Ferret Care Guide

Ferrets are one of the most active pet animals you could ever get. They might sleep up to twenty hours everyday but their waking hours mark the peak of their activity. They are furry balls of energy and should thus, be given ample exercise. They also love to investigate and explore. Every ferret owner should take care in choosing the right ferret toys to ensure the happiness and well-being of their pets.

Human beings are included in a ferret’s list of favorite toys. These mammals like to play hide-and-seek with their owners where they could be the ones hiding or seeking. Ferrets are also territorial and love to nest. They are known to steal food and objects, which are later found in their litters or “nests.” If you have a ferret roaming free at home, it is probably not uncommon for you to lose your keys, books, pens, etc. Ferrets even steal retrieved objects again probably because they have developed some sort of attachment to the object or objects.

Ferrets could be rough during playtime and might hurt you. Be careful not to hit them as it might make them doubt that you are trustworthy. To discipline a ferret, you may drag them gently across the ground the same way their mothers teach them.

There are plenty of ferret toys available in the market but did you know that many of ferrets’ favorite toys could be found at home? Ferrets love to open cabinets, boxes, and containers because of their curious nature. They are fond of squeezing into pipes, tubes, holes, and other enclosed spaces, which could be a hazard if you are not careful.

Ferrets prefer a mixture of items in their toy collection. Put in some bell-balls, tennis balls, tubes, and paper bags. They also like playing tug-of-war with stuffed toys and animals. Change the toy combination regularly because ferrets get bored, too. You will know that a ferret is up for a game by its “weasel war dance,” which consists of successive sideway hops and a soft clucking noise, referred to as dooking.

Ferrets love toys but they love hiding them more. Mark their favorite spot so you would know where to find missing articles. There is no use trying to stop them because it is in their nature to “steal.”

When shopping for ferret toys, inspect the items carefully and check whether there are detachable parts that might be swallowed accidentally. The best choices are sturdy ferret toys, preferably not made of plastic.

But as mentioned earlier, all it takes is a little resourcefulness to keep your ferrets happy. For starters, you could get a box and fill it with rice (not the instant kind) or playground sand. This will surely keep your fuzzy friend busy for hours. You could also try giving them paper towel rolls but cut a slit across the length for safety reasons. The most important thing is you check the quality of your ferrets’ toys regularly and make sure they are in good condition.

Taking care of a pet ferret is very similar to caring of a dog or a cat and requires more attention than other caged animals.  That is why there have been a growing number of pet shops that carry ferret supplies as the popularity of this animal as a pet has been seen to increase over the recent years.

If you have recently adopted a pet ferret or have been contemplating on getting one, here are some basic and not-so-basic ferret supplies that you need to familiarize yourself with because you may need to have and provide them for your pet.

One of the most basic of all pet supplies is his cage.  Choose a clean, sturdy and roomy cage for your pet.  It must be big enough to house his food and water dishes as well as his toys and other accessories.  The cage needs to be installed in a location with room temperature.  Although some owners prefer a leech instead of a cage, a good warm shelter or house is something any pet owner should be able to provide for his pet.
As mammals, ferrets need warmth to prevent them from catching colds.  Some ferret furniture like beds and hammocks have been made available in some pet supplies stores.  And some special cages have these already installed and ready for ferret use. However, throwing in a warm piece of cloth or rug to serve as his bed can do just as fine as commercial ferret furniture.

Food is of course among the essential ferret supplies.  Proper nutrition and a balanced diet should be given to your pet on a regular basis to avoid sickness and diseases.  As ferrets may come with some health issues, it is wise to also secure your pet’s vaccination religiously. Ferret medications and injure remedies are also among the ferret supplies available for pet owners but can be bought on a need basis.  Ferret vitamins and supplements have also taken a share of the ferret supplies rack in some pet shops but you won’t exactly need to buy them unless the vet tells you to.

Grooming is also a consideration when buying ferret supplies.  Regular and flea shampoo should also be part of your regular shopping list.  Bathing materials can also be purchased to make the task easier for you but are not a essential to complete the task.    Coat care supplies are also available to keep your pet’s fur clean and shiny but are items that you may forego for later.

Ferret toys are also among the most popular items in the ferret supplies list.  Some owners even buy interactive and plush toys for their pets.  Toys come in different shapes and sizes.  The most popular ones are the edible chew toys, tunnels, balls and tubes.  However, some simple household things can substitute for these commercial toys like an ordinary ball, a pipe or a piece of wood and will work just as well.

With the introduction of a lot of new items for ferrets, it indeed becomes financially difficult for ferret owners to keep up with their pet’s needs and wants.  But if you know the basic items that your pet needs just enough to survive and stay healthy, you can do away with other things that are just nice to have but not really all that necessary.

Since domesticated ferrets started gaining popularity as household pets in 1991, more and more people have become concerned about the proper ferret pet care. Keeping your furry pets happy includes shopping for good and lasting ferret houses. There are a number of ferret houses being sold off and online, that it’s very easy to get caught up in the marketing hype. Most of them look pretty fancy, but fancy doesn’t necessary mean best pet care for your cute little ferrets. Below are some pointers to help you choose your ferret houses wisely.

Ferret House Sizes do matter

Whether you’re shopping for ferret houses or cages, it’s important to take note of the dimensions of the product you’re buying. Although most ferret owners like to keep their ferrets out of the cage, remember that ferrets can’t be left out in the open unattended, and chances are you will have other things to worry about in life other than your pet ferret. Shopping for the best house is incredibly important, as your ferret will be spending a relatively significant length of time inside the house or cage. Make sure that you choose a ferret house has enough room for litter boxes, toys, tunnels, food dispensers, and hammocks.

Small houses and cages tend to stress out ferrets that are constantly restless and bored. Generally, ferrets should not be kept too long in cages and houses unless they’re highly aggressive. However, you should teach your pet to enjoy its own private space by choosing ferret house that is roomy enough for possibilities. Multilayered houses and cages are selling extremely well in the market today because they’re real space savers, and they can house up to two ferrets at any one time.

Never substitute hamster cages for ferret houses or cages because ferrets have special needs, which these smaller cages won’t be ably to fulfill. For one, ferrets are generally bigger than hamsters, and the openings of hamster cages would be highly insufficient for fast-growing pet ferrets.

Proper ventilation is a must

Unless no one has told you yet, the body odor and urine of ferrets are intolerable unless properly aired out. Never substitute aquariums for ferret houses, either, because your pet could die of asphyxiation. The closed quarters of an aquarium would also make it harder for you to clean up the mess your pet has made. Look for cages or houses with strong grills and doors with efficient locks. It’s true that the last thing you want to happen is for your ferret to escape. Unlike cats, ferrets are least likely to find they’re way back to your homes. However, a housing area that’s too enclosed could also make your ferrets sick. Remember, you’re trying to keep your pet healthy and safe inside its ferret house. You’re not trying to commit animal abuse by keeping your ferret in an uncomfortable aquarium.

Ferret House Flooring

When you’re choosing among a number of ferret houses, it’s wise to choose one with strong metal mesh flooring. This type of flooring is generally more stable than wood or plastic, and it can handle the weight of your pet, its litter boxes, and other ferret house accessories. However, you would want to line the flooring, ladders, and sharp edges with thick wads of clothing to avoid injuring your cuddly little fur ball.