and not scare the ferret. Most ferrets like to keep their feet on the ground.  If your ferret likes to be picked up, then remember to hold her gently and place all four of her PAWS back on the ground when she is done being held.

Ferrets are very playful and curious.  They are also very social.  They can get bored when left alone in their enclosures for too long. Therefore, ferrets need at least three hours of play and exercise outside of their enclosures each day.  Before letting a ferret out of her enclosure, the room should be ferret-safe.  Ferrets can squeeze through tiny spaces, and are not only curious, but are very good climbers. Keep electrical wires and other dangerous items far out of reach.  Ferrets can also become very sick if they eat even the smallest piece of plastic or garbage so make sure her area is kept clean.  To keep them from making a mess when they are playing around the house, you can litter box train your ferret. Litter boxes should be placed in corners of a room, as that is where they prefer to go.

Be creative when setting up your ferrets play area. Your ferret will enjoy playing with and exploring just about anything. One very fun and easy toy you can make is a puzzle box. You can make one of these by using a large plastic storage box and filling it with puzzle pieces. Ferrets love to roll around and dig in puzzle boxes.  Just make sure your ferret cannot easily swallow the pieces. Ferrets also enjoy tunnels, stuffed animals, and toys that make noise.

Grooming & Cleaning
Ferrets naturally have a musky odor.  Regular bathing will help keep this smell from getting too strong.  Some ferrets liked to be bathed, but many do not, so always be gentle and get help from your family when bathing a ferret.  Brushing your ferret will help him look his best and help him avoid hairballs.  Your ferret also needs help keeping his nails trimmed and teeth clean.  

Your ferret's litter box and enclosure should also be cleaned daily.

Health
Ferrets are more likely than other companion animals to develop very serious illnesses during their lifetime.  These illnesses are also very expensive to treat.  For this reason many people who have ferrets start saving money to pay for Veterinarian visits and medicine, even if their ferret is healthy.

Ferrets should get a check-up from their veterinarian at least once a year. Ferrets also require vaccinations so stay healthy. If your ferret is acting unusual or you think he may have eaten something dangerous, have your parent or guardian call the veterinarian right away.

If you know a ferret that is being treated badly or hurt, he needs your help.  Visit the Report Animal Abuse page to learn how to help him.

Household Hazards
Many common things found in your house can be very dangerous to ferrets.  For example, household cleaners, slug bait and antifreeze are all poisonous to ferrets.  Ferrets can choke or get an upset stomach from chewing on, or eating these things: decorations, string, electric cords, plastic, rocks and sticks.

Behavior
Understanding your ferret will make her a happier, more fun companion.  You can learn all about ferret behavior by quietly observing them and reading books about them.

Want to know more?
More information about responsible companion animal care can be found on the PAWS main website.