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Anonymous
Dear /an/

first time here but I thought this would be a great place to ask some questions.
I kinda want to get a ferret, wut are your opinions on these animals?

I heard they smell, but are rather smart, and you can train them and such, is this true?
>> Anonymous
Plenty of ferret pages around. Google it.
Well, at least you're asking *before* getting the ferret.
Do a lot of research and you should be fine.
>> Anonymous
>>275693

op here, thanx, does anyone in /an/ have a ferret??
>> Anonymous
my room mate had some last year. He started out with 2 then later moved up to 4. WE lived in an apartment. Now this guy wasn't teh most animal friendly, loving, clean person around, and his ferrets reeked. They stunk up our 1200 ft apartment and then some. Even after he had moved out for 2 weeks they place still stunk. I'm not sure if there is a better way to take care of tehm, but be aware that they CAN smell horribly.
>> Anonymous
>>275691

Look, they are fast, extremely inquisitive and nippy so they will chew at anything and everything, they require lots of room and exercise aside from their cage, and no matter how much you clean up after them, they will always smell of piss.

They also require food very high in protein - more than dog or cat foods, so expect to shell out a lot in terms of maintainance.
>> Anonymous
>>275691
also, you should always keep at least two together.
>> Anonymous
litter train them and clean the box daily. that'll eliminate just about all the smell they produce assuming they don't roll in something nasty. if you don't plan on letting them out of there cage much get two.
>> Anonymous
You should find people who own ferrets and visit their homes. That's how you find out about the smell. I don't think they smell that bad and I don't even own a ferret. You'll get used to it, but your friends might not...

Yes, ferrets are smart and you can train them tricks if you have enough patience. They just want the treats. You must train them to use the litter box and not to bite, though you'll have to clean some poop off the floor as they can miss sometime. You should buy them from a good breeder, they usually have already taught them not to bite and how to use the litter box and good breeders are always ready to help.

Ferrets shouldn't be kept in cages all the day, you don't even need a cage if you can keep them out 24/7. Just remember to ferret proof your house, there are lots of ferret sites that tell you how to do that. Keep everything they can swallow somewhere where they can't reach. Little things can cause blockage and if you don't take care of it, the ferret will die.

Ferrets need lots of attention. If you only want to play with them when you feel like it, don't get one. They want to play all the time when they're awake. Ferrets do sleep alot though.

And remember to buy good FERRET food. It might be expensive but I think that my cat's food costs more than the ferret food around here...

As I said, I don't own a ferret so if I said something that's not true, please correct me.
>> Anonymous
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i have 3 Ferts, and they are some of the most amazing pets ive ever owned, they are sweet and cute, and playfull. now w./ that being said, they are expensive(not just to buy and set up, i mean lifetime expensive) they are like owning a special needs dog, they can ctach the flew from u and they get sick about once a year. there food isnt cheap. they need as big of a cage as you can afford and at LEAST 4 hours out of cage time to play (and thats bear minimum) you need to be on your toes w/ them CONTENTLY! you dont want them in something, thats were they will be, i love my babys to death, my oldest boy has chronic I.B.S. that he is now on meds for and special food for the rest of his life, and it ain't cheap! i cant express to you more how much work they are and how extreamly important it is to know exactly what you getting into. i help out at a ferret shelter, and its so sad to see ppl giving up there pets becouse they didnt know what they were getting into and they didnt have the time or the money for them... take your time and realy consider everything... good luck
>> Anonymous
they smell terrible
>> Anonymous
>>275723

Holy fuck, a shelter especially for ferrets? PIX.
>> Anonymous
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>>276633
heres the one i help out, www.maferrets.org but there are SO many just for ferrets!

>>276629
and they only smell bad if not cared for properly. i have 3 and u walk in my house and ud never know.....

pic is of my 3 , top "panda mit" is Dunkin, all white in the middle is Gulliver, and black sable is Brewster:)
>> Anonymous
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also, i suggest for any first time ferret owner to adopt a 2-4 year old adult. reason 1 being that, like w/ any baby anything, they are A LOT more work! and reason 2 being that after about 3 they start showing illness if they have any (witch its so common in ferrets to have some disease or another its just a matter of when rather then if) most common are things like adrenal disease, Insulinoma, I.B.S.. things like that. i always push adoption over buying, but your more likely to get a healthier ferret adopting from a ferret shelter, becouse all they know is ferrets, and its such an attachment for them

think befor you buy!!!!!!!
>> Anonymous
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I have seven ferrets. They only stink if you don't clean they're little box out every other day. You can also give them this stuff called bi-oder. It doesn't completely get rid of the smell but it helps.

Ferret proof your room! OH god FERRET PROOF EVERYTHING. Mine know how to find my purse(no matter where I hide it), unzip it, and drag my wallet into my underwear drawer.

They are such good pets though.I love all of mine dearly. They each have they're own personality. And I guarantee that every ferret comes free with a bag of crazy.
>> Anonymous
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Proud owner of two ferrets, I'd say go for it if you can afford it. A big cage with lots of hammocks and toys is a must, as well as letting them run around for a few hours every day. They're the best pets I've had, though, very inquisitive and cuddly.
>> Anonymous
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>>277127
on bio-oder A friend of mine who's really educated in healthcare told me this wasn't good to use . Seems it messes with the bacteria in the ferrets body. This can't be a good thing since every living thing needs good bacteria to keep body functioning well.

a good food will help with pooh smell, and a great way to deal w/ the body smell.. DO NOT BATH THEM OFTEN! every three months is more then enough, and wash there bedding every week, use those fabric softener sheets in the drier... it makes them smell good, i used the bio-oder and stoped becouse it was making my big boy sick...
>> Anonymous
>>277127
Mine stopped drinking when I put Bio-odor in their water...

I agree that you ought to have at least two ferrets, bath them infrequently, and feed them good food. Their litter box has to be cleaned every day to keep odor from building up, though there was a HUGE difference in smell after I switched them off marshall to innova food.

The key to keeping ferrets without going insane is to have a large ferret proofed space from them to play in for at least 3-4 hours every day.
>> Anonymous
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>> Anonymous
They are some of the most fun you'll ever have with an animal. They are also some of the most inquisitive and risk-seeking animals I've ever met. They are almost on the same level of responsibility as caring for a child.

You'll have to ferret-proof your apartment, get a cage large enough, make sure they get at least three hours out of their cage every day, etc etc etc.

It is worth every dime and every moment, because they are amazing amazing pets. I've two furkids, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.
>> Anonymous
Basically care for them like all the others have suggested. It's true they're expensive to get and maintain, and they require alot of care, but it really is worth it in the long run. They're like little children, minus the noise.
>> Anonymous
My sister had ferrets. First one male, and then two females when he passed on.

Even desented, you'll smell em. It's not bad but it certainly isn't fragrant. Visit some petstores or someone who ones some ferrets to get an idea.

They are smart. You can teach them with training. My sister never had the patience for it.
Even litterbox trained, they'll miss on occasion, or just not like shitting in a box and tip it over and shit under it instead.

The best way to describe ferrets is a mix between a kitten and a puppy. They are EXTREAMLY hyperactive. Yes, it's cute and adorable, but it can get annoying fast. They can be very destructive. They're less "cuddly" than cats or dogs, but one thousand times more playful.

You definatly can NOT leave them in the cage all day. They need play and exercise, at least 4 or 5 hours a day. They'll bang on the walls and dig to escape, being generally miserable otherwise.
and you NEED to watch them when they're out of the cage. They'll destroy things even if you have 'ferret proofed'. Like carpet. They loooove ripping up carpet. Our first ferret, Raul, escaped outside when someone left the door open too long. We never saw him again.

They're expensive to keep... They also seem to get sick a lot. Both of our females died at around 4 years old. One from cancer, the other and phenomena. Get used to vet bills, and make sure that your local vets can treat ferrets, otherwise you'll be very, very sorry when that time comes...
>> Anonymous
Ferrets are very social, so make sure to get at least two.
Otherwise, it will be miserable.
>> Anonymous
well op, everyone else makes a good point. they do have a smell, not offensive, but definately there, and they can be very hyper-active. that being said, a lot of things said here are either hear-say, or just rumours.

i bought my little male loki (albino) at 6 weeks old. never even seen a ferret up close till i had bought him. they can be a little mischevious at the begginning, but i trained my ferret out of most things, so the only naughty thing he does now is go places he's not supposed to, like behind the tv cabinet.

they are incredibly smart, even if you dont train them.they are more than capable of making their own fun, so you do NOT need to buy two. mine is the happiest little bugger on the planet.

with proper maintenance of their cage, and "regular" baths (i give loki 1 almost every day) it eliminates the smell almost entirely, and if you have them de-sexed, the smell is basically nullified. but be prepared. when they spray ther scent, you may gag.

i wholly reccomend getting one. i wanted him since i was a kid, and it was the best investment i ever made.despite the fact he's trying to steal my bacon at the moment ;p
>> Zerachiel
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I'm gonna post this in two parts.

Everyone else seems right on the money, though I'd like to expand on a few points that other posters have made:

"so you do NOT need to buy two." I'd agree that they can live alone with you, but I've found that ferrets tend to want your attention ALL the time, if you don't have two. It can get tiring, running back and forth across the living room to entertain a ferret every day, so I got a second one and they're best friends.

"with proper maintenance of their cage"
Note that this means changing/cleaning the entire cage about once every three days at the minimum, and that's if you "spot clean" and pick up poop and wipe piss when you see it. Otherwise, every day is necessary. Ferrets are smart and usually won't sleep on their piss, but it's not good to leave any waste in there for an extended period of time. Getting a Litter Box and making sure they use it cuts down on 75% of the poop maintenance, I've found.
>> Zerachiel
"and "regular" baths (i give loki 1 almost every day) it eliminates the smell almost entirely"

Bathing your ferret every day can cause horrendous skin problems in a ferret. They have natural oils in their skin that smell bad, and by bathing them every day, it washes those oils off. Keeping them off can dry out their skin. Ultimately, as they have to replenish and compensate for oil lost, they will usually smell *worse* than usual, about a day after a bath, and will continue to smell bad for about a week or two. Ideally, ferrets should be bathed as little as possible; as in two to three times a year, or when they get actually dirty (AKA into something nasty).

"and if you have them de-sexed, the smell is basically nullified. but be prepared. when they spray ther scent, you may gag."

This is true, but almost every pet store, and good amount of breeders have their ferrets de-scented (or at least recommend the procedure), as it seriously cuts down on the smell problems. Also, keep in mind, if you get a female, and she isn't spayed by her first heat, and she doesn't mate, she'll die. Seriously. It's a body chemistry thing.
>> Zerachiel
Another factor with ferrets, is that many, MANY sources are wrong about how to take care of ferrets, especially relating to FOOD. Many ferret books recommend feeding raisins and fruit as "variety" in their diet, and many treats have sugars and plant/fruit proteins in them, which is a big no-no.
Ferrets are *carnivores*, and the two most important things they need are MEAT-based protein and fat. Another concern is that you probably shouldn't have a food with too much filler. Dog/Cat food is not for ferrets. They have different needs, even as carnivores, despite what some owners may tell you. Innova Evo is the best food you can get, but it's difficult to find, and can get really expensive buying it for more than two ferrets.

Ferrets are prone to three major illnesses that *kill* them, and those are cancer, adrenal disease, and *insulinoma*. Insulinoma is like ferret diabetes, and by feeding them sugars all the time (like the raisins and treats so often recommended), can easily lead to that. As a treat, get Ferretone; it's a liquid dietary supplement that is oil-based, not sugar-based. Most ferrets love it.

My vet recommends feeding whole mice, as nothing replaces the nutrients they'd get from eating prey. My ferret seemed disgusted at the idea, and wouldn't even taste a dead pinky covered in Ferretone. I tried forcing him to taste it, and he made a gagging face, and I didn't bother trying again. Interesting to note that ferrets in the wild often take down rabbits as prey. I suppose that ferrets have been domesticated for so long (even longer than cats) that many need to be coaxed into the idea, and I'm not sure I'm ready to do that.
>> Zerachiel
About ferrets doing tricks, yes, they can be trained to do so, but it's that common, and they always seem to need material motivation, unlike many dogs which can learn to obey *without* a treat present. Ferrets are often smarter than we think, remember that. If you train a ferret to go in the litter box by giving it a treat afterward, it may go to the litter box and *pretend* to poop in view of you, just to get a treat.

All in all, if you can stand the maintenance, go for it. It's a big responsibility, but I find that it sure beats having to walk a dog 5-12 times a day for the first half of it's life. Always research on the internet before getting pets, and get second, third, and fouth opinions. I work at a pet store, and too many people come in to buy things and seem surprised that they need "so much room" or "can bite" or "need to eat $100.00 in ants every month to supplement them with formic acid", heh. OK, so it took 4 parts to mention all of this.
>> Anonymous
will they chew on wires?
is it possible to keep them in a flat?
>> Anonymous
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>>279285
absolutely...

i have another suggestion (ive made 3 or 4) make sure you have a special bank account just for them w/ no less then $$1,000 in it at all times. you want an animal you must be prepared!~ they can catch the common cold or flew from you and you never want them sick becouse they are so small even a cold could potentially kill them. make sure you have a great knowledgeable ferret vet before you even get your baby. i mean this when i say this. be ready for everything that could happen becouse it just might
>> Anonymous
The pics in this thread are too cute to handle, makes me wish I had a ferret.