Listed here will be some helpful hints and information to help you with caring for your ferrets. I have had some great people to learn from and though I have learned a lot I don't know everything. When I know everything, I'll be the Goddess and believe me I am far from that.
First of all some of the MOST IMPORTANT things to remember:
* Ferrets ARE NOT RODENTS! They aren't even part of the rodent family.
* Ferrets require good food and water available to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. If you are taking them on a car ride that is longer than 30 minutes they also need food and water available for that car ride, along with a litter box.
*Most people who work in pet stores don't know much about how to care for ferrets
*You should NOT use clumping cat litter in a ferrets litter box. A ferret's nose is wet. Ferrets like to "snorkel" through a nice clean litter box. Wet nose and clumping litter are NOT a good mixture. The best things to use are: Yesterday's News or Wood fuel heat pellets.
*You should NOT put litter all the way across the bottom of a ferrets cage. (like you see in the pet stores) Depending on the size of the cage there should be at least one litter box
* It is possible to have your ferrets in too big of a cage. You will find that if they are in too big of a cage they will probably poop everywhere but the litter box.
* Ferrets are CARNIVORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A ferret's digestive system is NOT made to digest fruits & vegetables.
* Just because a food says it is for ferrets on the package doesn't mean that it is good for ferrets. There are some foods out there that have cute little pictures of ferrets on the package but the food inside is NOT good for ferrets!
PLEASE be careful what you feed your ferrets!
If you aren't sure then ask someone that has healthy, happy ferrets.
* It is important that your ferrets have out of cage play time in a ferret safe environment.
A minimum of one hour per day of playtime is required for a ferret to get exercise and stay happy and healthy.
First of all some of the MOST IMPORTANT things to remember:
* Ferrets ARE NOT RODENTS! They aren't even part of the rodent family.
* Ferrets require good food and water available to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. If you are taking them on a car ride that is longer than 30 minutes they also need food and water available for that car ride, along with a litter box.
*Most people who work in pet stores don't know much about how to care for ferrets
*You should NOT use clumping cat litter in a ferrets litter box. A ferret's nose is wet. Ferrets like to "snorkel" through a nice clean litter box. Wet nose and clumping litter are NOT a good mixture. The best things to use are: Yesterday's News or Wood fuel heat pellets.
*You should NOT put litter all the way across the bottom of a ferrets cage. (like you see in the pet stores) Depending on the size of the cage there should be at least one litter box
* It is possible to have your ferrets in too big of a cage. You will find that if they are in too big of a cage they will probably poop everywhere but the litter box.
* Ferrets are CARNIVORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A ferret's digestive system is NOT made to digest fruits & vegetables.
* Just because a food says it is for ferrets on the package doesn't mean that it is good for ferrets. There are some foods out there that have cute little pictures of ferrets on the package but the food inside is NOT good for ferrets!
PLEASE be careful what you feed your ferrets!
If you aren't sure then ask someone that has healthy, happy ferrets.
* It is important that your ferrets have out of cage play time in a ferret safe environment.
A minimum of one hour per day of playtime is required for a ferret to get exercise and stay happy and healthy.
Ferret safe means.......................
If a ferret's head fits then the rest of them fits. Believe me they will squeeze in where you wouldn't think they would. There are loads of unsafe things around the house. Here is a list of just a few of the normal household stuff:
- recliner chairs or couches
- sleeper sofas
- refrigerators
- dishwashers
- washing machines and dryers
- stoves
- household chemicals - just keep them ALL up and out of their reach
- cat/dog doors
- vacuum cleaner hoses
- pipes under your sinks
- loose furnace outlet covers - they get them off and they are in the furnace - ACK!
- FEET/SHOES - be VERY careful where you step while your ferrets are out to play. My husband and I do what we call the "ferret shuffle" when our kids are out to play. Never picking up your feet means they can't come down on a ferret!
My best suggestion is to have a ferret room in your house where your ferrets play and live. Make sure that room is ferret safe and your ferrets will have a better chance of being safe. My ferrets have an entire floor of their own here at our house.
If a ferret's head fits then the rest of them fits. Believe me they will squeeze in where you wouldn't think they would. There are loads of unsafe things around the house. Here is a list of just a few of the normal household stuff:
- recliner chairs or couches
- sleeper sofas
- refrigerators
- dishwashers
- washing machines and dryers
- stoves
- household chemicals - just keep them ALL up and out of their reach
- cat/dog doors
- vacuum cleaner hoses
- pipes under your sinks
- loose furnace outlet covers - they get them off and they are in the furnace - ACK!
- FEET/SHOES - be VERY careful where you step while your ferrets are out to play. My husband and I do what we call the "ferret shuffle" when our kids are out to play. Never picking up your feet means they can't come down on a ferret!
My best suggestion is to have a ferret room in your house where your ferrets play and live. Make sure that room is ferret safe and your ferrets will have a better chance of being safe. My ferrets have an entire floor of their own here at our house.
