Buying a Ferret

Question
QUESTION: Hi i have 3 choices in a ferret to buy Champagne, Dark Eyed-White and the Black Mitt is there names i looked up on the internet that i think is correct. Which is best? Also i was wondering about Ferrets i do have alot of wires down here in the basement computers games etc. I have plenty of room for one cage time and money. Also i was also wondering about when they get older alot of them start losing thier fur and start to look more like rats. Is there a way to prevent this? Like better nutrition bath more often a certian type of shampoo. I am getting a Ferret over a snake and i want to you know just be prepared for it. You know like how much should i let it out should i ever take it outside things like that. Please help!

ANSWER: Hello Jordan,

Welcome to the world of ferrets!

Now there is no difference really between the colors except that deafness is linked to certain coat colors and markings by a genetic defect called Waardenburg syndrome, which causes deafness. An estimated 75% of ferrets that have a strip of white down the head and many times a white bib under their head (badger, or blaze) and ferrets that have a white face and bib (panda marking) are deaf. Also DEW's (dark eyed whites) seem to have an unusually high percentage of deaf ferrets. So there is a possibility of the DEW that you mentioned being deaf, but luckily it isn't really a big deal if s/he is, they get along pretty normally. Sometimes they can be bad nippers, be really loud or almost mute, and they tend to sleep like the dead. But unlike people they can't feel self pity and are perfectly happy being deaf. I have a deaf DEW and he gets along fine.

So really just choose the ferret that appeals to you most, be it the color or more importantly the personality.

Now I personally haven't had any trouble with ferrets chewing on wires and I have heard from a lot of other people who have said that same thing. The main problem I have is that they tend to get wrapped up in the wires and unplug things or knock things down. Watch your ferret and see if s/he seems to be interested in them, then adjust your ferret proofing accordingly. They make wire covers for just that purpose so you can buy those and put them over the wire to stop your ferret from chewing.

Now two of the most common reasons that many ferrets begin to look like "rats" as they get older is either due adrenal disease or "rat tail".
Adrenal Disease affects many ferrets later in life, more so in the US. Hair loss is a symptom of it. When a ferret gets adrenal disease (not contagious) it results in an over production of hormones. This can be a fatal disease but luckily there are many treatment options including surgical removal or the affected gland which will hopefully cure the ferret, the other option is medical treatment using the drugs Lupron or Melatonin. Neither one of these will cure the disease but they will alleviate the symptoms. This is a very over simplified break down of adrenal, I've been lucky enough not to have any personal experience with this disease.
Rat tail is a simple problem and poses no harm to the ferret. It's basically caused by ferret acne. The ferret will get black heads on his/her tail starting at the bottom and going up, this can result in hair thinning. To treat that once it has happened all that's needed is to wash just the ferrets tail with a gentle acne wash. Do not bath the entire ferret, they should only have a bath once or twice a year, or if they get into something.

While nutrition may not treat or help prevent  adrenal disease it is very important to the overall health of your ferret and hopefully will cut down on future vet bills.
You want to find a diet that has a protein level of 40% or higher, in my opinion. You would be best off getting a food that has no grains and plenty of meat sources. You don't want any corn to be in the food at all and meat should be the first ingrediant. You do not want by products in the food if at all possible and you don't want the first ingredient to be a meal or a by product. You want it to be a whole meat source such as just Chicken, or Turkey ect.
Great foods that I use and highly recommend are Innova Evo for cats or ferrets, and Wellness Core for cats, both of which contain zero grains and have a protien level of 50%.
You won't be able to find most high quality foods at chain petstores. Independent petstores and feed store are usually who carry the best foods.

Also do not be taken in by one of the biggest misconceptions with ferret/dog/cat foods, just because it's well known, expensive and "vet recommended" does not make it a good food. Iams is a very low quality food that is well liked but not an appropriate ferret (or dog and cat) food. Same as Marshall's ferret food and Totally Ferret, both of which are hailed as premium ferret foods but are in fact very low quality foods that do not have the appropriate ingredients for a ferret, though Totally Ferret is a better food than Marshall's Ferret Food. I'm just telling you this because these are very common beginner mistakes that I don't want you to fall prey to.

Another option is to feed a Raw Whole Diet which consists of frozen raw whole mice, rats, chicks, some insects and other sources of meat. This is the healthiest most natural diet for a ferret in my opinion. But this is also a diet hat requires a lot of research, time, energy, money, freezer space, and knowledge to do. It is not something that can be jumped into. If you are interested I can provide you with a lot of sites that could help you learn about it.

Another idea is to supplement raw food into the ferrets diet but keep a base of dry, high quality kibble as the ferrets main diet. Natures Variety makes a wonderful product that is frozen raw meat pellets that are great for your ferrets. But it is not a complete diet and can not be fed without a high quality dry food in addition to it. It makes a great treat to be given everyday and is wonderful for the ferret.

Ferrets need to be let out of their cage at least 4 hours a day, every day. They can be taken outside but I would recommend them being up to date on their shots before doing that and keep a close eye on them at all times. Do not let them run around without a leash because they are fast little creatures that can disappear in a second, and they always seem to love to make a beeline for the smallest, darkest, hardest to reach spot.

Ferrets are wonderful animals that can brighten up your day and never fail to make you smile. They also can cause you to pull your hair out in frustration with their ability to get into everything and anything. Ferret proofing is a must and a never ending chore. I hope you find the experience of owning a ferret as rewarding as I have. If you have anymore questions don't be a afraid to ask and make sure you keep me updated on whether or not you get one!

Best of Luck,
Lindsey

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QUESTION: FOLLOW UP: Thanx Lindsey you can expect great feedback for all of your information. I went to PetCo and all the say is Ferret? A Ferret....is a Ferret....thats about it. I think im going to get the Champagne because it's pretty and most of them have those two really long whiskers on the side. Well i have a huge cage for it plenty of room and im willing to give the time and try to Ferret proof my house so i think im going to give it a shot. Alot of the time i find myself very busy and others i find myself bored for days in a row perfect for a Ferret. Are all Champagne Ferrets Non-Deaf or are a certian percent of all of them Deaf? It wont be a really big deal but i would like a Ferret that will respond to my voice if you get what i mean. Is it recommended that you bath them only once a year or should you do it more often? Okay i know im overrunning you but uhh 40%protien or higher? I could try to feed them frozen stuff like fish mice and such......lol will i need to brush his teeth? possibly mouthwash? Ohh it is freezing cold down here in the basement where i live so i plan to put a small heater beside the cage is this okay?

ANSWER: Hey Jordan,

I'm sorry if it seemed like I bombarded you with information, I am just really happy and impressed that someone is doing all the necessary research before actually getting a ferret.

Pet store employees sadly don't really know much about the animals they sell in most cases. So don't take what they say as absolute truth. Champagne is a gorgeous color, my first ferret was a Champagne Point. I have never heard of a champagne being deaf though I am sure that some are. But no genetic disease that causes deafness is linked to that color.  
Long whiskers is one sign of a healthy ferret.

Ferret Proofing your entire house is an amazing feat in my opinion. If you can do it, go for it. I would recommend though starting with just one room and letting him/her out in there and seeing what they like to get into. That way it might make your ferret proofing easier and show you things that your ferret likes to get into or take that you would have never thought about.

You want to be extremely careful with recliners and couches. There are many sad tales about ferrets being crushed by the springs or someone reclining while the ferret is in the chair. Futons are most recommend, though people can not be expected to go out and get rid of their couches and replace it with a futon. Boarding up the underside of the couch or chair so the ferret can not get underneath it is also an option.

I currently only let my ferrets out in my bedroom. I've been perfecting it for the past two years and feel comfortable leaving them alone in it while I am home. And in my opinion six ferrets get into less than one ferret does. When you have more than one they keep each other busy, but with just one they are into everything. So just keep a constant watch over your ferret in the beginning.

Ferrets are prefect animals to cure boredom, you'll never have a dull moment. But just remember they have to come out everyday.

Only bath them one, two or three times a year using baby shampoo. While they do make ferret shampoo, baby shampoo works just as well and is cheaper. Ferrets will actually smell more if bathed often because that dries out their skin and forces them to produce extra oils to make up for that. A ferret will smell it's worst after the bath.

I'm not sure what you were asking with the protein level, but yes you want a food that has a protein level of 40% or higher.
This is the dry food I would recommend, Innova Evo, and here is their site with the choices in food. http://www.naturapet.com/brands/evo.asp

You can get the cat Evo or ferret Evo or both and mix them together which is what I do. Then next to the food click on where to buy and put your area in, that will give you shops that sell it around you.  The ferret or cat canned Evo is a great treat to give them and wonderful for them.
When you get your ferret from Petco s/he is more than likely going to be on Marshall's ferret food. You're going to want to wean him/her off of that because it's a very low quality food. Ferrets imprint on food at a very young so it can be hard to get them to recognize other foods as actual foods. Slow transitions can help with that, and help ease the effect it has on their stomach. Mix the original food in with the food you want to switch to, gradually decreases the bad food as days pass. Make sure you pay attention to see if your ferret is eating, because sometimes they will refuse to eat the food at all and starve themselves, though that is rare.

A good thing to do is mix together a few different high quality foods and feed them that to make it so they get to taste different foods and will be easier to get them to eat other foods.

Wellness Core is another great food also to mix in.
http://www.omhpet.com/wellness/cat_wellness_dry_core.html

If you can feed them frozen mice go for it (after you research it more) though it might  be hard to get them to eat it. You want to feed it to them whole, the bones, fur, and everything else. If you do this then you really don't have to worry about their teeth because bones are nature's way to keep teeth clean. But honestly I've never had to brush my ferrets teeth. If they are fed a good food with little sugar they don't have many dental problems. Don't feed them fish though.

Here are some sites about raw diets, though some are targeted to cat and dog owners they still contain good info.
http://www.exotichobbyist.com/NaturalFerret.html
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=479
http://everythingfert.proboards36.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread (this is a forum that has great information about raw diets and a lot of people that feed that. You will have to create an account to read it, but it's worth it. And this page in particular talks about feeding raw as a whole diet or in addition to a dry food)

How cold would you say it is in the basement? Because ferrets do better in colder temperatures than warm. I would say that anything in the low 70s is fine for the ferrets, even high 60s wouldn't hurt them, so I really doubt a heater would be necessary. Putting one in the basement wouldn't hurt, but not next to the cage.  Put lots of comfy hammocks and blankets for bedding (don't use carefresh, pine, cedar or anything of the sort, blankets and fleece should be used) that way they can curl up under that if they want to. But you do not want there to be drafts, so if there are you need to fix that.

If you don't mind me asking what kind of cage did you get or are planning to get?

Having ferrets is a constant learning experience, and an enjoyable one at that.

Keep asking questions and keep me updated, I'm excited for you!

Lindsey

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry it took me so long to reply. Uhh i havent gotten a cage yet ive been looking though. I trying to find something thats roomy and has one of those trays in the bottem for easier cleaning. Maybe with a ramp to a second floor just alot of room for them the downstars has plenty of space.

Answer
Nice to hear from you again Jordan!

And let me tell you I have the perfect cage in mind for you.

It's called the Ferret Nation. I'm not sure if you've run into it in your search for the perfect cage, but let me tell you it, as it stands right now, is the best cage you can buy.

http://www.ferret.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=630503   (you might be able to find it cheaper on ebay, but from here it has free shipping so I don't know which would end up costing you more)
It can either be a one level, two level, or three level. Each level has one full bottom and then a half shelf. It has doors that open like a cabinet so you are able to get to every nook and cranny. It has pull out trays for easier cleaning. It is also iron wrought and very very sturdy.

I, being the very foolish novice owner I was, bought a cage from Petco. It was flimsy, tall, plastic levels, way to small of doors (I couldn't get a litter box in) and I hated that cage with a passion.

I finally got the FN and it was the best thing I could have done. The cleaning is so much easier, and the ferrets are much happier with a lot of more room.

I can not recommend this cage enough. It's the best thing you could possibly do (next to building your own, and if you want ideas for that just ask. I have plenty) and you won't regret getting it.

I would, if I were you, get the two level right off the bat. While the one level is fine for one ferret if s/he is let out a lot, it's just a better buy to get the two level first.  And since it doesn't take up more ground area you don't have to worry about that.

Besides, when ferret math strikes you will have room for more.

I will also add that you should stay away from the Marshall cage that looks like the Ferret Nation. It's of cheaper quality and no where near as good.

Here are also some sites on ferrets that I thought you might like
http://www.ferretvillage.org/index.php?sid=c833a8c4485d71cfb75023729231c871
http://www.petshub.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15
http://www.everythingfert.proboards36.com/index.cgi

I hope this helped you in the search for a cage, and I can not wait till you get your ferret. Make sure you tell me! I'm very excited for you. And keep asking questions, thats always the best thing to do.

Lindsey