So You Think You Want A Ferret

Price of Owning a Ferret 

• The Ferret- from a pet store- $120-$175
  from a breeder- $200-$400
  from a shelter- $50-$100
• The Cage (a good cage is The Ferret Nation Cage. Read my review at Pet Product Reviews )- minimum size cage for 1 ferret should be about 2' by 18" by 2'; the bigger the better- $90-$250
• Cage accessories-
  Food bowl- $3-$7
  Water Bottle- $3-$8
  Litter Pan- $3-$10
  Hammocksand Other Bedding- $5-$20 each
  Sleeping Den- $5-$10
  Litter Scoop-0.70-2.00
  Litter-3.00-7.00
• Toys-
  Thru-Way Tunnel- $10-$20
  Jingle toys- $0.50 - $3.00
  Ferret Play Mat - $15.00-$40.00
• Food and supplements-
  Ferret Diet- $7-$16 for a 3-5lb bag
  Supplements-
  Oil supplement-$3-$10
  High calorie supplement- $3-$7
  Hairball remedy- $2-$5
• Medical costs- yearly vaccines- $30-$60
  possible surgery- $500-$1000
  daily or monthly medication- $20-$40
• Not including the cost of the ferret, surgery or medication, the initial cost of a ferret is 179.50 to 415.00 with just one of each item above.

Other Ferret things to consider 

1. The Ferret Mind
   
   Ferrets are tenacious creatures. If they want to get somewhere or get something, they will continue to try until they succeed. You may decide you want their cage set up one way and they'll continue to rearrange it to their liking. Sometimes it can become a battle of wills and the best thing to do is come up with a compromise. If they want to move the litter box, either let it stay where they want it or secure it to the side of the cage.

2. Ferret Proofing
   
   Ferrets love getting into things. Their Latin name, Mustela putorius furo, includes the word furo from the Latin word fur which means thief. That fact should give you a little idea of what you may be in for. TV remotes, socks, shoes, keys...Any may be something your ferret thinks they should acquire and hide. Some may be dangerous to them. Rubber buttons from remotes may cause GI Tract blockages if swallowed. Ferrets are also very curious animals and if a hole is big enough, they will get through it. Because of these dangers, it is important to ferret proof the area your ferret is going to be allowed to run in. Put small items away, check for holes the size of a quarter and larger that lead to dangerous places (into walls, into sofas, etc.) and cover them. Once you've ferret-proofed go back and check again. If there is something to get into, a ferret will find it.

3. Ferret Odor
   
   Ferrets have an odor. It's a fact. Some people have no problem with it, others with sensitive noses can't stand it. They have a musky odor that is normal for them. While most ferrets that are in pet stores have had their scent glands removed, this does not take away the musky odor. The scent glands are anal glands like a dog has and ferrets only empty them occasionally, often when they are afraid of something.
   
   There are ways to help reduce the odor. One is to not bathe the ferret very frequently. Bathing removes the oils in the coat and skin, frequent bathing means the body then has to work hard to replace the oils. The other is to keep their area clean. Scoop litter boxes everyday and wash their bedding at least every 2 weeks. There is no way to make it go away completely, but it can be reduced to keep everyone happy. Besides some people pay a lot of money for musk perfume.

4. Ferret Poop
   
   Not always a topic for polite company, but poop can be a big issue in the care of your ferret. One of the nice things about ferrets is that they will use a litter box. But.... it is important to keep in mind that they may not be as accurate as a cat when it comes to using one. If one isn't conveniently close by, they will just back into the closest corner and go. Because of this, it's important to make sure there are plenty of litter boxes in whatever area your ferret lives and plays in. It will save you a lot of stress in the end.

5. Time
   
   One of the most common reason ferrets are surrendered to ferret shelters is because the owner no longer has time for them. Ferrets should have about 2-4 hours of free time outside of their cage to get exercise, explore and spend time with you. You don't have to entertain them the whole time they are out, but you should spend some time each day interacting with them and having fun. The time doesn't ahve to be all at once either, it can be broken up; maybe you let them out for 20 minutes in the morning when you are getting ready for work, another 20 when you come home and fix dinner and then the rest of the time when you sit down to watch TV later on. Alternating their toys every few days helps keep them occupied when out. If you can't watch them, consider getting a playpen to contain.