by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: June 22, 2009

Ferrets make wonderful pets for the right people, but not everyone qualifies as one of these "right" people for ferret ownership. Raising and nurturing a ferret successfully takes more than a love for their fun and furry companionship. If you are interested in obtaining a ferret for a special pet, there are some things that you need to consider beforehand to ensure that you don't become one of the too many pet owners who wind up with an animal that they don't understand and aren't able to care for properly.

Ferrets are, first and foremost, extremely social animals. They may sleep alot (approximately eighteen hours per day), but when they aren't asleep, they are very active and want to play. You are their playmate of choice. Young ferrets are not typically snugglers and will be prone to playing too roughly, using their teeth as one of their toys. They have razor sharp teeth that would be used for tearing meat in the wild, since they are carnivores, so they can break the skin. If you have children, they should be monitored closely when playing with the ferret. A ferret who is left in its cage for too long will often begin to "scream" for attention and they can become aggressive and destructive.

Ferrets are also indescribably curious...about everything. When they are removed from their cages, they must be watched very closely or you will end up with a lost pet, and almost certainly some chewed up furniture, cords, and other things. They can be quite hard to find once they get away from you since they can flatten their bodies and get under and behind almost anything. Their cages should also have plenty of toys that they can chew and discover during the times that you can't be with them.

These little bundles of furry fun are also susceptible to a variety of health problems if they are not cared for properly. Aside from disease, they are prone to becoming constipated, so it is important to keep a tube of FerretLax on hand at all times. Ferrets in the United States are required to be descented prior to sale and they will also need a set of innoculations. They must be fixed in order to ensure their health since female ferrets will go into heat and stay that way, to their detriment and possibly death. Regular vet check-ups should be allotted for in order to keep your pet in the best health possible throughout its life.

For the person who has the time and energy to invest into the care and companionship necessary to keep a ferret happy, they make wonderful pets. However, if you are not prepared to give them what they need, the results will be terrible. You will end up with an unhappy pet who is not the cuddly little friend you had in mind at all. Your ferret will become unmanageable and destructive and may end up with medical problems that are stress-induced. Consider carefully any pet that you are thinking about getting, especially one as social and active as the ferret.

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