Adopting 2 Ferrets - Kids & More

Question
QUESTION: Hi, i am thinking of getting a ferret and need to know if a male or female is better and if my life style is ok to get 2 ferrets.

ANSWER: Hi Emily:

In the U.S. ferrets purchased in pet stores are neutered and descented because they come from large scale breeders. Smaller, backyard breeders may or may not neuter their ferrets, so it's always a good idea to ask. In the UK, most ferrets are not neutered nor descented...and this situation can make a difference whether you get a male or female.

Unneutered males become very very stinky when they are in 'rut' (and they get very bad manners too!); unneutered femaled MUST either be bred or given a "jill jab" to bring them out of heat or they die of anemia.  Thankfully, if you live in the United States, you probably won't have to deal with either of these situations and our ferrets smell a little better too :-)

As far as their ability to be a loving, intelligent pet, both males and females are equal. There are really no differences at all if they are neutered.

The best place to get a ferret is from a shelter. These ferrets have, for one reason or another, lost their owners and are looking for love.  A shelter will likely have everything from a very energetic kit that won't hold still for a cuddle and needs lots and lots of supervision for a minimum of 3-4 hours a day (and they can be pretty destructive if not supervised constantly) to older, mellow ferret who just wants to be a lap ferret and spend his/her final years in a loving home.... And everything in between.  So, no matter what your lifestyle, if you go to a shelter, I'm sure they can help you find a ferret that fits your lifestyle (as long as you don't live where they are illegal - California and several cities here and there in the U.S.).

As long as the ferrets would not be left alone overnight on anything other than an occasional basis - or if you have someone who would take care of them, that would be fine - you should be able to have ferrets.  Since you are considering two ferrets, they should be similar in age OR a "bonded pair", which is an awesome way to adopt from a shelter.  You can learn from the shelter operator exactly what temperaments each ferret has - instead of buying from a pet shop and literally rolling the dice as to the temperaments you would get.  I think it's nice to know in advance, AND you help give a home to a precious little one...and trust me, they DO understand and they WILL forever be grateful to you.  The best ferrets I've ever had were those who had bad homes before they came to me - they have been the most loving, most intelligent and best behaved ferrets of all.   Getting ferrets from a shelter also offers you the opportunity to not commit yourself to keeping ferrets for 6 ot 7 years if you see a change coming sometime in your future.  A 'mid-life' or 'elderly' ferret can pack a LOT of LOVE into the 2 or 3 or 4 years they will have with you.  

Whichever you decide, I hope you will make a 'lifetime commitment' (theirs, not yours :-) to your ferrets. Ferrets are very emotional little beings, and they bond closely to their owners, often even dying if their owner abandons them. They are also bonded closely to their cagemates and will greatly mourn and often die when their cagemate is separated from them, either by the owner or by death.

I highly suggest that you read the book FERRETS FOR DUMMIES by Kim Schilling BEFORE you even bring a ferret home. This will help you choose a safe cage, will give you the opportunity to 'ferretproof' the area of your home you will allow the ferrets to play in *before* they are there and begging to get out to play, and to know a lot about these little ones BEFORE you bring them home.  Having a couple of ferrets is nothing at ALL like having a dog or a cat - more like having a pair of two-year-old children....so there are many many things to consider before getting a ferret.  Try http://www.half.com or eBay for a great price on this book.

Here are some websites with great 'new owner' information that will get you started in your reading and learning - the more you know, the longer, healthier life your ferret will live:

GENERAL INFO - FERRETS:
(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 topics
http://www.craftycreatures.com/forferretsonly/ferret_school/ferretschool_aboutfe
http://www.craftycreatures.com/forferretsonly/ask_angela/index.html

I hope you will keep me updated - let me know if/when you get your little 'family'.  If you learn all you can and know what you are getting into before you get them, I can guarantee you will be very very happy with a bonded pair of ferrets from a shelter.   When it's time, let me know and I'll give you a list of shelters - hopefully one near you!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers

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

QUESTION: Thank You so much and i have been planing to get a ferret from a shelter any way i have one more question how will ferrets do with 2 8 and 10 year old kids?


Answer
Hi again Emily!

Of course it depends upon the demeanor of the children AND the ferrets - but I'm sure a shelter operator can hook you up with some mellow ferrets - possibly some who are used to having children play with them.

If you start from the very beginning by including the two kids in all the preparations for the new "babies", which includes learning all they can about ferrets - I think you will find that kids and ferrets are a great combination. Sometimes it takes kids to keep up with the energy of some of the younger ferrets.

The children will need specific instructions on how to hold ferrets (support their butt while lifting them underneath their arms, quite similarly to how you would hold a baby. Some ferrets will lay back in your arms and kiss and cuddle - others just want someone to roll a ball for them to chase. Either way, I think 8 and 10 year olds should be just about the perfect age to be exposed to ferrets, in addition to helping with some of the daily care: fresh water, fresh food, scooping the litterbox and wiping the cage out.  Maybe they can either split up the responsibilities or alternate weeks that each completely takes care of the ferret chores (with mom's supervision until you are sure they are doing it properly, of course). I believe most children will do a great job with some direction and supervision.

I strongly recommend you take both kids with you when you go to the shelter. This way you can see which ferrets are naturally child-friendly and which ones may not be a good idea to put with children. It will give the kids a chance to see and hold ferrets and maybe even help you decide which ones they like best.  If you get a bonded pair from a shelter - well, with two children - that's about as good as it gets!!  Each child, I'm sure, will want one ferret as their 'own'.  As long as they care properly for them -they are old enough to read about them too - they should have the opportunity to be responsible for *their* ferret.

Sounds like it's about time to get *fun* at your house :-)   I would just stress with the children the importance that they know the dangers of things like rubberbands, bubblegum, shoe insoles - all dangers that can and will attract a ferret, who then eats it, and ends up with an intestinal blockage....  So, in order to help the kids be very aware of the 'unsafe' items for ferrets to be around, possibly you can all three get together and you can read to them about 'ferretproofing', then all three of you can go on a scavenger hunt to remove all dangerous items from the area you will allow the ferrets to play. Start with one room when they are new, but then you may want to allow them into the majority of your home - IF it is ferretproofed (cabinets/drawers have safety latches that hold them closed enough that a ferret can't get in) and be very very careful there are no holes in the walls they can get into - and never ever let a ferret run loose in the kitchen - too many things are dangerous in there. They love to get behind refrigerators and stoves and there are many dangerous places behind there that can take a ferret's life - if you can block them out of there, great - otherwise, make sure they don't get into those rooms.

Hopefully the kids will take the ferretproofing very seriously and will be careful about leaving things lay around that ferrets can ingest and get very ill or die from...what better way to get kids to pick up after themselves? :-)

Sounds like a win-win situation for everyone involved here!  Do start the kids on the right foot, keep them involved and knowledgeable and it will be a very positive experience for them; and they will be a LOT of help to you too!

Enjoy!!  I will be anxious to hear from you after you have all done some research on the best cage (get one easy to clean and with plenty of room for them to play in), ferretproofing, foods, safe toys...so many things to learn in the beginning! ...When you get your ferrets, I'd love to hear from you.

I'm already excited knowing that somewhere there are two little babies who will soon be getting a wonderful home with a lot of love to offer them....if only they knew what was about to happen!!  I get so excited!  :-)Be sure to take lots of pictures - you will remember this time always. I compare it to the excitement and preparation of bringing a new baby home (twins in your case!) and that's neat!  Enjoy, enjoy!! And don't forget to drop me a line!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers