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If you want information about ferrets, you've come to the right place! I don't claim to be an expert in ferret
ownership (is that owning a ferret, or having a ferret own you?), but I have done some web searching, and offer a
number of links to provide you with more
information than I ever could on my own. And I have some general information of my own below:
-
Ferrets: Great Combination
- Before Buying a Ferret
- Black-footed Ferrets - a Different Species
- Medical Info
- Rabies Compendium Changes
- Webrings
- Awards, Etc.
- Comments about vets (good and bad)
- Pictures of my two ferrets, PeeWee and Snowball
- Pictures of my ferret, Pixie, who passed away in November 2000
- Have a Happy Thought
FERRETS: A GREAT COMBINATION
Someone once told me that ferrets are a combination of the best features of a kitten (loving and playful, but
independent), a puppy (loyal and playful) and a hamster (can be caged when needed). With a dog, you need to take
it for a walk or let it out a couple of times a day to "do its duty," but if you have a really rough day, you can
put the ferret in her cage for the day - but be prepared, she'll need extra playtime the next day.
BEFORE BUYING A FERRET
If you are looking to purchase a ferret, I highly recommend that you do a little
research before getting one. They can be more demanding than you would first think. They love to interact with us
humans, and they also love to explore all of the places they're not supposed to get into. So, you will need to
spend time ferret-proofing your
house or apartment before bringing your new addition home. And you will need to buy it a cage, ferret food, bedding, treats, toys and
other things (shampoo, supplements).
Ferrets really need at least a
couple of hours of "play time" per day, although I have found that having two ferrets is a great thing. Sometimes
they spend time exploring new things in the house or even curling up for a nap; or playing with each other instead
of needing me to play with them. But they also want to play with me a lot, including competing for my attention
sometimes. And if I'm distracted, they give me the cutest looks, and I have to play with them... but that's part
of why I love them! I have lots of
fun links to interesting games and
amusing anecdotes about these little furry bundles of love and energy.
Ferrets live for quite a while (5-8 years or more), so you should think seriously before purchasing one.
In addition, remember that when you buy a new ferret, just like a puppy or kitten, it is teething. It can easily
be taught not to bite, with just a
little work, love and patience.
Before you buy a ferret, please check this
list and make sure you don't live in a ferret free zone (FFZ - where ferrets are illegal). The most notable
FFZ's are California, Hawaii and Washington DC, although there are a number of other cities and counties in which
they are either illegal, or require a permit.
If you are serious about adding a ferret to your family, there are many good
shelters and breeders from which
to purchase a ferret. There are also a number of national
ferret organizations, which may be
able to help you if these sources can't. Most petstores purchase their ferrets from
Marshall Farms, which has come under
scrutiny and criticism, so many ferret enthusiasts recommend buying ferrets which are not bred by Marshall Farms,
if possible. Also, you will want to check for a
ferret knowledgeable vet in your
area. Ferrets need to be
vaccinated against distemper and
rabies on an annual basis. Talk with your vet about possible
reactions to the vaccines (a very
few ferrets have a sort of allergic reaction, so many people separate the two vaccinations by about 2 weeks).
BLACK-FOOTED FERRET, AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
Ferrets, as we know them, have been domesticated for about as long as cats (some say a little longer, some say a little less). The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is not
the same species as the endangered Black
Footed Ferret. In fact, the domestic ferret has been domesticated for so long, it could not survive in the
wild (like dogs and cats can). However, some people, most publicly, the California Fish and Game, still classify
it as a wild animal.
MEDICAL INFO
There are a number of medical problems which ferrets seem to be predisposed to. Not to
scare you, but taking the time to read some of this information can help you to be more aware of potential problems
and catch them before they become serious. There are a couple of Ferret First Aid pages on the web,
which can help provide immediate help. But do *not* hesitate to call your vet if you suspect anything is wrong -
with such little bodies, ferrets can go from OK to seriously ill (or hurt) very quickly.
Ferrets tend to
chew on any type of rubber or soft plastic item they can get their teeth on. While this is great fun for them, if
they ingest pieces, they can get stuck, and cause
intestinal blockages. Sometimes
these can be treated with a hairball remedy, or other viscous liquids to help the ferret pass the blockage, but
often it needs to be removed surgically.
I don't really want to get too serious here, so if you would like information on some of the problems that a ferret
can encounter,
here is a list of webpages with medical information, broken down by disease.
RABIES COMPENDIUM
Oh, and one last note of good news to ferret-lovers everywhere. The Compendium of Animal Rabies Control
Committee decided late in 1997 to recommend that ferrets be treated exactly like dogs and cats in bite cases. What
this means is that ferrets who bite (or are even accused of biting) will no longer be killed and tested for rabies,
like Kodo was - they will be
quarantined and watched for symptoms. This is a great step towards granting the ferret full status as a companion
animal, and not a wild one.
If you have any problems with this page, or with the links, or if you have links to
suggest I add, or if you just want to drop a line, or for any other reason (like if you think I'm just ranting and
raving in this sentence), please feel free to email me:
And don't forget to sign my guestbook while you're here.
Or you could view my guestbook to see what others have written.
CREDITS:
AJ's animated gifs
If anyone knows where I got this background...please help!
I adopted my fluff from 
Meet Snoozy: 
