Live Life Team
The keeping of ferrets as pets provides hours of enjoyment for their owners, but there are serious considerations that must be taken into account before deciding to bring one into the home.
Ferrets are quiet animals that don’t bark or whine, making them ideal pets for those who live in close proximity to others. Meticulously clean, ferrets like to have fresh bedding and can be litter trained, keeping messes to a minimum. Once they have become accustomed to human contact, ferrets are affectionate and playful pets. They love to burrow and climb, dance, chase, and play with toys and other ferrets. Ferrets can become extremely attached to their owners. If properly trained, a ferret will come when called, will walk on a leash, and will accept treats from a person’s hand.
Although ferrets can be a pleasant addition to most any home, owning one is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. Ferrets need lots of exercise, and cannot be kept in cages for long stretches of time. Most experts suggest ferrets spend at least three hours a day outside their cages, which requires extensive supervision and a great deal of “ferret proofing” around the house. Small objects need to be put out of reach, as ferrets are notorious hoarders and will snatch anything they can lay their paws on. Doorways and windows must be firmly secured due to the ferret’s uncanny ability to slip into tight, tiny spaces. Protective measures must be taken to keep floors and furniture from falling victim to the ferret’s sharp claws and natural digging instinct. And potentially harmful substances such as cleaning supplies, medications, plastic and paper products, and house plants must be stored in safe places where ferrets cannot get at them. Ferrets can live as long as 12 years, so the financial impact of such a long-term commitment should be analyzed as well. The cost of quality food, medical care, proper caging and ferret proofing supplies, and accessories like litter boxes and liners, toys, feeding dishes, and grooming necessities can quickly add up.
