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Care of Ferrets
Ferrets were first tamed by the Ancient Egyptians for food and clothing. Today, they are playful weasel-like companions that depend on us for love! This category contains questions about ferret health, history, and needs.
1,047 Questions
What kind of litter can you use for a ferret?
When choosing a litter for your ferret, It is recommended to use litter made specifically for ferrets. == == It is best not to use cat litter for ferrets. The dust from the litter can cause respiratory illness. Instead use Marshalls ferret litter, or Yesterdays News litter. Some ferrets may ingest the cat litter causing bowel binding. If you have no choice but to use cat litter, try to get 99% dust free litter. Do not use clumping litter
Avoid Corn cob litter. It can add to respiratory problems due to dust, and some ferrets ingest the corn cob pellets and get intestinal blockages. Corncob bedding is not recommended as it harbors mold, is not digestible and can be a source of intestinal impaction if swallowed. Corncob litter and plain newspaper are not very absorbent and therefore will not absorb odor well either. Avoid clumping kitty litters and clay, as these may become stuck in a scooting ferret's rectum and expand, potentially blocking it up, and if they accidentally ingest any it will cause blockage in the stomach AVOID cedar; it has volatile oils that can cause lung damage. Pine is a problem for those ferrets who are allergic to it or those who drag in it too much, but otherwise the beads made from pine sawdust are alright. Litters made from things like recycled newspapers or recycled cardboard are among the ones that are safe. They can, but some litter that is clay based and has dust should be avoided. So, your typical cat litter should be avoided, but some of the alternative ones that are so easy to find these days, such as the wood based, recycled newspaper are fine. You can also use litter made just for ferrets or wood stove pellets (a large bag can run $4 or so at Lowes, but they're usually a seasonal item) Is it true that clumping kitty litter is bad for your ferret? Do not use clumping kitty litter for ferrets, it is a potential hazard that could lead to a painful death. Ferrets scoot after using the litter box, and could cause the litter to enter the rectum, where it can expand and cause blockage. Also if a ferret accidentally ingests clumping litter, it will also expand is the stomach and cause blockage.
Litter made for ferrets or cheap kitty litter (like clay). Avoid litters that clump or made of cedars or pines.
It really depends on how well you've trained your ferret. I train mine twice daily and give them pre and post workout supplements. Mine can easily kill small dogs and once killed a 1 year old pit bull mix. However, I have a friend who is very lax with his ferrets. They could not even kill a mouse when placed in a box with the mouse.
How many times do you feed ferrets?
a ferret should be fed up to about 1 to 2 times a week or depending on size 1 to 5 times a week. if it weighs more than 7lbs then feed it 1 to 5 times. if less then 1 to 2. ferrets can be an aggressive but if in the hands of an expert or have been told how to handle the ferret it can be better behaved than usual. remember to stop mucking about and feed the ferret when it needs fed. if you don't feed it then give it to a farm or something before it turns on you. if you do not hear it making a sound for more than a week,then take it to a local vet.
Do ferrets turn white in the winter?
Squirrels basically sleep all through the cold winter. Right before they hibernate, they store food that way the can get up every now and then and eat and won't have to go out in the cold to look for food. After winter is over, they mate, have kids, look after the kids, search for food again, and then hibernate all over again.
How often should you bath your ferret?
There should be no reason to bathe a ferret as they usually clean themselves.
If you do bathe your ferret more that once a month??? It strips the oils from their skin and they will produce more oils to compensate and start smelling more that usual.
How does a cheetah keep itself cool in the summer?
A cheetah pants like a dog to keep itself cool in the summer. This action causes perspiration through the animal's large tongue. It does not sweat through its skin.
Can you bathe your ferret with joy dish soap?
Noooo, I would not suggest bathing an animal with Dawn dish soap. Dawn is a very through de-greaser, and as such, would removed the protective oils from the ferret's underfur and skin. That would cause the ferret harm. Also, it could cause damage to the ferret's eyes if it got in them.
Either buy a pet shampoo from the grocery store or pet store, or use baby shampoo. Mix the shampoo with some water to make it flow over the ferret's coat more easily.
Do baby pet ferrets like to hug you?
Yes, if you train them to. Basically, just make sure at some times that it doesn't get all playful and try to keep a calm, mellow environment, and it'll learn the difference between playtime and nap time. Some ferrets don't like to snuggle, they're not like cats. They don't like to be restrained and will usually struggle to get put down, or they want to play. One way to calm them down, is to scruff them so they will hold still, and do this until they quit struggling, and they might learn to be calm when you're holding them. I have a step stool next to the bed, my ferret will climb up sometimes to sleep (or to play).
Is it safe for ferrets to roll around in rice?
A ferrets favorite activity is a dig box - a container filled with long grain rice (DO NOT USE instant rice). Other alternatives can be - potting soil, play sand, dried beans, ping pong balls, or pebbles can also be used to satisfy your ferrets digging behavoir.
Ferrets that are properly socialized do not hide at all, they seek out human attention. Ferrets like to sleep in dark secluded places due to their burrowing instinct. An abused ferret would hide fearing humans.
Not per se. Echo location requires the animal to emit high frequency sounds then tracking targets by the reflection of that sound. Dogs do not emit high frequency sounds, but do have acutely sensitive hearing, and are able to track by distinguishing the direction from which sound originates.
Can you have ferrets in Arizona?
Ferrets are not illegal in the state of Arizona in general, but they may be illegal in certain counties or cities. Call your local animal shelter to find out if they are any local ordinances prohibiting ferret ownership in your town.
How much money do you spend on a ferret in a year?
Cost of a ferret can vary from place to place, depending on where you live. For stores and breeders usually in the $75-$250 range, typically around $100. Plan on $150-$400 for a cage and supplies, plus around $75 for the first vaccinations.
When purchasing a pet ferret, it's not the cost of obtaining one, there is more to it than the animal itself. The financial responsibility can be costly to ensure the health of a ferret. Ferrets need to be provided with a good quality ferret food, necessary vaccinations, and annual veterinarian visits for well care. You need to commit to being a responsible ferret owner by providing a loving, safe environment and provide necessary proper care. Are you aware of what is necessary to keep a ferret happy and healthy? Do you have a sufficient large cage suitable for ferrets? What about vaccinations? When you buy a ferret, they have had only one distemper vaccination and will need 3 more distemper vaccinations that are required at 9, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Rabies Vaccinations are required between 13 - 16 weeks from an exotic animal veterinarian. Do you have the money for four separate veterinarian visits?
Recommended supplies
Large, multi-tiered cage - habitat should also include a hammock, tube, litter box, and toys, high quality ferret food, water bottle, book about ferrets, bedding, soft brush, collar harness and leash, litter box/litter, ferret shampoo, nail clippers/kwik stop, ear-cleaning solution, hairball preventative.
The initial cost of supplies can total upwards of $500. You will need to plan to buy supplies on a monthly basis throughout the rest of the ferret's life. You can expect to spend up to $200 on food a year, $200 on litter, $70 to $80 on treats and toys, and more money on other supplies. Veterinary costs vary widely, but you can expect to spend anywhere from around $100 for necessary vaccinations, if there are no health issues. Even when your ferret is healthy, veterinary care can cost you $250 to $500 a year. Ferrets are prone to illness and disease if not properly taken care of and also most ferrets are from Marshall Farms (pet stores) are also prone to illness from improper breeding (inbreeding and genetics) and early neutering, therefore it is suggested to set aside an "emergency fund" of about $800 for veterinarian care. Ferrets can come down with an illness or disease, even within the first year. Anytime a ferret has an illness or disease it is not usually recognized in early stages, because they tend to hide their pain and illness. Usually by the time any illness is noticed, they can easily die within a few days if they don't receive immediate or emergency medical care. If you ferret starts acting different from their usual behavoir, suspect illness. Contact a veterinarian as illness in ferrets can progress rapidly with a possibility of death in a matter of days. Ferrets are not like cats and dogs that you can "wait and see illness" if they will be okay.
Many ferrets have died or have been relinquished to shelters, because the owner was unable to provide necessary medical care.
Please consider adopting a ferret before buying, there are way too many in shelters that need to have a forever home. Costs to adopt a ferret - It depends on the area you live in. You can go to petfinder.com and locate shelters for ferrets in your area. In my area, the local ferret shelter wants $100 for ferrets age one year and under. Older ferrets are $65.00 and $45.00. All ferrets that are adopted out are microchipped, Up to date shots, and declared healthy by a veterinarian unless otherwise stated
First, you must be sure that ferrets are legal where you live. Please note that ferrets are still illegal to own in California. They can be confiscated as wild animals. For more information you may want to contact a group in California called "Ferrets Anonymous".
Advice from other contributors:
- Re-homing may be free. They are not always free as people may charge a fee to make sure that they go to a good home. From a private breeder: Maybe $125 to $400 depending on the color or if the ferret is from championship bloodlines. Add on additional prices for extra procedures (neuter/spay; first vet wellness visit; shots and boosters). About $100 to $500 pending on the veterinarian's prices.
- The price of ferrets vary depending from where you obtain one either from an individual, adopt from a shelter, or buy from a pet store. You can check Craigslists.org under pets in your city, Petfinder.com for adoptable pets, or phone directory under Pet Stores.
- At pet stores, ferrets can cost $125 and more. I would recommend looking up ferret shelters where the adoption fees might (would) be lower. In addition to obtaining the ferret, you need to consider: a LARGE cage, water bottle, food dishes, toys, sleeping hammock, litter/litter box, and food. Also, they love to play with other ferrets.
- Having ferrets myself, I know that the cost of a ferret can differ depending on which country you are in. I live in England and each of my ferrets cost £5 each. In America, ferrets can range from $75-$250 but are generally about $100.
- I got my one of my ferrets at Petco. At Petco they cost about $129.95
- I bought my ferret for $139.00 locally. It included his first shots. He was descented (supposedly) and fixed. He also had a identifying tattoo on his ear. All others are correct. Remember the other costs involved and remember that ferrets are EXTREMELY smart and curious animals. Its like having a 2 year old 24/7. I know that is more information than needed, but when you love ferrets you just can't stop talking about them. Good luck!
- Ferrets in a pet store should already be descented . Most pets stores will not provide any shots and the animal it's self will cost you at least $150. It's cage plus food, litter and all the needed items will cost around $400 depending on the cage you get. Vaccinations about $150. If you go to your local shelter the adoption fee will be less and they usually come with vaccinations, health care and sometimes a microchip (some even have used cages for sale too)
- Depends on where you live... Where I live, they are about 150-200 dollars..
- The price of a ferret varies depending on where you are, how old they are, and whether they are vaccinated/neutered. In the UK young kits can cost anywhere between £5 and £50, though usually no more than £20. I have found that ferrets in the UK are usually cheaper than elsewhere, such as in America or Australia, where you may have to pay over $100 to adopt, or perhaps more for a young kit straight from a breeder. If money is an issue, look into ferret adoptions in your area and see what they charge (most SPCA's have ferrets if they are legal).
- in the UK the average price for a ferret is around £10! not exactly breaking the bank! but this can fluctuate due to the demand etc
It varies quite a lot depending on what country you live in and whether you buy from a pet store or a private breeder. A ferret from a pet store will usually cost between $100 - $150 (US Dollars), where as they can cost up to $250. Whilst buying from a breeder is more expensive it does have some advantages such as being able to see the parents of the ferret you are getting and seeing what conditions the kit was kept in.
The cheapest way to get a pet ferret is to rescue one from a local animal rescue center. Some look for a donation as small as $50 - $60. To find out, contact you local center and see if they have any. Check their adoption policies and costs. The ferrets are usually a bit older but older ferrets make great first time ferrets as they are slightly calmer than kits. Make sure to ask where the ferret was found, was it abused and has it any issues. A traumatized ferret can be helped and turned into an amazing pet providing the owner is patient and knows what to do. A traumatized ferret is not a good first time ferret as they may be harder to handle and may bite depending on the level of their trauma.
Ferrets cost about $150 in pet stores in the U.S., you can adopt a ferret from a shelter or a previous owner for $75 or even for free.
But ferrets are expensive to keep. Good food, health check-ups, toys and etc. will cost at least $1500 a year.
Do male ferrets have to have a male ferret to have babies?
Some jills are extremely tolerant mothers, while others will not accept another Jill in the same cage during the birth process. It would be best to separate them into separate cages about seven to ten days before the litter is due. This will give her time to nest, to feel comfortable and secure.
After birth, depending on the Jill's individual personality, once the kits are eating solids and self-sufficient, you may be able to mix families. But there maybe some jills that will not be able to tolerate each other; these must be kept separately.
You can keep pregnant ferrets together up until a week prior to birth. Most pregnant ferrets need to be in solitude a week prior to birth for preparation of her nest in a dark quiet secure area.
How do you convince your mom to buy a ferret?
tell her that Chinchillas have no oder, and they are very good-natured. (dont mention that they need a dustbath) also, show her a picture off of google images or somthing of a baby chinchilla. they are just TOOOO cute to pass up.
Thats how i got mine(:
There are a few different reasons why your rabbit might lose her fur:
First Answer: If your rabbit is losing fur and you can't seem to find where it is then she is just pulling out her extra fur from winter don't worry about that it's normal. However if she is putting her fur in holes and small corners that means usually that she is having a baby/babies. If you want to know any more signs then check her stomach for any small bumps that is another sign. Remember if she isn't putting it in corners or in holes then she is just getting rid of extra fur.
Second Answer: More than likely if she is just 'losing' fur she is moulting. Or she could have fur mites, but if she has been with a buck she is probably pregnant and making (or trying to make) a nest.
To summarise, your rabbit might be:
- Moulting or losing her winter fur
- Pregnant (if she's female)
- Fur mites or other parasites or skin problems
Other reasons could be:
- Stress, boredom, or illness
- False Pregnancy (if she's female)
About moulting: If your rabbit is moulting you should brush her. When rabbits eat too much fur, they can get sick. (Rabbits can't vomit fur balls like cats can, so it can get stuck in their digestive tract.)
About stress and boredom: Stress and boredom lead to low-quality of life and even illness in rabbits. You should do what you can to minimise stress in your rabbit's life. See the related question below for details and helpful links.
About parasites: If your rabbit has parasites or other skin problems it needs to see the vet with experience and knowledge in rabbits. Some cat/dog treatments are toxic for rabbits, so you can't just pick something off the shelf.
About false pregnancy: These are stressful for rabbits. If you aren't actively breeding your rabbit, you should spay her. This is only one among many good reasons to spay/neuter rabbits.
See the related questions and links below for more information about all of the above conditions!
Ferret natural instincts in the wild spend most of their time in dens underground to avoid predation. Ferrets spend 15 to 18 hours a day sleeping depending on their age. Baby kits and older ferrets sleep more. They are naturally crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dusk and dawn. Ferrets sleep more than most animals, but when awake they are very hyper, and will want to be of their the cage ready to play and explore. The older a ferret is, the longer they will sleep.
Some ferrets will sleep more out of boredom, if they are not properly stimulated. They need more time out of their cage and more playtime.
What do ferrets feet look like?
It depends some times ferret bites look like a cat bite but sometimes it could be worse or not as bad. Usally the that bites soft are the baby ferrets but if a ferret has been abused, neglected, or trained of hunting those are usally the bad or cat-like bites
Will a ferret kill a guinea pig?
You better not put ferrets and guinea pigs together, since ferrets are natural predators and have a hunting and killing instinct when it comes to rodents. It's very likely for a ferret to kill a guinea pig since it reminds him of mice and other rodents wild ferrets hunt. Ferrets are able to kill chickens, so better not try to wait and see what happens if you put your ferret with a guinea pig.
What pet is similar to a ferret?
Technically the European polecat ferret is the wild version of a domestic ferret and has been for years and years ... they are slightly bigger but similar to a ferret. weasels mink otters and ermine belong to the same family - those are only a few examples though. research for the family on the net and they are all similar to a ferret. most are small animals!
Can a domestic ferret survive in the wilderness?
A ferret cannot survive in the wilderness even though people still put them out. A domestic ferret is dependent on humans for food and has lost any and all ability to survive in the wild. A ferret on it's own will die in about three days.
You would need to find a warren (asking permission from the landowner and making sure the warren has no foxes, badgers, stoats, traps or poison gas in it). Then all the exits should be covered with purpose-made purse nets. The ferret can then be introduced to the hole (it should be wearing a good quality ferret tracking device, switched on(!!) of course). Then wait, very quickly, rabbits will bolt from the holes and get caught in the nets, where you should humanely dispatch them. Using the tracking device, track the ferret regularly, if it is sat still for any amount of time, it is likely to have made a kill, this is undesirable, the ferret should then be dug up (a good tracker will tell you how deep the ferret is), along with the rabbit is has caught, which may or may not need to be dispatched, as some ferrets are too small to kill a rabbit itself.
What is the domain for domestic ferrets?
Domestic ferret scientific information
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: Mustela
Species: putorious furo
What is the correct way to pick up a ferret?
NO, you cannot pick a ferret up by the tail, or any animal by that matter. In some animals the skin will slip off the tail if picked up that way.
How do you know if a ferret has adrenal disease?
Adrenal disease is a disease resulting from the growth of a tumor on the ferrets adrenal glands (which are located near the kidneys). The tumor causes the glands to produce extra hormones which causes a variety of symptoms and problems. Common symptoms include loss of hair, swollen vulva in females and aggression in males. Vets will diagnose adrenal disease by carrying out a variety of tests which will usually include an X-ray and blood tests. Once the diagnosis is confirmed there are a variety of ways to treat the illness. The most common and effective way is surgery to remove the effected gland. If your ferret is not suitable for surgery (usually due to age or other illnesses) adrenal disease can be treated with drugs.
