Ferret!!! Should I get one?

[Meowsy]

My daughter is starting back to school on Thursday and will not sleep in her own bed so I told her if she will sleep in her own I would get her a new pet!

She wants a ferret!
I have never had one and don't know anything about them and wonder if it is a good pet choice!

I heard they smell bad and are not good pets

I need advice PLEASE!!!

The snake we have was her idea and is now mine!
(which is ok bc I love him!)but she has nothing to do with him!

 

[Fran27]

I've known a few people who had ferrets, and it always went pretty well. I think they're really great pets from what I've seen, but I really have no experience about it.

 

[yoko]

i watched one of my friends ferrets once. they didn't smell like the nicest thing in the world... but honestly i've smelled worse with some other pet's i've watched. one of them was really nice and it would be held and petted without any resistance. the other one not so much so, would like to bite.

http://home.comcast.net/~god2good1/Ferrets_amongst_us/pros__cons.htm

check that out. there's a checklist you can do to see if it's right for you

 

[Gempress]

Did somebody say FERRETS? I love those little buggers! I have had three ferrets: Krillin, Goku and Trunks. Krillin and Goku have sadly passed to the Rainbow Bridge, but Trunks is still with me and I love him to death.

Yes, ferrets make awesome pets if you know what you're doing. I would not recommend them for first-time pets, though. The main misconception with ferrets is that they are like other small pets: rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. That is completely wrong! They are far more like dogs and cats. Like dogs and cats, they need to be taught acceptable behavior (like not biting), be socialized and exposed to different things.

Ferrets love interacting and playing with people. The best way I can describe a ferret: it's like having a puppy that stays a puppy forever. They're always playing, nosing things around, and getting into everything. Like a fellow ferret owner told me, "Everything is brand-new to a ferret!" They play almost non-stop, and then collapse into sleep. I have fond memories of me running around my apartment, being chased by three excited ferrets.

As for the smell, yes, they do have a strong odor. Be prepared to clean the litter box once a day, and change the ferret's blankets at least twice a week. But, with the small size of the ferret, it takes maybe 5 minutes a day.

I think the most endearing thing about ferrets is the fact that they giggle. There's no other way to describe this sound. They only make it when they're happy. When I roll Trunks over and tickle his tummy, he giggles like mad.

 

[Meowsy]

aww thats sooooo cute!!!!

 

[MyBestFriendIsADog]

Great pets! But...

you knew there had to be a "but", right? LOL!

I had ferrets for many years, about 12 years in total. At one point I had 4, and I also helped to rescue and re-home several ferrets. I managed a veterinary clinic and sadly ferrets are also prone to the problem of people getting them, having no idea what they were getting into, and then deciding they didn't want them. Word got out on the street that I was doing "ferret rescue" and suddenly I became the go-to person if you wanted to get rid of your ferret

 

[MyBestFriendIsADog]

Sorry, didn't finish that post, LOL!

Anyhow, ferrets are great pets, but a lot depends on the age of your daughter, and how committed she is to taking care of it. They require a lot of socialization when they are young, and even as they get older they need to be kept entertained. A constantly caged ferret is a bored and unhappy ferret, ya know? They have active minds and bodies that need to be exercised.

So, I guess my advice is to investigate ferrets pretty thoroughly before getting one. Make sure both you and your daughter know the kind of upkeep and care involved, and maybe try to find a vet who treats them, as in some areas this can be tough (more likely if you live in a remote location).

Good luck whatever your decision - I adored my ferrets and have told my own daughter that she can have one when she is about 10, the point at which I think she is old enough to become more responsible for it's care...

 

[Meowsy]

My daughter is 10! I know I know why is she not sleeping in her bed?
being a single parent makes it hard to make her sleep on the other side of the house!

But I know i would play with the ferret just a much if not more than her but this time I want the pet to be her responsibility only!!! W/O my help

 

[MyBestFriendIsADog]

Don't worry!

You don't have to explain to me about kids who won't sleep in their beds Even those of us who are not single parents have those kinds of problems (my daughter will be six soon and I often end up sleeping with her in the bottom bunk of her bunk bed, LOL).

I wonder at 10 if your daughter is really ready for the full responsibility of a pet like a ferret, though. Would she consider something smaller and less needing of interaction, like a hamster or gerbils? Maybe even degus? I think it may be easier to take care of, ya know? If you do get a ferret you may end up being more responsible for it's care than you expect, LOL, but you probably already know this!

Even when my daughter gets one I expect I'll end up doing some of the work. I guess I don't see my kid at 10 being able to take on the full job, LOL, but yours may be ready to.

Good luck regardless!

 

[MyBestFriendIsADog]

I think the most endearing thing about ferrets is the fact that they giggle. There's no other way to describe this sound. They only make it when they're happy. When I roll Trunks over and tickle his tummy, he giggles like mad.

I always thought of it more as a "clucking" noise but I like your giggle description better! One of ours used to do this a great deal, especially when she would groom us - her favourite places to groom were our eyelashes and eyebrows, LOL! It took some trust and a real ability to suppress a tickle response to let her do this, of course!

 

[621mum]

Ferrets are wonderful animals to have around (and I actually like that smell they have). But, you have to be really prepared to work with them. They need a lot of handling and playtime and socialization or they will get (and stay) nippy as they grow up. They will steal whatever they can (we caught ours hanging upside down in the trashcan with only his feet sticking out many times), and drag it under the bed or whatever. You have to make sure your house is "ferret escape proof" because they can squeeze through small holes. They are also not always reliable about their litter box. My first ferret was never caged (not even for a minute), so he was soooooo friendly. But, while he would go in the box about 90% of the time, sometimes he just didn't want to (to busy to be bothered) and would find any out of the way corner (in my closet on the shoes, under the bed, etc.). When we moved from that apartment we found some interesting ferret gifts! All of that having been said, if you are willing to do the work (and I don't think a child could do it all), they are great.

 

[Sheba]

Ferrets are wonderful little creatures.I have not had one, but I have been playing with them...Yes you do have to train them like a puppy, and they are like little puppies until the cross the to Bridge...Somebody said that but I dont feel like looking it up right now once I have got to posting this...

Back on topic Sheba!

You can give ferrets baths...They might now enjoy it, but you can!If you train them, they just nip at you a little.It tickles me when I'm handling them a little.Some ferrets had unique patterns, and some have certain needs...I think you daughter is responsible enough (LOL), but only with a LITTLE BIT of help!

 

[Zoom]

My roommate had a ferret named Hobbes and it was great. He really didn't smell that bad because he was deoderized and Jake gave him monthly baths. He was very playful and also the world's biggest klepto, but only to MY stuff. He took my wallet, my sunglasses case, my shoe...those were his three favorites. He also couldn't resist standing on my keyboard, which is why half of my number line no longer works. They can be litter box trained just like cats, and will come when called like dogs. They do love to scurry through any hole they find or can make (they are chewers). We let Hobbes have run of the house when we were home or set up a baby gate to keep him in certain areas. All in all, a pretty good pet if you know what you're doing.

If you decide ferrets are not for your daughter, look into getting her a rat. They're much calmer and smarter than hamsters and a LOT less nippy. They can be trained somewhat like a dog (they respond well to treats and affection) and smell much better than mice, gerbils and hamsters. I've got two of them and they were my furry babies before I got Sawyer. Now I can't play with them as much because he looks upon Tabasco and Rae as fast food.

 

[juliefurry]

I have 2 baby ferrets (their both under a year old). They are great pets but they require LOTS of attention. As babies they nip and bite and want nothing more to do than play. You need to work with them for hours each day and they need lots of out of cage time. My two are slowly starting to get better about biting and being so bouncy but they still have a long way to go. I give my two weekly baths and also spray them with deodorizer everyday. Also clean their cage daily as well (since the male won't use the litter box). They are very curious and entertaining little critters though.

 

[Zoom]

Hobbes didn't get the concept of quiet time...he would come dashing into my room and hop up on my keyboard as I was using it to frantically type a paper that was due the next day. I'd toss him off, he'd leap right back up, so I'd lob him a bit further. Poof, boomerang ferret! So I would acutally get up and put him outside the room, but if I wasn't quick enough to close the door, he'd be right back up on the desk. Sigh. I miss that little guy...I wish I hadn't had to move.

 

[Buckshot]

How did you ever get them house broken?

 

[juliefurry]

my ferrets came to me litter box trained (well the male refuses to use the litter box, but the female won't go anywhere else. I just leave the litterbox out when they are running around and playing. Emery (the male) doesn't care just goes where he wants but Emma (the female) will only go in the box. They are usually pretty easy to tell when they have to go they will start to back up and that's when you know to put them in the littter box ASAP.

 

[*kitty!]

Ferrets are so cute!!..i wish i could get one..

 

[thehoundgirl]

I would research ferrets before you get one. I've never had one before and I'd research one before I'd ever have one. but I am not sure I am the right person to own one.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

From what I know, they require TONS of attention, socialization, etc...

Would you consider your daughter ready for a puppy?
Basically, they are very similiar. Also, if she didn't take care of her snake... All I am trying to say is don't jump headfirst into anything. Just imagine you having to take care of your dog(s), snake, ferret...
It is a big responsibility.

I would also consider something a little easier for HER first pet, perhaps a hamster, gerbil, rat...

~Tucker