Ferret Food Tips 101

Ferrets needs a constant supply of food and water to live a happy and healthy life. You cannot ever forget to feed them or leave them without food or fresh water for extended periods of time. The dishes for the food and water need to be cleaned daily as well. Fresh water should be supplied at least twice daily. Any foreign artifacts floating in the water dish should be disposed of and the dish should be cleaned as well. You want your ferret eating nothing but healthy ferret food!

When looking for a food dish, you should look for a fairly heave and sturdy dish. Ferrets love to turn anything into a toy, flinging it around if possible. If you do have lightweight food dish, you should secure it or anchor it in some manner. The food dish should also not be placed near the potty or sleeping area, to avoid any contamination.

As for water, it should idealy be located near the sleeping area. It is advisable to get a water bottle that secures to the side of the cage. There are also solutions that you can mix with the water to deodorize the pungent ferret odor. These are harmless and mix easily in a water bottle.

Buying A Ferret 101

Before buying a ferret, you should ask yourself some questions. Do you want a male or female? Should you get more than one so the ferret doesn't get lonely? Do you want a baby or an adult ferret? Is there a reputable dealer in the area? These are just some questions you should ask yourself.

A lot of decisions boil down to personal preference. There is not much difference in a male or female ferret. The behaviors are pretty much the same, although each ferret has its own unique personality. One difference that should be noted is that a male ferret will grow to be about double the size of a female ferret.

Female ferret must be spayed and descented unless you plan on breeding. They can quickly develop a serious disease called aplastic anemia, which they could easily die from. You should consider the cost of neutering if they aren't already. If buying from a reputable breeder or pet shop, make sure they are properly neutered before your purchase.

Ferret Care 101

Adding a new member to the family can be a big decision, regardless the size of the addition. The decision should never be made on impulse, even if you see a cute furry little character peering at you from behind a cage with their adorable stare. Time and effort must be committed, as they will not be there for only your amusement, they need to live a healthy active life just like you and me. Ferret care can be very rewarding, but quite time consuming as well.

Fresh food and water, a regularly cleaned cage and litter, and some tender loving care are all ferrets require, if you are capable.

Are you willing to spend all the time needed to get to know your new addition to the family? Do you have too much going on in your life where the addition would only cause stress? Does the condo or apartment you live in allow a ferret? These are a few questions you must ask yourself...

What will you do when you go on vacation? Will you be able to take the ferret with you on the trip? Do you have someone who can take care of and look after your ferret while you are on vacation?

Most ferrets these days are neutered before they are sold to you, if they don’t female ferrets can die from aplastic anemia due to not breeding. Male ferrets can also become overly aggressive if not neutered. If you are unable to find a neutered ferret in your area, are you willing to swallow the costs of such a surgery?

Ferrets also require attention from a professional veterinarian such as routine physicals and vaccinations. Are you willing to handle this as well?

If you are buying the ferret for a child, will they be committed in a long term caring relationship with the ferret, or will they bore of the animal not give the care necessary?

With the right amount of tender loving care, a healthy ferret will live up to seven years old. That's seven years of commitment to this animal that you should be prepared for!