Ferrets are part of the muscalid family which include minks, weasels, etc. They are highly intelligent and social pets and enjoy being with other ferrets. They are very curious and can get into a lot of trouble if left unsupervised. They love to nap and can sleep up to 20 hours a day. They will bounce around when happy and enjoy playing in the snow. Ferrets live an average lifespan of 5-7 years.
Unfortunately, majority of the ferrets at the pet store have come from two very large breeding facilities that have led to extreme interbreeding. This has caused an increase in certain diseases – endocrine diseases especially – in ferrets. These ferrets will have already been descented and neutered/spayed. Other options are adoptions from humane societies or private breeders.
Enclosure
Your ferret’s enclosure must be set up properly in order to keep your ferrets healthy and happy. They must have a designated litter box area and a sleeping area. Enclosures should be a minimum of 18″ x 18″ x 30″ and have two or more levels with stairs or ramps so they can climb. Avoid using aquariums as they have poor ventilation. Whatever enclosure you end up using, ensure there are very small gaps in the wire spacing and a secured latch must be used to prevent them from escaping. Ferrets can squeeze through very small opening.
Litter box should be low to make it easier to climb in and out of. A low-dust or dust free litter material is recommended. Provide at least one in their enclosure and then multiple boxes in their playing area. They should always have a litter box or pee pad nearby because of their short gastro-intestinal tract and they can not hold their bowel movements for long. Ferrets prefer to urinate and defecate in the corner of the room best. Use non-clumping cat litter such as pelleted litter product such as Yesterday’s News or even shredded paper. Ferrets do not cover their messes like cats do so you will have to scoop out their litter boxes daily.
For the sleeping area, provide your ferret with a dark enclosure such as a box. It can be lined with soft bedding or an old t-shirt. Shelves or hammocks to perch on are also nice for ferrets to rest in. Bedding should be washed often. Flooring of the enclosure should be a washable carpet type or linoleum flooring that is easy to clean. Avoid using newspaper, wood flooring, and cedar/pine chips.
Ferrets love to dig and chew. Be careful of electrical wire and water lines around your ferret’s enclosure. Keep your house “ferret-proofed” and make certain they can not reach dangerous substances or breakable items. They will hide items and hide themselves in boxes, piles of laundry, under the couches, reclining chairs, etc. It is best to not leave your ferret unsupervised outside their enclosure as they can ingest foreign items and cause intestinal blockages, i.e. Legos. Cover any gaps they could potentially fit through such as under doors, windows or dryer vents. Check all clothing before putting them into the washing machine, check dishwashers before turning them on, and ensure they have not gotten into the garbage.
The best kind of toys for ferrets are ones that are not too small to accidentally ingest. Avoid rubber and foam toys as they can break apart easily and be accidentally ingested.
Ferrets are more predisposed to overheating than freezing. Keeping them in an area where the temperature ranges from 70-80’F is the best. It is best to keep their enclosure in a cool shaded area. If the room temperature becomes above 80’F, a fan must be placed around the ferrets to keep them from overheating.
Grooming
Ferrets are typically clean animals but they are well known for their musky odor. Having neutered/spayed and descented ferrets will help decrease their musky odor but you will never be completely rid of it. The musky odor comes from the oils in their skin. Bathing should be kept to a minimum, once to twice a month at most. Over-bathing your ferret can strip their skin and haircoat of all of their natural oils which in turn will cause their bodies to overcompensate and produce even more oils. Ensure to use a pet-friendly shampoo and warm bath water when cleaning your ferret.
Trim your ferret’s nails every 3-4 weeks as they can become long and sharp. You can use dog/cat nail trimmers on your ferret.
Diet
Ferrets are carnivores, they do not eat fruits or vegetables. Avoid any commercialized diet that contains pea protein, pea flour, or legumes (mainly diets labeled as “grain free” and “starch free”) for your ferret as it can lead to the development of bladder stones. Ferrets are also unable to digest anything with fiber, so avoid diets with high levels of grains. Avoid fish-based diets. Avoid Wysong 90 diet as 99% of ferrets on this diet can’t full digest the food and majority of the diet is not absorbed nor digested. Avoid Vita Prima, very poor quality ingredients and no feeding trials have been performed in ferrets with this diet.
A lot of ferrets will be on Marshall’s chicken diet when adopted from shelters or bought from pet stores. This brand of food is not the healthiest for ferrets and will have to be slowly transitioned out to a better diet. When changing their diet, do it slowly, incorporating old and new food over the course of 7-10 days. Marshall diet can also cause the ferret’s poop to smell more.
There are various opinions on what the best types of diets are for ferrets – cat food, ferret pelleted food, or raw food. Everyone can agree that ferrets require high-quality food due to their short gastro-intestinal tracts which only allows them to digest food and absorb nutrients for 3-4 hours. A good ferret food is balanced fat and protein with no more than 45% protein and 30-35% fat. With raw food, ferrets are at risk of serious infections such as from Salmonella which can lead to severe diarrhea or even death.
An example of a well-balanced diet for ferrets:
1/3 Totally Ferret Performance/Active Ferrets Diet
1/3 Mazuri Ferret
1/3 Oxbow Essentials
Treats can be small pieces of high-quality meat such as chicken or turkey. Majority of over the counter treats for ferrets contain too much grain and sugars. Bored ferrets tend to overeat and become obese, ensure they get plenty of playtime and exercise.
Provide fresh and clean water to your ferret daily.
Supplements
The best type of supplement for your ferret would be salmon oil to provide them good Omega 3’s an 6’s. This will also help prevent a dry flaky haircoat. Multiple Ferrets Most ferrets tend to enjoy the company of other ferrets and like to have a friend to play with. When introducing a new ferret, make certain to supervise their playtime for few weeks before allowing them to be together unsupervised. Give them equal access to food and water so they do not become territorial.
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