Overview: Basic Information about Ferrets

Shango sitting on my car


Over the course of my life so far, I’ve lived with everything from cats and dogs to frogs and crayfish. But of the dozen or so animal species that have lived in my home, I must say that no animal seems to really enjoy life as much as a ferret. Ferrets live completely in the moment and aren’t afraid to be crazy. In fact, they seem to insist on it!

That being said, ferrets aren’t for everyone. It takes a certain type of person to be able to put up with the insane high energy and rapid mess-making that comes with owning a ferret. My personal belief? It takes a person whose craziness rivals that of the ferret itself.

Oscar yawning Species Information and Misconceptions

Ferrets are members of the mustelidae family, which includes weasels, otters, badgers, minks, and wolverines, among other incredibly cute animals! They are not, however, related at all to rats, mice, or rodents. This is a common misconception by people who judge only by first appearance. The most obvious way to tell that they are not related (without being a scientist) is to look at their teeth. Mustelids are carnivores, so they sport the classic sharp canine teeth designed to tear flesh. Rodents have entirely different teeth, designed for a vegetarian diet.

Another common misconception about ferrets is that they are “wild animals.” This is entirely untrue. Ferrets have been domestic animals for over 2,500 years. Only in New Zealand is there such a thing as a wild ferret (a.k.a. “fitch”). Many many years ago, people in New Zealand let loose their domestic ferrets, and due to the ideal environment, ferrets were able to thrive in the wild. In England, it is possible to find ferrets who may not live in the wild but do exhibit more vicious behavior. Some ferrets in England are bred for the purpose of hunting rabbits, and these animals are more in touch with their instincts than their companion-bred counterparts. However, the ferrets found in homes across the United States are not built for hunting or outdoor living. In fact, if left to their own devices, chances are a ferret in the wild would die within three days. In addition to that, many ferrets are also too curious and have too short an attention span to carry out a successful “hunt.” To put it simply, all ferrets with the exception of New Zealand’s feral population and England’s hunting ferrets are mild-mannered, make great pets, and are no threat to any local ecosystem – regardless of what California’s Fish and Game Commission tries to say.

One more ferret myth is that "all ferrets smell bad." True, a walk by the ferret cage in a pet store will make anyone believe that ferrets smell bad. However, keep in mind that many times ferrets in pet stores are kept in cages with wood chips for bedding, often have dirty cages, and do not get baths regularly, if at all. Not to mention that there may be five or six ferrets inside that small, dirty cage. Bring a ferret home, and it's an entirely different story. Unless you're dealing with an unneutered male ferret, you will not be able to smell the ferret from across the room, or even from a few feet away. I can't smell my own ferrets unless I raise them up to my nose. I've brought my ferrets on airplanes countless times, and in all cases, no one who didn't actually see the ferrets even knew that there were ferrets onboard. And we all know that airplanes do not have the best air circulation. The smell of a ferret is absolutely nothing compared to the smell of a dog. Moreover, when there is a smell present in a ferret's house, it is usually the uncleaned litter boxes or unwashed bedding that smells, not the ferret itself. It's like living with a cat; the cat generally does not smell, but the litter box is another story. But if cages and hammocks are kept clean and ferrets are bathed every two weeks or so, smell should not be an issue. In a multiple-ferret household, though, it might be wise to invest in a high quality air purifier. Let's face it; we can't always clean the cage as quickly as our ferrets can mess it up.

Living With a Ferret

Ferrets are the quintessential domestic animal. They have neither the strong hunting instincts nor the need for free roaming that you may find in a cat or dog. They are perfectly happy living in a house and do not feel the need to stare longingly out the window for a different life. Compared to other animals, ferrets are also barely territorial at all, which makes it easy to add new ferrets to an existing family without worrying about deadly power struggles.

Gumby sleeping I often say that ferrets are the perfect pet for a college student who longs for furry companionship. Due to their long sleep schedules (sixteen hours or more every day), they can accommodate for a busy class schedule. They are experts at fitting their schedule around ours, as long as we don’t take their kindness for granted. Ferrets are easily portable. Mine have gone across the country by car, bus, and plane, and are as resilient as ever.

However, ferret ownership has its “dark side” as well. While ferrets can easily be trained to use a litter box, it is unreasonable to expect them to have a 100 percent success rate. When a ferret has to go, it has to go. Due to its short intestinal tract, a ferret cannot always “hold it in” until it gets to a litter box. Sometimes, if a litter box is too small or too dirty, a ferret may opt to use the corner or the infamous “area right in front of the litter box” instead. I’ve even found Oscar, one of my male ferrets, to get so wrapped up in exploring a new object that he literally just goes to the bathroom on the spot, because he doesn’t want to stop checking out his new discovery. This is the ultimate in living in the moment, but I don’t recommend trying it for yourself!

The point is, ferrets are messy animals. Very messy. Even if you have ferrets with a 95 to 100 percent litter box success rate, those boxes will fill up fast. And aside from that, ferrets often take pleasure in knocking things off of tables, just to watch them fall over the edge. (This is a favorite hobby of Shango, my female.) They also enjoy digging, shredding, and redecorating. Think that spare roll of toilet paper is safe in the bathroom cabinet? Think again. Ferrets are experts at opening cabinet doors, and in a matter of minutes, your Charmin Ultra might become the world’s most absorbent confetti. All this means that the human of the house has to do a lot of cleaning in order to keep up with the messes made by ferrets.

Ferrets are also capable of permanent property destruction. I’ve found that ferrets have the worst attention spans in the world. They can’t concentrate on anything for more than a couple of minutes – unless it’s something that we absolutely do not want them to do! As a young ferret, Shango was my family’s worst digger. She could go for half an hour digging the carpet outside a closed door. Oscar is not an avid digger, but he finds other ways to destroy the floor. Hardwood and laminate floors warp easily, and if a ferret’s “accident” (or “on purpose,” whichever one applies) is not discovered in a timely fashion, the floor could easily be destroyed. Gumby’s most destructive hobby is digging the upholstery of my sofa and armchair. Does my armchair have a built-in massage? No, that’s Gumby digging your back through the cushion.

Considerations for New and Potential Owners

So you’ve read all of my ramblings, and you’re still interested in bringing a ferret into the family? Consider a few more important points.

Money. Ferrets are expensive animals. In addition to any purchase price you may pay, you will also have to invest in a high-quality cage for those times when you are not home or otherwise unable to supervise. Ferrets need annual rabies and canine distemper shots, as well as regular checkups. Also, due to their undying curiosity and daredevil attitude, expect many an emergency veterinary visit throughout your ferret’s life. Food and litter are also hefty expenses, as are property damage and the potential added price of finding a dorm/apartment/condo that allows pets. Lastly, elderly ferrets often experience severe medical problems, especially cancer. The medical bills will add up quickly.

Time. Ferrets are not animals that you can stick in a cage and watch. They are highly interactive and social animals and need to be able to run and play. I would estimate that ferrets require more maintenance than a cat, but less than a dog. Luckily, they are often able to entertain themselves given the right friends, toys, and environment, but that does not replace their desire to spend time with their human owner.

Mess. I think I’ve covered that sufficiently. Ferrets are messy and destructive. A neat freak would never be able to live happily with a ferret. However, a ferret would not be comfortable living with a slob. Ferrets are a good pet for those who live in between the two extremes.

Ferret-proofing. Before a ferret is invited home, the house has to be extensively ferret-proofed. This means blocking off any rooms that the ferret should not be in, closing off electrical sockets, finding and repairing holes in walls, under cabinets, leading into the dishwasher, etc. If the crack under a door is more than an inch high, a ferret might be able to squeeze through. Even if the crack or hole in question is not large enough, a foolhardy ferret may occasionally try to squeeze himself through anyway and get stuck. (Ahem, Oscar.) Rocking chairs, sofa beds, and recliners are all a threat to a ferret's safety, as they can easily get crushed. Chocolates, candies, and medicines must all be hidden very well, either in the refrigerator, in a medicine cabinet located high on the wall, or in a non-ferret room (but still out of reach, in case the ferret manages to get into the room by accident). Chewy objects such as cloth and foam must also be packed away, or a ferret may ingest them and get an intestinal blockage. This also applies to small cloth objects such as socks. Some ferrets will chew up and eat socks, which can also cause a blockage. Beware of glassware and china; as I mentioned, ferrets love to knock things down. If you are a man or live with a man, always be absolutely sure that you’ve put down the toilet seat, and preferably the lid as well. In my house, a toilet with the seat up (usually only when my father is visiting) is an open invitation for Oscar to jump up on the edge and stick his face into the toilet water. Hence the nickname “Toiletface.”

Shango stealing my sock Stealing. This is another element that must be considered when ferret-proofing a house. When moving objects out of a ferret’s reach, this does not only apply to dangerous objects. It also applies to items that you may need on a moment’s notice and would not appreciate having to search for, such as your keychain or wallet. Ferrets are master thieves and enjoy stashing toys and stolen goods under the furniture or in other dark areas. In a ferret-owned household, objects are not necessarily exactly where you left them, so don’t be surprised if one of your shoes suddenly ends up behind the television.

Children. Do you have them? Well, get rid of them! Nah, I’m kidding. However, young children should not ever be allowed to handle a ferret unsupervised. Children do not know their own strength, and they may not realize when they are squeezing too tight. They may also hold a ferret improperly (like, around the neck, etc.), drop it, or step on it. Well, for that matter, everyone living with a ferret must constantly watch their step, as ferrets are often underfoot.

Other pets. Ferrets get along great with other ferrets, and they are also known to live peacefully with tolerant cats. However, ferrets are not recommended in a house with large hunting dogs or any vicious dog. Always supervise ferrets with other animals that might be a threat. Ferrets are predators, meaning that they too can pose a threat for certain animals. Beware if you own rabbits, rodents, or other small animals. There is a myth that no one should ever have birds and ferrets in the same household, but this is not true. Birds fall under the category of “rabbits, rodents, and other small animals.” Meaning that a ferret can badly hurt or kill a bird. However, as I mentioned before, ferrets are not the stealthiest of hunters, nor do they have much of a killer instinct. They cannot jump high to grab a bird. That being said, though, the potential is always there, because ferrets are so curious. This means that ferrets and birds should never ever be out in a room unsupervised, and they should not be allowed to “hang out” with each other or otherwise share a common space. In my house, the ground is ferret territory, and everything high up is bird territory. Furniture is a gray area, and I have to be constantly vigilant to make sure that the birds and ferrets do not cross paths. The bottom line – know your birds, know your ferrets, and always be there to supervise.

Travel. If you plan to bring a ferret with you, make sure you have all the necessary equipment, such as a travel cage, food and water, rabies vaccine documentation, etc. Planning to travel without your ferret? Make sure there is a trusted friend or pet sitter available to care for your pet when you are away. A ferret cannot look after itself.

Dangerous fumes. Do you smoke? Do you use chemical cleaners? This is a concern for ferret owners, as the fumes can be dangerous. Quit smoking and invest in natural cleaners such as Nature’s Miracle and apple cider vinegar. Also, opt for air purifiers rather than air fresheners.

Life span. Ferrets do not have the longest of life spans. You may be able to expect a good eight years, but in my opinion, that’s just too short. You will get attached, and it will be difficult to say goodbye to a dying ferret.

The Bottom Line

So you’ve read it all, and you’re still interested in getting a ferret? You’re positive that you can provide for all of the ferret’s needs? Then by all means go for it! And then send me pictures!



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Disclaimer: The information on this site has not been read or approved by a veterinarian. It is simply advice from a fellow pet owner and does not replace books or vet visits. While I try my best to give sound advice, I am not an expert, and I cannot be held responsible for any adverse effects on any one else's pets. When in doubt, always consult a veterinarian.

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