Ferrets are curious, playful, and often very mischievous. They each have distinctly individual personalities and make great pets. However, they are not for everyone, so do your own research before bringing one (or two or three) home.

Ferrets are members of the family Mustelidae. They are related to minks, polecats, weasels, and otters. There is a misconception that they are rodents such as rats and mice. Not so! Ferrets are not a “new” animal. In fact, they have been domesticated for more than 2,000 years. For most of this time they were considered “working” animals and were used for hunting and ratting. Now they are kept primarily as house pets, in fact, it is illegal to use them for hunting in the United States, although some Europeans still do so. The ferret we know cannot exist on it’s own and should never be turned loose because it will not survive more than a few days. They are totally dependent upon their human companions for survival.

The normal life span of a ferret is currently 6-10 years (although a few have lived as long as 12-13 yrs.) This means that when choosing a ferret you must not only consider your lifestyle as it is now, but as it will be several years from now. In addition, ferrets need personal attention, including playtime, from their human companions daily. Ferrets need freedom and should not be caged all of the time, but we do recommend a cage for when there are long periods of time without supervision available. Ferret-proofing any area of your house where ferrets will be free to roam is a must!

Initially, costs for veterinary care will be minimal, but may be slightly higher than the same services for dogs and cats. Annual check ups and vaccinations are a must to monitor the well being of your pet. As your pet ages, these costs will increase. Unfortunately ferrets are prone to many geriatric health problems which can be costly. Please take this into account when bringing home that super cute ferret you fell in love with at the pet store.

We do not recommend ferrets for households with very young children. Ferrets have tough skin and can play roughly with each other and cause no damage. The same playful action aimed at a child can result in a painful encounter, frightening the child which may result in retaliation from the child that could damage your new friend. We also don’t recommend ferrets around birds, rodents, or small reptiles, due to the natural prey situation. Most ferrets will get along with dogs and cats if they are introduced carefully.

Ferrets are a lot of fun and can make for very entertaining pets. Especially if you have 2 or more. They seem to be much smarter than dogs or cats. They can be trained to do tricks, use a litter box and go for walks with you. When they are awake the go full force with playtime and have a blast (and want to take you along for the ride!). Our ferrets obviously planned and executed multiple stepped tasks to accomplish goals like getting somewhere high or to retrieve a treat. They love to get into everything and simply know no fear. It is your responsibility to make sure your ferret cannot get hurt or eat something that could cause medical issues as their digestive tracks a quite short and get blocked easily. Their curiosity will cause them to steal or taste anything. They will also climb into very small places and sleep soundly so always check before turning on your dryer or other place a ferret may be cuddled up taking one of many naps in a day.

Ferrets are higher maintenance than a dog or cat in general. They require training and patience. As well as a lot of love and attention. If you are capable and willing to provide these things, then find yourself a ferret friend (or two or three). If your lifestyle cannot support the time and energy a ferret needs, then maybe they aren’t the right pet for you.

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