Ferrets?

I think ferrets are the most adorable little things. Does anyone have a ferret for a pet? Do they really smell? Do they get along with other animals?

Does anyone know of any ferret rescues on LI?

Re: Ferrets?

My sister has then and she had them when we used to live at home and share a room. I do think they smell, even after they are descented. But if you really keep up with cleaning the smell wont really be there. Just keep the litter box clean and give them regular baths.

There is a ferret rescue on LI, I think, I will ask my sister next time I speak to her.

Re: Ferrets?

I had one when I was a teenager. He was a little stinky but I loved him! We didn't cage him, he had his own room my parents house and was litter box trained... unless the box was dirty then he would go next to it.
He got himself into trouble though- he ate the buttons on the remote control and got sick. We had to take him to the vet for surgery. After that he was ok.

Re: Ferrets?

DH and I had 2 ferrets.

They do smell. Honestly the smell has gotten me sick a few times...and they were descented. It's musky. We gave them frequent baths too, which only helped for a day. Honestly, their urine was what I thought smelt the worst. DH would clean the cage...the ferret would only urinate once and it was powerful. (ETA: you can't use cedar chips or anything in their cage, just wood or newspaper shavings from what I remember). We actually tried placing a box of baking soda by the cage and having plug ins, but it did not work too well.

Also, they can not be around cats. I would do some reading on them before going forth with a purchase. I believe there are a few animals they can not be around.

They are cute and DH loved them. He had to adopt one out because the male was biting the female. He wasn't getting rid of the female because she was a valentine's gift from me. They do get into everything and you really have to train them.

When I see them at a pet store I always stop and watch them because they are so cute. I would never buy one again, but that's me. I can't handle the odor. Also, the do nip until you train them out of it.

ETA: I did some researching online for you and here is some info. This site said that they can around cats, but a book we read when we got our ferret said otherwise. Who knows? Good luck! Link to info about ferrets

Message edited 3/17/2007 9:28:23 PM.

Re: Ferrets?

We had 3, Mushy, Stinky and Smokey. Mushy passed away 3 years ago, so we have Stinky and Smokey. Stinky is about 8 and Smokey about 4. The average life span is about 10 years (stinky is an old timer)

They are caged.

When we lived in NY, Mushy was free, smokey and stinky was caged (they did not get along). and mushy got into everything. I had to be careful even sorting laundry because Mushy was white and would blend in with the whites. He would love to sleep under the bed, under the couch and any little crevice he could get into.

When we moved to FL and had the house built we didnt want them running around so carefree. Mushy passed away and now it's just stinky and smokey living it up in the ferret condo cage. We take them out at night for some running around time.

I clean their cage 1 - 2 a week. I tried the litter box but the ferrets thought it was sand they could dig in. It was a habbit i could not break. So the nurse in the vets office told me use newspaper. Dont shred it, just lay it down. Works great and cleaning the cage is a breeze.

I use some deoderizer I got in the pet store, a little lysol and no problems with the cage. I put bio-odor in their water and it works great for the smell of their urine and poop. They also get bath's once a week.

Both are descented but when they are frightened they have a musky scent.

They both have hammocks in their cage, airplane blankets, and a bunch of toys. Smokey gets the missuri food and stinkey gets the 8 in 1. Both are very good foods for them. The reason for the 2 different foods is Stinky likes his and will not change and smokey likes his and wont change.

If you get a ferret from a store, check their ears for tattoo's. If they have a blueish tattoo on their ear they came from the Marshall farm. Marshall farm is a ferret mill. My vet is the one that told me that. He also said ferrets that come from Marshall are prone to illness.

I love my ferrets. They are so adorable and just want to know whats going on. The puppy loves them. He sleeps under their cage and if he looks in their cage and does not see them he hits the cage to make sure they are ok.

Also ferrets can not go to a regular vet. They have to go to an exotic's vet.

If you have any questions please feel free to FM me and I'll be happy to give you some ferret info

Re: Ferrets?

I had my ferret around 3 cats, no problem at all. She was not caged as well. My sister has cats and ferrets and all is fine.

I didnt have to bring my ferret to an exotic vet, just one that did small animals. I brought her to Massapequa hospital for animals (where we got her) and I think Dr. Laporta or Dr. Fish took care of her. My sister still brings hers there.