The question is often asked - can ferrets really be pets? The short answer is - yes - just the same as owning a cat or a dog. Of course you'll need to give a pet ferret the same kind of attention that you would to any pet. And, with the correct diet and proper care, your pet ferret should be part of your family for a long time to come.
Frequently ferrets can be referred to as "unusual" or "exotic" pets. That's because most people like to own the more traditional type of pets like cats, dogs, birds, fish or hamsters. Also, you might not know this, but in some places it's actually illegal to own a pet ferret.
Laws against having pet ferrets usually stem from safety concerns. Ferrets do have very sharp teeth and, even if they are domesticated, they can bite if they are provoked. You will need to keep this in mind if you have small children in your family. You might want to wait until your children are older before you get a ferret, or, at the very least, make sure they are never left unattended with a pet ferret.
You'll need to treat a ferret bite seriously. Because, just like dogs, they can carry rabies. Because of this possibility, you need to be absolutely sure to have your pet vaccinated against rabies. Neutering, which is always a good idea, may help to reduce any aggressive behavior.
Any ferret is going to want to explore when they are outside of their cage. If you don't want your house getting messed up, or have your ferret getting into places he shouldn't, then you need to ferret-proof your home. This means doing things like sealing off small spaces, protecting any electrical wires and securing any air ducts or dryer vents.
Ferret Tips
Here are a few ferret tips that you should know:
1. They will sleep 18 hours or more everyday. But, when they're awake, that's the time to feed them and play with them.
2. They need to get out of their cage at least twice a day, so give them a secure area to roam and play in.
3. Ferrets like to take naps in the most unusual places. If you've given them the run of the house, and you don't want to squish them, look under any cushions before you sit down!
4. Male ferrets (hobs) are heavier and grow much longer than female ferrets (jills).
5. Ferrets can live, on average, for about 7 to 10 years and with proper care, may even live as long as 12 years.
6. Ferrets have relatively poor eyesight but they make up for that with a heightened senses of hearing and smell.
7. Much like a cat or a dog, ferrets can be trained to do tricks and follow simple commands. Rewarding good behavior with praise and treats is the best way to train your ferret.
8. Ferrets are usually pretty quiet. They don't bark like dogs do. So, you won't need to worry about any noisy behavior annoying your household or your neighbors.
You can find pet ferrets at pet stores, breeders or animal shelters. However, before you commit to owning a ferret, be sure you're ready for the commitment and responsibility.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Baby Ferrets Versus Older Ferrets as Pets
While adopting a geriatric animal can be difficult for first time owners who may not be as good at spotting health problems, I would advise first time pet owners to consider an adult rather than a baby animal, and ideally one from a rescue that can tell you a bit about the animal and its personality.
The reasons for this are pretty simple:
1) The tough stuff is often done. Generally, an adult ferret is already nip trained. The animal may already know some tricks, and the odds of the ferret ingesting a portion of a toy and getting an intestinal blockage from eating something strange has been reduced (the threat is still there, however baby ferrets are far more likely to destroy and then eat a piece of a toy or a random object that an adult ferret would ignore). Litter training may also be included in this package (well, as much as that particular ferret can be litter trained), but if not it can be more easily taught. Adopting an adult ferret is a bit like adopting a pre-trained, well behaved adult dog rather than adopting a baby dinosaur and attempting to turn it into a dog... I know that that sounds a bit far fetched, but the reality of the situation is that many first time ferret owners have never even met a ferret before adopting their first animal and have absolutely no idea how to turn an unruly kit into a well behaved and well balanced adult... its not impossible, but it is a huge and sometimes overwhelming task.
2) Training is easier. This may sound counter-intuitive to some people, but in reality, it is much easier to train an adult than a baby. Adults have longer attention spans and better memory retention than babies. Training requires less repetition and though, in the case of adult animals, it may involve some re-training to break bad habits, it is generally rather simple. The old adage "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is not only misleading, it is downright false - it is much easier to teach an old dog (or ferret) a new trick then it is to teach a puppy (or kit) ANY trick.
3) They WILL bond. Having a ferret as a kit does not ensure that the animal will bond with you any more than an adult ferret will. I have had both kits and adult ferrets and have found that the bond between the person and the animal depends more on how you treat and interact with the animal than how old it was when you got it. Some ferrets will bond quickly with their owners and start to trust them almost immediately, others are more suspicious and take longer. This is true whether or not the animal has 'baggage' from a previous home.
Example: we got 2 ferrets from the same home at the same age. The home was a good one; neither animal had ever been mistreated or mishandled in any way. One of the two ferrets started to trust us and bond with us in less than a month, the other took several months before she would even take food from our hands - she did bond with us eventually, but it was a long, slow process.
Example 2: Male ferret rescued from an extremely abusive situation. He as 4-6 years old, possibly older, and had known nothing but abuse at the hands of his former owner. Despite this, he bonded with me in less than a month, and within 2 months he would follow me around and rest his head on my foot when he felt uncertain or wanted my approval.
Example 3: Baby ferret, 4-6 months of age when he moved in. He is a sweet ferret and was not mishandled in his first home. He is as friendly as can be and loves everybody... but that's just it - he doesn't care whether or not you are his owner or a stranger in the house. He thinks that everybody is great, but he is our least bonded ferret. He will run to be rescued if he feels that another ferret is picking on him, and beg for treats, but he will do this with all people. So far as I can tell, if we were replaced tomorrow by a new family, he would not be phased in the least. If you buy into the "babies bond more" than this ferret should be more affectionate and attached to us than any of the ferrets in the previous examples, but this is not the case.
4) Getting a ferret as a baby will not make them cuddle. Some ferrets are more cuddly than others, regardless of when you get them.This depends on the animal's personality rather than their age. I have two ferrets nearly the same age. I got them both at a young age - one 3 months, one 4-6 months. The one that I got at 4-6 months old is and always has been a much cuddlier ferret than the one that I got at an earlier age, but neither is as cuddly as the male that I got at 5 years of age, or the 3 year old male that we fostered for a brief period.
5) If you are adopting from a rescue, the rescue volunteers are often very knowledgeable about that particular animal and more than willing to offer post-adoption support. This can be invaluable if you are concerned that the animal is ill, or if you have any questions regarding the animal's behaviour. Most shelters are more than willing to take the animal back if things don't work out and though you may not get a refund, you can feel confident knowing that the animal will not be euthanized or sold to an inappropriate home.
In short: yes, babies are cute and fuzzy, but for first time owners, adults are often a better option and no, getting an adult will not rob you of any ferret affection.
The reasons for this are pretty simple:
1) The tough stuff is often done. Generally, an adult ferret is already nip trained. The animal may already know some tricks, and the odds of the ferret ingesting a portion of a toy and getting an intestinal blockage from eating something strange has been reduced (the threat is still there, however baby ferrets are far more likely to destroy and then eat a piece of a toy or a random object that an adult ferret would ignore). Litter training may also be included in this package (well, as much as that particular ferret can be litter trained), but if not it can be more easily taught. Adopting an adult ferret is a bit like adopting a pre-trained, well behaved adult dog rather than adopting a baby dinosaur and attempting to turn it into a dog... I know that that sounds a bit far fetched, but the reality of the situation is that many first time ferret owners have never even met a ferret before adopting their first animal and have absolutely no idea how to turn an unruly kit into a well behaved and well balanced adult... its not impossible, but it is a huge and sometimes overwhelming task.
2) Training is easier. This may sound counter-intuitive to some people, but in reality, it is much easier to train an adult than a baby. Adults have longer attention spans and better memory retention than babies. Training requires less repetition and though, in the case of adult animals, it may involve some re-training to break bad habits, it is generally rather simple. The old adage "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is not only misleading, it is downright false - it is much easier to teach an old dog (or ferret) a new trick then it is to teach a puppy (or kit) ANY trick.
3) They WILL bond. Having a ferret as a kit does not ensure that the animal will bond with you any more than an adult ferret will. I have had both kits and adult ferrets and have found that the bond between the person and the animal depends more on how you treat and interact with the animal than how old it was when you got it. Some ferrets will bond quickly with their owners and start to trust them almost immediately, others are more suspicious and take longer. This is true whether or not the animal has 'baggage' from a previous home.
Example: we got 2 ferrets from the same home at the same age. The home was a good one; neither animal had ever been mistreated or mishandled in any way. One of the two ferrets started to trust us and bond with us in less than a month, the other took several months before she would even take food from our hands - she did bond with us eventually, but it was a long, slow process.
Example 2: Male ferret rescued from an extremely abusive situation. He as 4-6 years old, possibly older, and had known nothing but abuse at the hands of his former owner. Despite this, he bonded with me in less than a month, and within 2 months he would follow me around and rest his head on my foot when he felt uncertain or wanted my approval.
Example 3: Baby ferret, 4-6 months of age when he moved in. He is a sweet ferret and was not mishandled in his first home. He is as friendly as can be and loves everybody... but that's just it - he doesn't care whether or not you are his owner or a stranger in the house. He thinks that everybody is great, but he is our least bonded ferret. He will run to be rescued if he feels that another ferret is picking on him, and beg for treats, but he will do this with all people. So far as I can tell, if we were replaced tomorrow by a new family, he would not be phased in the least. If you buy into the "babies bond more" than this ferret should be more affectionate and attached to us than any of the ferrets in the previous examples, but this is not the case.
4) Getting a ferret as a baby will not make them cuddle. Some ferrets are more cuddly than others, regardless of when you get them.This depends on the animal's personality rather than their age. I have two ferrets nearly the same age. I got them both at a young age - one 3 months, one 4-6 months. The one that I got at 4-6 months old is and always has been a much cuddlier ferret than the one that I got at an earlier age, but neither is as cuddly as the male that I got at 5 years of age, or the 3 year old male that we fostered for a brief period.
5) If you are adopting from a rescue, the rescue volunteers are often very knowledgeable about that particular animal and more than willing to offer post-adoption support. This can be invaluable if you are concerned that the animal is ill, or if you have any questions regarding the animal's behaviour. Most shelters are more than willing to take the animal back if things don't work out and though you may not get a refund, you can feel confident knowing that the animal will not be euthanized or sold to an inappropriate home.
In short: yes, babies are cute and fuzzy, but for first time owners, adults are often a better option and no, getting an adult will not rob you of any ferret affection.
Ferrets as Pets Things You Need to Know
Ferrets may not be a common animal choice for pets. Many people find ferrets nice to have and as easy to keep as pet, if not easier, as other typical pets like dogs and cats.
By the year of 1996, according to a study by California State Bird and Mammal Conservation Program, approximately 800,000 or more domestic ferrets were probably kept as pets in United States.
The ferret is a domestic mammal. Domestic ferrets characteristically have brown, black, white or mixed fur, average length of about 20 inches including a 5 inch tail. The average life span of ferrets, barring accidents or serious illness, is 7 – 10 years. Full grown females weight about 2 pounds, while males are larger.
Ferrets belong to the weasel family (Mustelidae) and are related to mink, skunks, weasels, otters and badgers. Ferrets are the only domestic subspecies in this family and they should not be confused with the Blackfooted Ferret, an endangered species which is only distantly related. Today, the ferret is become the third most common uncaged pet in North America, after cats and dogs.
The origin of the ferret as domestic animals is unclear. But probably that ferrets have been tamed for about 2,500 or more years ago and probably were tamed for vermin control and hunting. Their closest wild relatives are the European polecat and the Steppe polecat, which probably the ferrets domesticated from, found in Eastern European forests southwards into the Balkans and the Caucasus. The ferrets are still used for hunting rabbit in some parts of the world today.
Ferrets spend 14 to 18 hours a day sleeping, they are most active during dusk and dawn. Though ferrets sleep more than most other domesticated animals, they are very active when awake and will seek to be released from their cage. Ferrets are energetic, curious, interested in their surroundings, and often actively solicit play with humans.
They also have a strong nesting instinct and will repeatedly carry small objects to hidden locations.
A common ferret problem to many pet owners is introducing new ferrets to their population. But once settled in, ferrets quickly establish their territory and set the house rules: What's theirs is theirs, what's yours is up for grabs. They explore; find and make nests; select and hide treasures. Anything that can be turned over, inside-out, or dragged off, no matter the size, is fair game. In pairs, they prance, dance, wrestle, and hunt down each other, dogs, cats, and people with gleeful chittering. They are there to inspect every activity and supervise every undertaking.
Choosing a ferret as a pet? Before getting a ferret, research the animal. Talk to people who own ferret, read books about ferrets.
Ferrets are not like cats or dogs, and have many special needs which are not obvious for new owner. What about the food for ferrets? Ferrets are carnivores that require at least 22% fat and 34% protein from animal sources. Some kitten foods probably can be used, as long as they provide the high protein and fat content required by the ferrets. But most adult cat foods and kitten foods are not recommended as they have a low protein content and high fiber. There are many commercial ferret food products. Choose one that right for your pet.
Ferrets and Children
Ferrets can be good pets for children, but not good pets for very young children. You must consider a potential danger to a human child by a pet ferret, and potential danger to a pet ferret by a human child.
If you aren't home much, have children under the age of ten, don't enjoy chaos, or have a busy lifestyle which would prevent a ferret from roaming freely, then these pet are not for you.
Having a ferret as pet can be a fun and exciting experience, as long as you can provide for a ferret's needs. You will have a wonderful, loving, furry, little companion who lives his life to its fullest and will help you enjoy your own even more.
By the year of 1996, according to a study by California State Bird and Mammal Conservation Program, approximately 800,000 or more domestic ferrets were probably kept as pets in United States.
The ferret is a domestic mammal. Domestic ferrets characteristically have brown, black, white or mixed fur, average length of about 20 inches including a 5 inch tail. The average life span of ferrets, barring accidents or serious illness, is 7 – 10 years. Full grown females weight about 2 pounds, while males are larger.
Ferrets belong to the weasel family (Mustelidae) and are related to mink, skunks, weasels, otters and badgers. Ferrets are the only domestic subspecies in this family and they should not be confused with the Blackfooted Ferret, an endangered species which is only distantly related. Today, the ferret is become the third most common uncaged pet in North America, after cats and dogs.
The origin of the ferret as domestic animals is unclear. But probably that ferrets have been tamed for about 2,500 or more years ago and probably were tamed for vermin control and hunting. Their closest wild relatives are the European polecat and the Steppe polecat, which probably the ferrets domesticated from, found in Eastern European forests southwards into the Balkans and the Caucasus. The ferrets are still used for hunting rabbit in some parts of the world today.
Ferrets spend 14 to 18 hours a day sleeping, they are most active during dusk and dawn. Though ferrets sleep more than most other domesticated animals, they are very active when awake and will seek to be released from their cage. Ferrets are energetic, curious, interested in their surroundings, and often actively solicit play with humans.
They also have a strong nesting instinct and will repeatedly carry small objects to hidden locations.
A common ferret problem to many pet owners is introducing new ferrets to their population. But once settled in, ferrets quickly establish their territory and set the house rules: What's theirs is theirs, what's yours is up for grabs. They explore; find and make nests; select and hide treasures. Anything that can be turned over, inside-out, or dragged off, no matter the size, is fair game. In pairs, they prance, dance, wrestle, and hunt down each other, dogs, cats, and people with gleeful chittering. They are there to inspect every activity and supervise every undertaking.
Choosing a ferret as a pet? Before getting a ferret, research the animal. Talk to people who own ferret, read books about ferrets.
Ferrets are not like cats or dogs, and have many special needs which are not obvious for new owner. What about the food for ferrets? Ferrets are carnivores that require at least 22% fat and 34% protein from animal sources. Some kitten foods probably can be used, as long as they provide the high protein and fat content required by the ferrets. But most adult cat foods and kitten foods are not recommended as they have a low protein content and high fiber. There are many commercial ferret food products. Choose one that right for your pet.
Ferrets and Children
Ferrets can be good pets for children, but not good pets for very young children. You must consider a potential danger to a human child by a pet ferret, and potential danger to a pet ferret by a human child.
If you aren't home much, have children under the age of ten, don't enjoy chaos, or have a busy lifestyle which would prevent a ferret from roaming freely, then these pet are not for you.
Having a ferret as pet can be a fun and exciting experience, as long as you can provide for a ferret's needs. You will have a wonderful, loving, furry, little companion who lives his life to its fullest and will help you enjoy your own even more.
8 Things You Need to Know about a Ferret as Pet
If you are wondering whether you can keep a ferret as pet or not, the answer is yes. It would just be the same as having a cat or a dog. You should give it the same attention as any other pets would require and with proper caring and diet, your ferret will surely stay with you for a long time.
Oftentimes, ferrets are referred to as exotic pets. This is due to the fact that most people prefer to own traditional pets such as birds, dogs, cats, hamsters and fishes. Aside from that, having ferret as pet is prohibited and illegal in some places. The laws were mad due to safety concerns when it comes to having a ferret as pet. You should know that ferrets have very sharp sets of teeth and even if they happen to be domesticated, once they are provoked, they have the tendency to bite. You have to keep this in mind, especially if you have small kids at home.
Here are a few tips that might help you if you are really decided to have a ferret as pet:
1.Ferrets usually sleep for 18 hours a day or more. When they are finally up, that is the only time that you can feed and play with them.
2.You should let them go out of their cage at least twice per day and so you need to provide them with a secure area where they can roam and play.
3.Ferrets usually take a nap in the most unusual places. If you allow them to go around the house, make sure to look under the cushions before sitting down.
4.Male ferrets are naturally heavier and longer compared to female ferrets.
5.With proper care, ferrets can live for as long as 10 to 12 years.
6.It is only natural for ferrets to have poor eyesight but they are known for their heightened sense of smell and hearing.
7.Ferrets as pet can be trained to do different tricks and you can also make them follow simple commands. Most owners prefer to give them rewards for showing good behavior as they consider this the best way to train their ferrets.
8.Ferrets are quiet by nature so you do not have to worry about any noise that may annoy your neighbors or even the rest of your family.
You may find a ferret to keep for a pet at pet stores, as well as from animal shelters or breeders. But make sure that you do have commitment and responsibility before deciding to keep one.
Oftentimes, ferrets are referred to as exotic pets. This is due to the fact that most people prefer to own traditional pets such as birds, dogs, cats, hamsters and fishes. Aside from that, having ferret as pet is prohibited and illegal in some places. The laws were mad due to safety concerns when it comes to having a ferret as pet. You should know that ferrets have very sharp sets of teeth and even if they happen to be domesticated, once they are provoked, they have the tendency to bite. You have to keep this in mind, especially if you have small kids at home.
Here are a few tips that might help you if you are really decided to have a ferret as pet:
1.Ferrets usually sleep for 18 hours a day or more. When they are finally up, that is the only time that you can feed and play with them.
2.You should let them go out of their cage at least twice per day and so you need to provide them with a secure area where they can roam and play.
3.Ferrets usually take a nap in the most unusual places. If you allow them to go around the house, make sure to look under the cushions before sitting down.
4.Male ferrets are naturally heavier and longer compared to female ferrets.
5.With proper care, ferrets can live for as long as 10 to 12 years.
6.It is only natural for ferrets to have poor eyesight but they are known for their heightened sense of smell and hearing.
7.Ferrets as pet can be trained to do different tricks and you can also make them follow simple commands. Most owners prefer to give them rewards for showing good behavior as they consider this the best way to train their ferrets.
8.Ferrets are quiet by nature so you do not have to worry about any noise that may annoy your neighbors or even the rest of your family.
You may find a ferret to keep for a pet at pet stores, as well as from animal shelters or breeders. But make sure that you do have commitment and responsibility before deciding to keep one.
Ferrets As Pets Review: Any good?
Are you hunting for a detailed Ferrets as Pets review the guide to keeping ferrets content and healthful by Seth Evans. Having Ferrets as Pets is able to be exceptionally rewarding however there can be particular problems that can need to addressed. If your ferret gives you a bite it can be an extraordinarily painful experience. At times they can smell and there are additionally difficulties with toileting. In this Ferrets as Pets review I get to core of what this program has got to offer.
Ferrets As Pets Review Of Who Is Behind It
The author Ferrets as Pets is Seth Evans who following initially making some mistakes that nearly killed his pet ferret set about converting himself into a ferret authority. Following taking in absolutely everything he could on the topic of ferrets and ferret care Seth was entirely shocked at the incorrect information on the internet. Following spending time with Ferret specialists Seth has created a full guide on how to take care of ferrets to help ferret owners from making the identical mistakes he first did.
Ferrets as Pets Review Of The Features
Ferrets as Pets is a massive 139 page book jam packed with all the facts you ought to ever require to know in order to keep your ferret contented in excellent health and behaving well. Seth says he has poured his life and all his ferret secrets into this book and given what's in it I can believe it. Each single area you can imagine concerned with ferret life is addressed together with the nine Major dangers that can Kill your Ferret, eleven Behavior Patterns You have to be aware of and the training of your ferret and a comprehension of ferret language. The guide in addition outlines removing ferret smells, a way to socialize your ferret with five successful socializing techniques.
I was intensely fascinated with the subjects about selecting the healthiest foods for your ferret and a breakthrough diet plan that is said to increase your ferrets lifespan by 6.five years. Seth in addition illustrates a learning method developed to halt your ferret from biting that is actually fun to put into practice. This is just a glimpse of the amazing quantity of detailed and helpful ferret info contained in this book. Ferrets as Pets in addition arrives with 2 highly appropriate quality ferret books that contribute to the overall package.
Ferrets as Pets Review - Conclusion
What actually is transmitted in Ferrets as Pets is the love and devotion Seth has for ferrets. As well as this the depth of knowledge within the guide evidently mark him out an expert in his field. If you have a ferret and you're searching for a guide to help with behavioral issues like biting or toileting and so this is the ideal guide to take your care of your ferret to the next level. I'll finish this Ferrets as Pets review by stating if you truly love your pet ferret you have an absolute duty to find the best information to truly care for them. I for myself believe Ferrets as Pets precisely fulfills that criteria and provides the best ferrets info you could ever ask for.
Ferrets As Pets Review Of Who Is Behind It
The author Ferrets as Pets is Seth Evans who following initially making some mistakes that nearly killed his pet ferret set about converting himself into a ferret authority. Following taking in absolutely everything he could on the topic of ferrets and ferret care Seth was entirely shocked at the incorrect information on the internet. Following spending time with Ferret specialists Seth has created a full guide on how to take care of ferrets to help ferret owners from making the identical mistakes he first did.
Ferrets as Pets Review Of The Features
Ferrets as Pets is a massive 139 page book jam packed with all the facts you ought to ever require to know in order to keep your ferret contented in excellent health and behaving well. Seth says he has poured his life and all his ferret secrets into this book and given what's in it I can believe it. Each single area you can imagine concerned with ferret life is addressed together with the nine Major dangers that can Kill your Ferret, eleven Behavior Patterns You have to be aware of and the training of your ferret and a comprehension of ferret language. The guide in addition outlines removing ferret smells, a way to socialize your ferret with five successful socializing techniques.
I was intensely fascinated with the subjects about selecting the healthiest foods for your ferret and a breakthrough diet plan that is said to increase your ferrets lifespan by 6.five years. Seth in addition illustrates a learning method developed to halt your ferret from biting that is actually fun to put into practice. This is just a glimpse of the amazing quantity of detailed and helpful ferret info contained in this book. Ferrets as Pets in addition arrives with 2 highly appropriate quality ferret books that contribute to the overall package.
Ferrets as Pets Review - Conclusion
What actually is transmitted in Ferrets as Pets is the love and devotion Seth has for ferrets. As well as this the depth of knowledge within the guide evidently mark him out an expert in his field. If you have a ferret and you're searching for a guide to help with behavioral issues like biting or toileting and so this is the ideal guide to take your care of your ferret to the next level. I'll finish this Ferrets as Pets review by stating if you truly love your pet ferret you have an absolute duty to find the best information to truly care for them. I for myself believe Ferrets as Pets precisely fulfills that criteria and provides the best ferrets info you could ever ask for.
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