Mom/Dads Divorce-How 2 Take Ferrets w/You!

Question
hi my name is bradley and im looking to get ferrets but my friend told me that they need a lot of attention and i would give it to them but theres onley one problem, my perents are devocied and the cage is to big to bring back and forth my schedule is im at my moms house wensday-sunday and at my dads the reast the ferrets are going to be at my dads house and i wondering if thats not enough time with them

Answer
Hi Bradley:

Sometimes it is very hard to schedule around parents - especially when there is a divorce involved. That can be hard for a kid.  I'm glad you're considering getting a couple of ferrets and I think you'll really love them....but is there any way you can have them at your Mom's house, so you would be with them five days a week and away for two?

If that won't work, is there any way you can have a cage, food, toys, etc at both houses, then simply put the ferrets in a small carry bag or carrier to go back and forth between the two houses - that way they are with you at both places!  Good for them, good for you! :-)  As long as you have hammocks, food, litter and all their stuff at each place, the ferrets LOVE to go!  We had a vacation home that we did like that - had a big cage at each place, then put them in a small carrier to make the trip back and forth. Each time we would arrive at either house, they would get all silly and excited to be back at their *other* home!

Hopefully your parents will agree to this.  Be sure you leave a clean cage at the house you are leaving, so neither parent has a reason to complain.

You need to learn as much as possible about ferrets before you make a commitment to take them into your life. Obviously, you will need to find some way that you can be with them, if not all the time, then at least 5 days a week...IF there is someone who will feed, give fresh water and scoop the litterbox daily.

I would also recommend that you get a bonded pair of ferrets from a shelter so you know the two ferrets will get along well and both be healthy. Pet store ferrets almost always come with a variety of illnesses, and shelter ferrets usually (hopefully) have been receiving loving care and good food from the shelter operator and they are used to being handled too.

Here are some lists of shelters - hopefully there is one in your area (if you aren't in the U.S.,let me know and I can give you lists for other countries too):

SHELTERS/RESCUES - U.S.
* http://www.ferret.org/links/shelters.shtm
* http://www.everythingferret.com/ferret_shelters.htm
* http://groups.msn.com/Ferret/yourwebpage5.msnw
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-products.html
* http://www.ferretfacts.com/ferret-shelter-directory-us-ferret-shelters.html

There is SO much you need to learn about ferrets to prepare for getting them!  One thing you will want to do is ferretproof whatever area the ferrets will be allowed to play in BEFORE you bring them home - better for them and easier for you!  Here are some great websites for new ferret owners and some are about ferretproofing, and other topics you really need to know before you buy a cage (which ones are best?)...a little knowledge can save you a lot of money, headache and make it a pleasant experience making your family bigger with ferrets - the heart of any home!   Here are some websites:

GENERAL INFO - ALL TOPICS: (PERFECT FOR FOLKS CONSIDERING OR NEW OWNERS)
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret#See_also
* http://www.craftycreatures.com/forferretsonly/ferret_school/ferretschool_aboutfe... (great for folks considering a                    ferret as a pet
* http://www.ferretcentral.org  & scroll down to topic necessary
* http://www.craftycreatures.com/forferretsonly/ferret_school/ferretschool_aboutfe...
* http://www.craftycreatures.com/forferretsonly/ask_angela/index.html

GROUPS ONLINE (USA):
* http://groups.msn.com/FERRET---AlternateMessageBoard/messages.msnw
* http://groups.msn.com/mynorwegianferretfamily/myferretgroup.msnw
* http://www.ferretuniverse.com/

I also included some links to some great online ferret groups. These folks just get together online and talk about all kinds of ferret things, share experience and it's a great place to meet friends who also have ferrets. I think it's one of the best ways to learn a lot about ferrets quickly and make friends too!  Nothing will substitute for READING and LEARNING tho.....

A great book for people considering a ferret is called FERRETS FOR DUMMIES by Kim Schilling. It will walk you right thru everything you are going to need, how to set up the cage(s), etc.

Good luck - I sure hope you are able to talk your parents into TWO CAGES, one at mom's house and one at dad's...and a small carry bag to carry them in between the two cages so your ferrets can go with you. I bet if you ask very kindly and explain carefully that you need the ferrets AND they need you too, they would understand and go that special, extra mile for you.  Tell them it's your *early Christmas present* :-)  When you are away, your ferrets would miss you and worry about you just as much as you would miss them and worry about them! Ferrets are very emotional pets and get very very attached to their owners quickly. It's important to never break up a bonded pair of ferrets (remember that when you go to adopt at the shelter :-).  AND....ferrets LOVE to travel!!  You'll be surprised, but they are excellent, excellent travellers, whether it's a five minute drive or five hours; they just want to be with you. Ferrets usually fall asleep by the time you get out of the driveway if they have a place where they feel secure and can snuggle down on a cozy bed or hammock. Be sure you NEVER EVER leave your ferrets, or any pet or child, inside a car - even for a short period of time...the glass in the car's windows is like a magnifying glass and makes the sun burn very hot into the car, even on a cool day. So, there's one thing you know already! :-)  You're already starting to learn!

Best of luck - please let me know if they think one big cage at each of their homes is a good idea?  It really won't cost that much money in the long run...and it is a one-time cost.  (Be sure to read up about cages and get good ones so you don't wish you had chosen a different cage later - the online ferret groups is a great place to ask what cages those folks have for their ferrets. You can quickly see which cages are most popular...and they are popular for a reason, they are easy to operate and keep clean and they are safe for the ferrets.  

I have my fingers crossed for you!  I'll be anxious to hear from you on their decision!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers