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

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.

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