How To Care For A Ferret

If you are to be a first time ferret owner, it is often advised that you think of getting adult ferrets rather than a kit. This is due to the excitable nature of a kit, some can get a bit 'extreme' for a novice.

Although there are some exceptions, ferrets generally like their own kind to play with (as well as you) and especially to curl up and sleep with, so you should think of getting at least two ferrets.

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Ferrets are obligate carnivores, which means they like to eat "whole prey". In the wild, they ate whole small prey, which included meat, organs, bone, skin, feathers and fur. While they will eat produce and sweets, the majority of their diet should consist of "whole prey". There are several things which are suitable for your ferrets. A common item to feed ferrets is raw chicken wings. They will love the bones, meat, skin and gristle. Eating the bones will help to remove plaque from your ferrets teeth. You should NOT, however, give your ferret cooked chicken wings, since cooking makes the bones brittle. Brittle bones can splinter, and cause a number of problems for your ferret like choking or digestive tract injuries. Your ferret will gladly except a whole rabbit or pigeon too.

You can feed your ferret a complete dried ferret food, but it should be a specially formulated ferret food, as opposed to cat food, for example. Most adult cat foods and many kitten foods are not fit for ferrets, due to their low protein content and high fiber. Digestion in ferrets is quick, the whole cylce takes about 4 hours. Because of this, food should be available to ferrets 24 hours per day, unless a veterinarian tells you otherwise. Fresh drinking water should also be provided constantly.

Some foods are dangerous, poisonous, or unfit for your ferret. You shouldn't feed your ferret raisins, they can cause intestinal blockages and other insulin related disorders. Similarly chocolate is poisonous to ferrets. Chocolate can cause abnormal heart rhythm, vomiting, increased urination, muscle tremors and depression.

As is the case with many carnivores, ferrets are lactose intolerant. Lactose should be avoided at all times. If you want to let your ferret drink milk, make sure it's lactose free.

This is the basics of feeding you should know, but there is so much more...

Claw clipping is often a nervous moment for new owners. The idea of holding a ferret still while you cut their nails can be a frightening proposition. Actually, once you know the correct way, it's relatively easy to do. Ferrets front claws grow faster rate than their back claws. The front claws will probably need clipping every other week. While the back claws will not. Your ferret's claws should never be allowed to get so long that they alter the shape of the foot when it's placed flat on the floor.

Keeping your ferret still during clipping time is most easily achieved by distracting them with a treat or something else they like.

The nail should be clipped 2-4mm from the quick, and should be cut so it will sit parallel to the surface the ferret walks on; The quick is a blood vessel which is in the foot end of the claw. Cutting into this is extremely painful for the ferret, and they will bleed. Should you nip the quick when trimming nail, you can slow the bleeding using stypic powder or soap.

A few visual aids might help with this. You can find them here.

Most ferrets are very resilient. However, like most small animals problems can arise quickly and greatly impact their well-being. The best advice is to seek the advice of a specialist, like your veterinarian.

There are a great number of ailments that can be found in ferrets, and the internet will only freighten most owners more. There are however a number of things that ferret owners can do to help ensure the well-being of their ferrets.

Ferrets are lively, inquisitive, fearless and always finding new and interesting ways of stealing things you never thought they could (or would). This is part of what makes them so attractive to keep as pets, and also so addictive. I've heard tales of removing ferrets from stud walls, to emergency surgery to remove intestinal blockages and anything you can imagine in between.

Curiosity might have killed the cat, but a ferret is often more curious and has fewer lives than a typical cat.

So please take good care of your friend. This is the best source I've found to help your new friend live the best life possible!