Pet Ferrets

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.

Color: Ferrets come in a variety of colors:

• 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 odor from the wood can cause respiratory problems.

Diet:
Ferrets are carnivores and require a quality diet high in protein and fat and low in fiber. A ferret diet should contain a minimum of 32% meat based protein and 18% fat and a maximum of 3 percent fiber. 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.