Things to Consider When Buying a Ferret

There are a lot of things that you need to consider before you buy your ferret. These animals are active, playful, loving, and curious creatures. These animals make wonderful pets; however, before you go off and buy this pet, there are things that you need to take note of.

Time

You should only choose a ferret as your pet if you have time with them, especially those who can bond well with these animals. These animals are friendly, quiet, intelligent, inquisitive, and companionable.

At some moments of the day, ferrets are so active and very capable of being in trouble unless they are carefully supervised. It is also noted that ferrets are intelligent, this makes them great companions and they can easily amuse themselves when the owner is not around. The physical and mental health of the ferrets greatly needs the interaction and attention of their handlers.

 Legalities

There are certain legalities in how you own, breed, and even sell a ferret, especially where you live. There are certain regulations which ferrets are heavily involved.

Only neutered males are allowed to be kept as pets in California. In Carson City, Nevada, you are not allowed to own a ferret if you have a small child in your house.

To know the specific regulation in your area, you need to check with the local Fish and Game or Wildlife department, your local vet, or even the humane society. The three aforementioned organizations will also advise you to permit and license your pet properly. In order states, you may need to pay a certain amount to permit or license your pet. The fee for this would reach $15 or even more.

Costs

The typical price of a ferret would vary widely; it could range from $65 up to $250. The purchase of this animal is only the initial cost. Aside from buying these animals, you need to pay another $150 to $350 for vaccinations (such as rabies), basic supplies, and vet examinations.
            You also need to set aside a budget for neutering or spaying your pet, you can ask your vet for the price you need to pay before you purchase your pet. You may also want to buy an older, altered animal rather than buying a young animal.

Aside from that, you will also need money for vet care, updating of vaccines, and renewal of licenses.  Other than that, you need to give food, as well as litters, deodorizing cleaners, medicines such as hairball remedies, collars, shampoos, leads, and vitamin supplements.

Compatibility

People are naturally concerned on how a ferret would get along and treat other pets and children.

A ferret might be demanding for your child, it needs careful adult supervision and the maturity of a child. Your child needs to know that the ferret acts different from a cat, dog, and any other pet. Aside from that, your child needs be responsible enough to take care and handle your ferrets. This kind of pet is not recommended in a household with children younger than seven years old, especially those houses with babies or infants.
            Ferrets are natural hunters, which mean they can’t get along with fish, birds, rodents, rabbits, or even lizards. If you have these pets at home, you need to carefully supervise them at all times. But, your pet could go along well with cats and dogs. However, there are dog and other terriers who are natural hunters, which mean they might be in conflict with your ferret.

If you have a cat or a dog, you need to slowly introduce them to your pet ferret, and vice – verse. You also need to have another person who will hold the dog or the cat and the one to hold the ferret; this act would allow the pets to smell and get to know each other that provides them reassurance and encouragement, your dog or cat might be anxious or bewildered at first, so you need to give them extra attention.

Learn the animals’ behavior and see if they are okay. If you believe that the animals respect and accept each other, you can slowly let them interact freely under close supervision. Just make an available escape route for your ferret, just in case. No matter how your pets go well together, you still need to supervise them wherever and whatever they are doing. Have separate feeding are and bowls and do not let your ferret play with the other toys of your other pets.

Aggressiveness

You need to teach your ferret not to bite and nip, just like how you need to teach your puppies and kitties that biting is inappropriate.

If you have a domesticated ferret, it will not be really aggressive or vicious, but naturally, your ferret likes games such as tug-of-war, hunting, mock combat or even chasing.

Your baby ferret do not really know what hurts and what does not hurt, unless you tell it what is and what is not. You need to be the one to set up the boundaries and rules to your pet, it will be up to you to establish those boundaries, without hurting your pet or mistrust, or even teaching it through fear.

In some cases, your pet might even respond to certain noises, fear, pain, or actions just like biting. You need to alter this behavior through eliminating the noise source. If the noise source is on your need, you need to see the light from the perspective of your ferret. Remember, this behavior is not done by your pet intentionally, or even trying to do it because it is mean.