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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
Since ferrets are a member of the mustelid family, the commonly have a bit of a musky odor about them. A well maintained ferrets odor will not be noticable unless you are holding them
Factors that play into ferret odor:
-The litter is not being scooped often enough. For the most part, it is the poo, not the ferret, that smells. Litter boxes should be scooped at least once daily and washed/disinfected weekly.
-The bedding is dirty. You wouldn't want to sleep in the same bedsheets for months at a time. They would get pretty stinky! The same goes for ferret bedding. All hammmocks, beds, etc. should be washed in a hypoallergenic detergent weekly. Don't forget to give the cage a scrubdown too!
-The ferret is being bathed to often. Sounds counterintuitive doesn't it? Ferrets are fairly clean animals and can groom themselves. They should not be bathed more than once or twice a year, unless they get really mucky. Bathing too often dries the skin out and causes the skin oil glands to overcompensate.These oil glands are the causes of the musky scent (Not the anal glands, as most people think)
-The ferret is being fed a low quality diet. Ferrets are obligate carnivores, meaning that they can only digest meat. They cannot digest fruits, vegetables, grains, carbs, sugars, and milk. Feeding these items can make the skin oilier. hence smellier. Of course it is impossible to find a commercial kibble without some vegetables since they need a binder, but try to find something that is high in meat protein. At least 4 of the first 6 ingredients should be meat. Ideally, a kibble should be grain free.
What are the top guard hairs on a ferret?
These are long longer, wirey hairs of the outer coat. Usually, they are darker in color compared to the softer, finer undercoat.
Do ferrets get a cold and how do would you treat a cold for ferrets?
ferrets do not get colds, however they can catch influenza virus (flu)
How many degrees can a ferret be in?
If you mean the climate a ferret can live in - they cannot be in temperatures over 85 degrees Fahrenheit, over that and they will go into heatstroke. Ideal temperature for a ferret is about 70 degrees.
Do ferrets have a predatory stance that they take with animals they don't trust?
Ferrets are usually not afraid of other animals and are easily preyed upon.
In a ferret cage. You can buy them at pet stores and a starter kit to help you out. Hope that helps!
Can you stop the smell from ferrets?
A properly cared for ferret should not smell any more than a dog or a cat. Here are some tips:
-Scoop the litterbox daily
-Clean up any accidents daily using an enzymatic cleaner such as Natures Miracle
-Wash all hammocks and beds weekly in hypoallergenic detergent
-Do not use disposible bedding (Carefresh) in the cage. It tends to hold odor and most ferrets confuse it as part of the litterbox
-Do not overbathe your ferret. Ferrets should only be bathed 1-2 times a year
-Feed a good diet. Ferrets are obligate carnivores and can only digest meat. A raw meat diet is best for ferrets. The Holistic Ferret Forum is an excellent resource for feeding raw. Kibble is a more convienient option. Choose a kibble with at least 35% protein, 20% fat, and less than 3% fiber.
At least 4 of the first 6 ingredients should be meat.
The MoreDooks food chart is an excellent resource that compares kibbles
Are Ferrets born in an embryonic sac?
Yes, ferrets are born emerging from an embryonic sac referred to as the water bag or the chorio-allantois.
What kind of ferret is a mitt?
A domestic ferret, there all the same species, just different coloring and fur patterns. The pattern is mitt, different coloring on the feet.
How do you know if your ferret has fleas?
You can see fleas. Just check his skin by brushing his fur back & forth. They are always down deep.
You can use a flea comb to check for fleas, also dark specks on their bedding is usually from fleas
They can catch ear mites.
I agree with the above answer, they can also suffer with fleas.
Ear mites are the most common ear problem in ferrets. Luckily they are easy to spot and treat. Chances are your ferret got them from another pet. Normally, ferrets produce a reddish-brown earwax. If the wax is almost black, and there's lots of it, ferret ear mites are most likely the cause. To be absolutely sure, you will need to have it checked out by a vet though. They will examine the ear wax under a microscope where they can actually see the tiny insects crawling around.
Yep...they act really weird and I felt like a terrible Ferret dad after keeping it on overnight.
It's also annoying for Fish - noticed this when my fish started swimming tilted and refused to eat.
Can you use febreze on a ferrets bedding?
Febreze or any other fabric freshener it not recommended on your ferrets bedding, it could cause respiratory problems
Are ferrets aggressive during mating?
Ferrets are not aggressive at all. It's the humans that abuses the animals.
When ferrets are babies, they explore everything with their mouth as any animal does , and if they tend to nip a little to hard, you train them as well. Frequent handling and socialization with humans is necessary, otherwise they will bite out of fear, just like any animal. Ferrets are not caged animals, you cage them for their protection, leaving them caged all the time, and improper handling could lead to aggression and fear biting. Ferrets have been used for centuries to hunt rodents, rabbits and rats, and can be aggressive towards these type of animals, it's a natural instinct. Mine aren't to bad. I suppose that it is a personality thing with them. My first one love to bite me when playing, but the 2 I have now just nip. Think of them as puppies that will never grow up. They LOVE to play, and don't always understand that you are not a chew toy!
What is an intact ferret called?
An intact male ferret is called a hob.
An unspayed female is called a jill.
A neutered male is a gib.
A spayed female is a sprite.
The Black-Footed Ferret which lives in the wild in North America is endangered, however, no domestic Ferrets are endangered
The domestic ferret, Mustela putorius furo, is not an endangered species. The Black-footed Ferret endemic to the Great Plains of the United States is extremely endangered. In the 1980s there where only eighteen of these ferrets left before conservation groups began breeding programs to reestablish the population. The European Mink, a relative to the ferret, is also considered endangered.
Domesticated ferret is not endangered.
Black-footed ferret is an endangered species.
Is there a picture of the worlds largest ferret?
You need to write to the Guinness book of world records and recommend an entry for Ferrets
I am sorry to say but i have not found a photo of the official worlds largest ferret.If anybody finds one please tell me cause i am very interested.Thanks =]
What are the shots called that your ferret has already gotten if you purchase it from a pet store?
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. Ferrets should never have more than one vaccination administer to avoid reactions.
Can dachshunds live with ferrets?
Any dog that has been bred for hunting has the potential to view small mammals as prey
- If you did there would likely be an initial awkward period as the two are instinctively inclined to be enemies. However in time they would probably be able to get used to each other and even be friends. This is not a certainty however.
- That would depend on the dog, maybe if the dog grew up around other animals. The dachshund is bred for hunting rabbits/hares, so it could possibly start to hunt the ferret. I would keep their time together supervised.
How do you convince your parents to get you a ferret when you have one crazy cat and one calm cat?
Show your parents that you're responsible, by doing all of your homework right when you get home, instead of watching TV or something. Also, have them come over to your computer and read the following (if you're not allowed on the computer on this site or something, just tell them this): (I hope this works -- Good Luck!)
Ferrets almost always get along well with other animals. With two cats, it might take a couple of hours or so, but they will eventually get along well with ferrets. Ferrets are one of the most easiest pets to wash, because you can wash it AT MAXIMUM two times a year. You might need to Ferret-proof your room (look on internet for answers to that if you don't know). You must play with it at least one hour a day. I hope that this helped.
Are there such things as odorless ferrets?
No not that i no on any way but if you clean there cage often there shouldn't be that big of a smell, ferrets are like rats they clean them selves at least 5 times a day .
Can a ferret eat lettuce if you run out of ferret food?
No. Ferrets are obligate carnivores meaning that they can only eat meat or meat based foods. Their body is unable to digest fruit, vegetables, dairy or grains and feeding these to the ferret can cause it to become unwell. If you run out of ferret food maybe try giving the ferret some raw meat or an egg.
Why does skin become dry during the winter?
Winter is rough enough with the snow and the sleet and the hacking away at ice-encrusted windshields in the dark, frigid mornings. But that dray, chapped, cracked skin just adds insult to injury… or is it injury to insult? Because the relative humidity - moisture in the air - gets so low in the cold season, winter weather dries out our skin. And there's not much relief to be found inside - indoor heating also lowers humidity, depriving the skin of moisture. In the cold weather, many of us develop something commonly called "winter itch" or xerotic eczema - dry, itchy, flaky skin. To help cope, dermatologists have three words for you: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Apply moisturizers to your skin right after you get out of the bath or shower. And don't bathe or shower too frequently. Exposure to hot water can actually further dehydrate your skin, and detergent-based soaps and cleansers can remove the skin's natural moisturizers. Also, you might want to consider purchasing a humidifier. And, if all else fails, you can always just pack up and move to Maui.
What is the difference between a black-footed ferret and a domestic ferret?
The difference between a black-footed ferret and a pet ferret is that Black-footed ferrets are the only ferret species native to North America and are a different species than ferrets kept as pets, which are from the European Polecat Ferret. The two ferrets are related along with the Siberian polecat ferret which lives in northern China and Mongolia. Black-footed ferrets physically differ from pet ferrets mostly in their fur. Black-footed ferrets always black feet, face mask and tail tip with a creamy/buff colored body. The fur on a black-footed ferret is shorter than that of pet ferrets, thus they look less fuzzy.
