Ferret Care Sheet

 

 

 

"Ferrets rarely stay still enough to let you photograph them."

 

 

Seal off all openings, hide anything made of rubber, and watch your toes! You're thinking about a ferret! Ferrets are fast, playful balls of energy that are constantly on the prowl, and constantly entertaining. Ferrets are very rewarding pets but they require a lot of time, attention, and patience. However, if you're willing to put the time into it, you won't be disappointed.

 

 

Housing

 

 

Because ferrets are so active, they need a very large cage to accomodate them. There needs to be adequate room to play, eat, drink and defecate. The cage should ideally have tubes or tunnels, and room to run.  We recommend using either an XL ferret cage, or a multi-layer cage. You should have a corner litter box in the corner that your ferret usually defecates in, as ferrets are very easily litter trained.  For substrate, we suggest using shavings, a corn cob litter or a re-washable blanket or towel. If you do use a blanket or towel, be sure that there are no hanging strings or fraying fabric for your ferret to get tangled in or choke on.

 

 

 

"Än ideal ferret cage"

 

 

Bedding

 

 

When choosing a bedding for a ferret, you need to keep in mind that you will need to change it frequently until your ferret is litter-trained. After your ferret is litter-trained, you won't have to change the bedding as often, as your ferret will 'do his business' in a litter seperate from your cage. Pine, Aspen , Cedar, corn cob bedding, newspaper, and paper towel are all popular options, but you should first research which bedding is best for your budget, and safe for your ferret.

 

 

Food and Water

 

 

There are a lot of commercial ferret foods on the market, so there are a lot to choose from. Whichever food you decide to use, ensure that the food has a high protein content, as ferrets expel a lot of energy. Some people opt for a high quality, premium kitten food like Nutrience, 8in1, Science Diet, or Inova.  Some ferrets will overeat if food is always available, so you may have to remove the food dish at night. You need to have a secured food dish, as ferrets get great pleasure from tipping over and moving everything that isn’t bolted down. You also need to have a secure water bottle, and refill it frequently as ferrets also consume a lot of water during the day. It’s alright to occasionally give your ferret treats, but they should be the exception, not the rule. Ferrets and most other pets will eat nothing but treats if given the choice which is unhealthy and unethical. You should supplement your ferret’s food with Ferretone or another similar product to condition the skin and coat.  

 

 

Grooming & BathTime

 

 

Although ferrets on the market have been de-scented, they still have a musk to them and occasionally require a bath. (You may also need to bathe your ferret due to the mess he is sure to make of himself.) To bathe your ferret, it’s best to fill the kitchen sink with 2 inches of lukewarm water and place your ferret in it. Using a damp washcloth, dampen your ferret’s fur and apply a ferret shampoo (tearless animal and baby shampoos are also good alternatives.) Be sure to avoid the eyes, and then rinse with lukewarm water. After bathing, you’ll need to thoroughly dry your ferret and be sure to keep him warm until he is completely dry, you don’t want a sick ferret on your hands! You should only bathe your ferret once every few weeks, as over-bathing can cause an over-production of oil from the glands.

 

 

Ferrets do not require a lot of grooming, but enjoy the occasional brushing. You’ll need to trim your ferret’s nails as well, as overgrown nails can be uncomfortable and in come cases, painful. Please do not attempt to trim your ferret’s nails without proper instruction. We would be more than happy to trim your ferret’s nails for you, and instruct you on how to properly do so. J

 

 

Playtime!

 

 

Ferrets are one of the most playful animals around, and need lots of toys and activities to keep them entertained. Ferrets need a lot of supervised playtime out of their cage to stay happy and healthy. I emphasize the word supervised, as ferrets should never be left alone outside of their cage. Ferrets can sneak into tiny spaces, leave ‘ferret piles’’ in inappropriate places, hoard away shiny objects, and get stuck in couches, chairs and behind appliances. The best ferret toys are those that are interactive, durable, and safe. Kong dog toys make good ferret chew toys, as they are very difficult to destroy. Believe it or not, some of the better toys for ferrets are those found around the house. Some examples of household ferret toys include:

 

 

Paper Bags

 

 

Socks

 

 

Tennis Balls

 

 

Pieces of string

 

 

Cat Tails (Much to the dismay of your cat)

 

 

Pop Bottles

 

 

Boxes

 

 

Tubes

 

 

There are a million and one items that a ferret would enjoy playing with, just be careful with what you introduce and remember to monitor play time with new items.

 

"Bändit plotting his escape"

 

 

 

Have a question about Ferrets? Send us an e-mail and we’d be happy to help!