toys

Question
Where can you buy toys that aren't so expensive? When I bought my Ferret, I didn't realize how expensive these pet places are!It so sad that you half to pay allot for a toy or items for your pets now days. I hope you got an answer:) thank you.

Answer
Hi Barbara:  my experience is that ferret toys really are not the best for ferrets!  My kids favorite toys are usually Fisher Price or similar toys that are big, colorful, and either move , have lights that sparkle off and on or talk when touched, etc.  They usually need either batteries or for you to wind them up, but that's half the fun of playing with the ferret!  I have ALL kids toys for my kids; and those little practice wiffle type golf balls that are plastic with holes in them.  I got a couple dozen of them on eBay years ago and still have a bunch of them (that I haven't stepped on over the years LOL).  They are cheap and last longer than the little balls with bells in them they sell for ferrets. They bouce sooo well!

NOW, for the most important part.....I buy ALL their toys from yard sales or thrift tores.  Our local Goodwill store has hundreds of toys that are all safe, big bright hard plastic that lasts forever!  They just need batteries!  Many brand names like Fisher Price. They do require batteries changed about yearly to stay fun.  We have one big flat one with big bright buttons on it and each button makes a different sound or says things like : "let's play!", another button says "lets dance" and plays music.  I leave all these toys (they have at keast 6 different ones) on the floor and after I show them how new toys are triggered when they first get them, they pick it up quickly and push the buttons themselves, either with their feet or noses, then they dance because they are so proud they made the toy make a noise or talked to them!  I pay maybe $2-$5 for the toys and they last forever.  Be sure you choose toys that a ferret can easily trigger, and always wipe down with mild bleach solution before giving to the ferret; you don't know how many people have handled the toys by the time you buy them.  :-)

I think my kids favorite toy is the clear plastic dryer hose you can gat on ebay.

Have fun picking the toys - I love to take my ferret with me to the thriift store and seeing which toys they like best.  Be sure to always buy items that don't have small parts they could swallow, or soft rubber parts they can chew on and get intestinal blockages.  Large, all hard plastic toys are best.  My kids have one round toy with a big opening in one side, colorful blocks that light up all around the outside and when a button inside it is pushed, the lights light up to the music that comes on.  My kids trigger it with their chin inside the toy, then just keep threir heads inside the toy while lights flash all ariund them and music plays!  Another is a driving console that is for about one year old child - any brightly colored button they touch on it (probably 10 different ones)  makes a different  noise or plays a song for them. The red heart says "i love you!", another yellow button says "lets play and have some fun!"  and lots of other buttons that make funny noises or songs they just LOVE!

Hope you will give it a try.  My kids also LOVE small, very soft stuffed animals. Be sure If they do have plastic eyes or noses, etc.  they are embroidered, not plastic or anything they can chew off and swallow.  If i find one I like (the super soft ones) if eyes or mouth are plastic, i go ahead and get them, remove the dangerous little parts and stitch the holes left shut, then embroidery eyes, nose, etc as needed.  Be sure to regularly toss stuffed animals in the laundry.  I do mine at least every 3-4 weeks.

Hope at helps,
Jacquie