Ferrets can make good pets for older children, but
should be supervised when around and near infants or very young children. They
adapt well to human companionship, especially if they have been raised from
infancy in close human contact. Ferrets are cute, very curious, extremely
playful, entertaining to watch and generally have good personalities. Ferrets
are quite active and like to play rather than be cuddled or sitting on ones lap
like a cat. Ferrets like short periods of intense activity and then will lapse
into a deep sleep for 14 to 18 hours. They are most active in early morning and
late evening. They like dark places and are natural burrowers. Ferrets,
especially the males, are notorious biters if not trained correctly. Ferrets'
teeth are very sharp, and their bites can be quite deep and painful. Ferrets are
fairly nearsighted but their sense of hearing and smell are quite keen. The
average ferret life span is about 7-10 years.
Colour
Ferrets come in a variety of colours: Albino...Black...Black
Sable...Champagne...Chocolate...Cinnamon...Dark-eyed White...Sable.
Cage
There are a wide variety of cages that you can buy for your pet ferret. Almost
any type of cage can be used for ferrets, from rabbit hutches, and dog crates to
home made hutches. The most popular habitats are wire cages. The cage should be
at least fourteen inches wide by twenty-four inches long and ten inches high.
The cage should provide ample room for playing, as well as house a litter box,
water bottle, food bowl, and various hammocks to relax in. Ferrets need time out
of their cage form 3- 4 hours a day in which time you should interact with them
as much as you can. To keep your ferret's cage a stimulating environment, make
sure it has plenty of space and plenty of toys. Cleaning your ferret's cage
regularly is essential to raising a healthy animal.
Bedding
The best way to keep ferrets clean, sweet-smelling and free of parasites is to
ensure that their bedding is kept clean, and their cages are cleaned out
regularly. Provide soft bedding such as old soft t-shirts with lots of extra
bedding, like straw ( not hay, as hay sweats and can get too hot). Ferrets
should NEVER be kept in any kind of cedar or pine bedding as the dust and odour
from the wood can cause respiratory problems.
Diet
Ferrets are carnivores and require a quality diet high in protein and fat and
low in fibre. A ferret diet should contain a minimum of 32% meat based protein
and 18% fat and a maximum of 3 percent fibre. Ferrets also need a constant
supply of fresh water. It's best to provide both a bowl and a water bottle.
Ferrets require a correct diet, yearly vaccinations for Ferret Distemper and
rabies, and good husbandry.
