adopting a ferret

Question
Hi My teacher has a pet room at school and when he retires next year I'm getting one of the two ferrets.Not to keep in mind that they are a boy and girl so the cant be together.I am getting the girl one.She is completely healthy and she is spayed.She is approximately 4-5 years old.How much longer should she live?and one other thing is they're any thing special I should do because I have a cat?

Answer
Adara,

That's great that you are considering adopting her!  They make great pets and will always keep you smiling.  I do have one question.  Why can't the male and female be together?    They obviously have both been neutered/spayed, in fact a female will go into estrogen toxicity and likely die if she is not. Male and female ferrets play great together, in fact, the two I have right now are of opposite sexes.  

Remember, ferrets bond VERY closely with each other and their humans.  Depending on how close she is to him emotionally, it might be unwise to separate them by adopting her out to a different home.  It is not unheard of for a ferret to die from loosing a buddy.     

Before you considering adoption, there are several things to think about.

1. Ferrets are not cage animals.  They need at least 4 hours of play time, and more if possible.  Your room must be thoroughly ferret-proofed, since they can (and will) get into everything.  This includes gnawing of wires, falls from desks, etc.  They must also have the proper cage, with the wire mesh of the floors covered so it does not hurt their sensitive paws.  Never use wood shavings!!  Pine and cedar have harmful chemicals that can damage a ferret's respiratory tract.   

2.  Ferrets are expensive.  They need yearly vaccines just like cats and dogs.  This will run you at the very least around $200-$300, and that's if there are no medical problems.  Since you are adopting an older girl, it will likely be more if she develops health issues.  

3.  The proper foods are essential since a poor diet can lead to diseases such as Insulinoma.  It is never too late to switch brands.  There are several important things to look for when selecting a brand or brands of kibble.  It must contain high fat and protein content. Generally look for 35-40 percent protein (I have found any higher creates soft stool) and around 22 percent fat.  Every brand is different, and that is why I tend to choose 3 of the best, and create a mixture. For older ferrets over 5 years of age, look for less protein (more on the 30-35 percent side), since it can cause stress on the kidneys.  Whichever brands you choose, make sure the first 3 ingredients are meat based and try to stay away from animal by-products since these are "filler" and contain less nutritional value.  Make sure there are no vegetable additives and minimal carbohydrates, since ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot digest plant material.   If you decide to switch brands, always introduce the new type by mixing it in with the old kibble.  I generally start with a 20/80 mixture, then increase the amount of new food over the next few days.  This allows the sensitive ferret tummies to get used to the new diet.

Here are some brands I recommend and personally use:

Feline Wellness Core - very good and readily available
Innova Kitten EVO
Innova Ferret EVO - better than the kitten version but impossible to find
Totally Ferret - contains by-products, but should be ok if mixed
Serengeti Cat (Timberwolf) - I love this brand.  Very good!  

This list is by no means all inclusive.  There are many other good types available, just check the labels. Not all premium kitten/cat kibble is good for these guys, and not even all brands of ferret-specific food!  These brands tend to be pricey and can be found or ordered in most holistic pet food stores.  It is not uncommon for a 8 lb bag to be $20, but if you keep the kibble in airtight containers such as those plastic cereal ones you can get from Walmart, you are going to be all set for a long time!  Also, i keep all of my food brands in separate containers and cut out/tape the ingredients/analysis to the container for future reference.  That way, I can create and adjust the best mixture that works for my guys.  It really is trial and error but i usually start with a mixture of the three that I think work best.    

4.  Toys Toys Toys!  Ferrets love to play, so be creative.  They enjoy sleeping in hammocks and sacks of all sorts.  They will get bored easily without them!

5.  In general ferrets get along great with other animals.  My cats are afraid of them, so they steer clear, even though my guys want to play!  When introducing a new pet to the cat, never leave them unattended.  A cat (or dog) is capable of killing a ferret.

6.  Ferrets, in general, live from about 6 years to 10 years.  I have seen ones get sick at one year at the vet clinic, and have personally had one live to 9 without ever being ill.  There is a wide variety of range as to how long they live.  Some is dependent on factors such as diet and genetics.  It completely depends on the ferret, although 5 is already considered an older pet.

Here are two great websites with plenty of information:

http://ferretrescueni.com/
http://www.thechipster.com/fert-man.html
  
I hope this information has helped!  If you have any specific questions do not hesitate to ask.

-Cindy P.
E.R. Vet Tech