by Kat Martinez

Created on: April 20, 2010

Ferrets are small, long-bodied mammals in the mustelid family. They’re sinfully cute and an unusual pet. It’s no wonder many people want to get one – or more. However, ferrets aren’t pets for everyone. Before buying a ferret, there is much to consider.

Ferrets are very unique when it comes to how they behave. They don’t need your constant attention and, in fact, sleep for over eighteen hours a day. However, they are social creatures and will learn when you’re going to be around so they can adjust their schedules to yours. They’re very curious and will get into everything if you let them. They’re quite smart, flexible, and adept at climbing, so can reach almost anything. Above all, ferrets are playful. They’ll make toys of everything from paper bags to dryer tubes. Just don’t give them anything rubber; they love the texture, but if they chew pieces off, they could choke on them. Sometimes, when a ferret is very excited, it will make a noise called a “dook,” which sounds just like it’s spelled. Ferrets will also do a “weasel war dance,” in which they jump around and swing their heads back and forth with their mouths wide open, when they’re feeling playful. Ferrets like to steal things. If they find something interesting, they’ll take it and hide it in a stash. Make sure you can find these stashes, but don’t disturb them unless you have to – you may provoke the ferret into moving them.

Training a ferret is actually quite easy. They’re very smart animals. All you’ll need is a few treats and a lot of praise. Raisins work for most ferrets, but don’t give them a whole one; it’s better to bite the raisin in half. Raisins are like candy to ferrets – yummy, but not good in large amounts. If raisins don’t work, you can buy a liquid vitamin called Ferretone which nearly all ferrets will love. It’s good for them, too! Still, don’t give them too much. The main thing you’ll be using these treats for is litter box training. Ferrets naturally do their business in corners, so if you place litter boxes in the corners of their cage and whatever rooms they’ll be in, you should see the ferrets using the litter boxes. Whenever the ferret does its business in a litter box, give it a treat and praise it. If it does its business elsewhere, pick it up by the scruff – pinch the loose skin at the back of its

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