Ferrets need very little grooming. In fact, I do not brush mine at all. Since they do not shed all year long, you do not have to brush them to remove shedding hair.
However, ferrets do shed their fur twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall, when they shed much of their fur during about a three-week period. The old fur is replaced by new shorter fur which will eventually grow out. They can make a mess on your furniture during this "molting" period. Ferret hair gets all over the pl... Continue reading ...
Ferrets need to bathe. Otherwise, they will begin to stink. Adults should be bathed about every two weeks. Use a shampoo such as Johnson & Johnson Baby shampoo. You can spend the extra money on ferret shampoo, but I have found they are not really any better and they are more expensive. Ferrets' eyes are sensitive to soap just as our eyes are. When you get soap in a ferret's eye, he cannot tell you his eye hurts. He will just seem difficult to handle and squirm. For that reason, I recommend a ... Continue reading ...
Ferret-proofing the home is essential if you have a ferret. Due to their incredible curiosity and fearless nature, they will, if given the opportunity, get into anything. Your ferrets must not be allowed into your cabinets where they can get into your cleaning agent, garbage, poisons, etc. They can open a cabinet by lying on the floor and working the door with their paws and claws. I had to put strong magnetic latches on all my lower cabinets to keep them out. To the right you can see jumpy w... Continue reading ...
A common question is whether to buy one ferret or two. There are both positives and negatives to this argument. Two ferrets cost twice as much. Not just the purchase price which is around $110.00, but also food, litter, and vet bills. They also require a larger cage which can accommodate two ferrets comfortably. Two ferrets get into twice as much trouble. However, two ferrets is the way to go if you can afford it. Ferrets are not like dogs. While they will bond with humans, they still need fe... Continue reading ...
Posted by Todd Dorsett on Friday, June 26, 2009,
In :
Health
If you have had a ferret for any length of time you are probably familiar with ear mites. Earmites in ferrets are often known as the "ferret social disease." Here’s some tips on diagnosing and treating this common ear problem. What’s That Smell?When I brought my first ferret home, I noticed Critter had an unusual odor about her face. I gave her repeated baths in vain (not knowing at the time that frequent bathing is not good for your ferret). I then noticed that the smell came from black... Continue reading ...
Posted by Todd on Friday, June 26, 2009,
In :
History
Here is a GREAT article addressing many of the common myths about ferrets like:
Descended from the Siberian or European polecat, ferrets are mammals but definitely not rodents. They are members of the weasel family and are related to minks, ermines, otters, skunks, badgers, and wolverines. (It's true that these wild cousins are likely to eat a rat.) The scientific name for the domestic ferret is Mustela putorius furo. Read more... Continue reading ...
Posted by Todd on Thursday, June 25, 2009,
In :
History
Sue Jan wrote an interesting article on this subject. See below: If you love pets that are quiet and cute, then ferrets will be the right choice. Because by their very appearance, many people tend to mistake them for rodents but they are actually more like a cross between a cat and a dog. Read more... Continue reading ...
Posted by Todd on Thursday, June 25, 2009,
In :
Training
Ahhh...the $24K question. Most ferrets can be taught not to nip if you are patient and consistant. Mike Steele wrote a great article on how to be successfull. Much like kittens and puppies, ferret kits must be taught not to nip. Ferrets have been bred to be a pet and shouldn't be vicious or bite, but ferret play does include mock combat, and younger ferrets and kits won't know how hard they can put their teeth on you without it hurting. A ferret at play may run towards you with his mouth ope... Continue reading ...
Posted by Todd on Thursday, June 25, 2009,
In :
Health
Yes, Yes, Yes! The two most common are Canine Distemper and Rabies. Please ask your vet what they recommend. However I did find a nice article that discusses the ferret vaccinations at length. It is a well written article by Matthew Humphries. Click here to read it. Continue reading ...
Posted by Todd on Thursday, June 25, 2009,
In :
Behavior
This is a very common question that I receive. I recently found a great article on the subject. The snippet below is just an intro, but you can click on the link at the bottom to see the full article.
Fighting for dominance is normal when introducing ferrets. The severity of which can range between almost no fighting to an all-out battle. It’s best to hope for the best, but “prepare” for the worst, which should make anything less than ferret to ferret warfare seem acceptable. It is imp... Continue reading ...
Posted by Todd on Monday, June 22, 2009,
In :
Training
Ferrets are latrine animals and prefer to use specific areas for this
purpose. Generally, a ferret will relieve himself within a few minutes of waking
up. Being small predators, ferrets would be in the middle of the food chain in
the wild, so their instinct is to find a sheltered corner as a latrine. This
makes it possible to litter train a ferret with considerable success.
The ferret should have a litter box or paper placed in a corner near his nest
or in his cage and be confined to the... Continue reading ...
Posted by Todd on Monday, June 22, 2009,
In :
History
The origin of ferrets as a domestic animal is unclear. 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. Ferrets are dry temperate climate creatures - they have a
summer and winter coat, tolerate cold well but suffer when temperatures exceed
20C, and have a ... Continue reading ...
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About Me
Hello. I am a happy ferret owner for the last 15 years. Through this blog and website I hope to education people that are trying to decide if a ferret is right for them. I had to learn a lot of things the hard way. There were not many "Ferret" sites on the internet back then. This is my contribution to those of us that love those fuzzy, bouncy little critters we call ferrets.
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