Annual Ferret Cost

Question
Thank you for your time in reading my question.

I am thinking of getting a ferret but I am curious how much money I should put aside for one. About how much would it cost for the first year of owning a ferret?

Thank you again for reading,
Olivia R.

Answer
Hi Olivia:

That's a great idea to figure out the numbers BEFORE you get a ferret. You'd be surprised the folks who just buy one, then find they can't afford to take care of them properly!  You are very wise to be thinking ahead.

Prices vary GREATLY across the U.S. and other countries also.  For the first year you can figure that the ferret will need a MINIMUM of three distemper booster shots and a rabies shot (all given at separate times and each one given with a benadryl shot given before the shot to hopefully keep the ferret from having a reaction to the shot).  Most kits who come from pet stores come with ear mites and often also either giarrdia or coccidia.

The best thing you could do is locate the exotics vet in your area (if you don't know one, write again with your city and state and I will try to find one for you) and ask them how much an office visit is, how much a ferret booster shot costs, how much a ferret rabies shot costs and how much it costs to pre-treat with benadryl before the immunizations.  My vet charges me a $45 office fee each time  we visit no matter what is done - everything else is extra.  I don't think I've ever gotten out of there for less than $100.  

You will also want to figure in a nice cage - I recommend at least two stories with full size floors; figure about $40 a month for food and about $30 a month for litter (I'm just guessing here, ballpark figures, but you can check your local prices). You will need a hammock, some blankies (you can get baby blankets from Goodwill or other thrift store for the cage - just get nice, tightly woven cotten blankets or receiving blankets, or in winter my kids love a nice big fleece baby blanket.

As far as pets go, I think my ferrets have cost me much much more than any other pet I've had. They also take a lot more one-on-one attention on a daily basis than any other pet.  So, that's a cost you really must consider carefully before committing and bringing that little one home.  Ferrets can become very upset if they are rehomed - and some even die - so please don't bring one home until you have a cage all outfitted, a month's worth of food and litter, your house ferretproofed, and $300-500 minimum in the bank for vet bills - but that's just a guess going by the prices here in Arizona.

Hopefully that helped a little - it's something that is just so different in various parts of the country. I would *guess* that my region may be more expensive than most; but I wouldn't count on it.....

Best of luck!  I hope things work out for you and you can get your ferret and have many happy, healthy years together!

Sincerely,
Jacquie Rodgers