by Deborah Guarino

Created on: April 15, 2009

Ferret fragrance...and other "ferret faux pas," and how to avoid them!

As much as I'd always been intrigued by ferrets when watching their antics in pet-shop displays or in films like "Beastmaster" and "Kindergarten Cop," so many people had warned me about the distinctive, sharp musky odor ferrets produce, as well as their other odd little habits, that I was hesitant about owning one.

That hesitation was dispelled by a wonderful product you can find at most pet stores which, when added to their drinking water, virtually eliminates any objectionable odor from ferrets or their waste products. It takes about four days to assimilate within their metabolic systems, and, once it does, I find it works really well.

Since I don't want this article to sound like a commercial endorsement, all I'll say here is that the product is made by the country's leading manufacturer of all things "ferret,' so if you own one yourself, you'll already know who that company is. Let's just say it's a name usually associated with a law-enforcement professional like a sherrif...or a rustic lawman you might find in a western! And while the product isn't cheap - a bottle will run you about $16.00 for eight ounces - it lasts a really long time and its pleasant effect is well worth the investment.

But getting back to the ferret's natural aroma, which I, for one, don't find that bad at all. I've even compared it to a kind of "popcorn" fragrance, and wonder why so many find it unattractive. Truly, the main reason I use the above-referenced product with my own ferret is so she won't offend other, more sensitive, noses. Since I find her so amazingly appealing and sweet, I want others to, as well, and so far, so good.

Even my older son, who used to be averse to ferrets in general, was charmed by her during a recent visit home with his girlfriend. Like him, she was delighted to watch little "Podo's" antics and they both had a good time trying to hold and kiss her despite her slinkiness. Podo, as always, put up with being caressed, but was soon wriggling her way back to the living room floor, where she proceeded to investigate her crinkle tunnel and other favorite toys laid out there.

Another interesting observation I've made from reading other articles on ferrets is that while most warn about letting them play, unsupervised, with any dogs in the house, I've found the opposite is true, at least with smaller dogs. While I don't have any real qualms about letting Podo interact with my Bichon and Yorkie/Shitzu

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