Ferrets at home: pros and cons

Probably every person, at least once in his life, has had the desire to have a pet. Cats and dogs are no longer so interesting - recently the fashion for exotic and wild animals has been gaining popularity. One such option is a domestic ferret. Keeping and caring for this animal is not an easy task, because today few people are familiar with the habits and character of this strange animal.

All the features of keeping and breeding polecats at home will be discussed below. Here you can find detailed instructions on how to “raise” animals: from approximate cost estimates to methods for trimming claws.

Description of decorative ferrets

Ferrets appeared in the houses and apartments of Russians only 8-10 years ago, while in Europe and the USA these animals were “tamed” more than 40 years ago. You can’t argue with the exoticism of such a pet: a graceful ferret with incredibly soft fur walking on a leash will certainly attract the gaze of passers-by.

Not all horis can live in captivity. Only one of the many wild breeds has been specially domesticated - the forest ferret. This type of domesticated animal is usually called a ferret. The animal is small in stature, with short legs, has an elongated, squat body and a very beautiful fluffy tail.

In nature, the forest ferret “wears” a fur coat of only one shade – dark brown. But a domesticated pet can have almost any color: from white to black; spotted individuals are also often found. Below is a photo of a pet ferret: an incredibly cute creature!

Many people get ferrets because of their fur, because a pet’s fur is incredibly soft and pleasant to the touch. Moreover, the ferret is very graceful, and you can watch it for hours - the animal has interesting habits and a multifaceted character.

Character and habits of a ferret

In Latin, “ferret” is translated as “cunning thief,” and this says a lot about the character of the pet. However, you should not think badly of the animal - its character is very complex, the animal’s habits have not only disadvantages, but also “fat” advantages.

Before getting a pet, you need to learn about the personality traits of domestic ferrets.Ferrets are distinguished by the following traits and habits:

1. The domestic animal is very active, energetic, and is always in a good mood. The owner of a ferret will never be bored, because it is a “perpetual motion machine” that rarely sits still. It’s interesting to watch ferrets, because they have a lot to do (even in a one-room apartment).
2. The ferret is very smart, it is easy to train, and, with enough patience, the animal can be taught several commands. But here we should not forget about the tricks of home ferrets - training can be an incredibly fun experience.
3. A domesticated animal quickly gets used to a new place and immediately begins to explore “uncharted territories.” Thanks to this character trait, you can take the ferret with you on vacation or on a visit - this will be excellent entertainment for the animal, and not a psychological trauma (as for a cat, for example).
4. Domestic ferrets are easily toilet trained, which is great news for those who have decided to get an exotic pet.
5. Ferrets quickly get used to the rhythm of life of their owner; they will not make much noise or disturb the person. At night, a domestic ferret may not sleep, but he rarely wakes up the other inhabitants of the apartment.
6. Pet ferrets do not need to be walked, so the animals are perfect for those who are always short on time. If the owner wants to take a walk with the ferret, the animal will only respond with gratitude - for him this will be a reason to learn something new (the ferret is incredibly inquisitive and curious).

Is it worth keeping a ferret in an apartment?

The care and maintenance of a pet ferret will not be the same as for a dog or cat. The future owner of a ferret must prepare for the appearance of an unusual pet in the house; he will have to learn a lot of new things and purchase in advance everything necessary for a small ferret.

The dimensions of many modern apartments do not allow having a dog in the house, and a large percentage of people are allergic to cats. In this case, a ferret is an excellent option for a pet, because it does not take up much space and very rarely causes allergies.

Ferrets as Pets: Pros and Cons of Keeping

Photos of the ferret ferret will not leave anyone indifferent: the animal is indeed very beautiful and charming. Attractive appearance is one of the many advantages of a pet animal. Ferrets have other advantages, such as:

1. The size of the animal is very “compact”, and this quality causes a lot of positive feedback from owners of pet ferrets. The animal can be carried in your arms, placed in a bag or backpack, carried on public transport or in a taxi.
2. Unlike cats, domestic ferrets do not mind having leashes and harnesses placed on them. Walking the animal will be safe, and it will not run away anywhere.
3. After sterilization, these pets do not become lethargic and fat. On the contrary, neutered ferrets are even more active and mobile.
4. The thick fur of ferrets is not only beautiful, it is an excellent thermostat: in winter the animal does not have to be dressed up like a lap dog, and in summer it will not get heatstroke.
5. Domestic ferrets are very playful, they are constantly on the move - the owner will not be bored.

In addition to the advantages, domestic ferrets also have features that you need to know about before purchasing an animal.Owners of frets note the following nuances of their content:

1. The fur of trochees has a specific musky odor, which some owners may not like (this issue can be resolved by castration or regular bathing of the animal).
2. Domestic ferrets are prone to overeating, so the owner will have to carefully monitor the pet's diet.
3. Curious ferrets love to chew on hard objects. This way, they can not only ruin something they need, but also eat plastic, for example.
4. When raising pets, you can’t give in too much slack. Feeling impunity, the ferret “gets impudent” and begins to damage furniture, tear wallpaper, and behave aggressively.
5. Ferrets are very clean, so their toilet and house should always be clean. If the owner does not have time for regular cleaning, the animal begins to “foul” in the secluded corners of the apartment.
6. Maintaining strange animals requires a lot of money, because domestic ferrets need special food and regular care.
7. Domesticated ferrets often “steal” and hide small things - ferret owners are often looking for a second sock or a gold earring. You will have to keep order in the house and put all the little things “under lock and key”.
8. The ferret is not suitable for those who grow indoor plants. In nature, this animal constantly digs holes; when it sees the ground, it will immediately begin its favorite activity.

Before you decide to keep a ferret at home, you must weigh all the pros and cons - this is not an easy animal. If the animal does not “take root” in the house, it will be difficult to accommodate it - not every pet lover will agree to take on a demanding ferret.

Do ferrets get along with cats and dogs?

The advantages of tame ferrets include their friendliness. Ferrets are absolutely not afraid of other animals, which makes it much easier to keep a ferret at home in an apartment where you already have a favorite pet.

Ferrets love to play with cats and dogs. And these large animals, in turn, also accept furry animals well. Conflicts based on jealousy between pets should not arise - ferrets do not require too much attention from the owner.

Is it worth getting ferrets if there are children in the house?

Small children in an apartment may be a “contraindication” to purchasing a pet ferret. We must not forget about the origin of these pets: at any second, the ferret can become aggressive and harm the baby. The character of children and ferrets is somewhat similar: they love to play and have an excitable psyche. This often results in scratches and bites on the child's body, as well as injury to the animal itself.

If a newborn appears in the apartment where the ferret lived, most likely the animal will have to be placed in good hands. There are cases where an animal attacked an infant and caused him harm. It has been proven that ferrets do not like the smell of a baby and the sounds it makes and cause aggression in them.For the sake of fairness, it is worth mentioning that some owners note the special tenderness of domestic polecats towards small children (but this is the exception rather than the rule).

Selection rules

Like any pet, it is not recommended to buy a ferret at the market. These animals often have an aggressive nature, and market sellers can use special drugs to calm the animals. In addition, no one guarantees that such a pet will be healthy. The future owner will not know the exact age of the ferret. It is recommended to purchase a domestic ferret either from private breeders or from a club.

When buying a ferret for your home, you need to know some rules. Before choosing one or another ferret puppy, you should consider the following:

1. Pet's character. It is easy to find out how docile or aggressive an animal is by the behavior of the breeder. If the owner, without fear, takes the puppy with his bare hands, the ferret is affectionate and accustomed to being handled. When the breeder himself puts on gloves and tries not to bring the ferret closer to his face, you should think about it.
2. Babies under 1.5 months may be a little sleepy and slow. This condition should cause concern in older puppies - the ferret may be sick.
3. All little ferrets have the same color – gray. You can find out what shade of fur a mature ferret will have by looking at its parents.
4. In addition to the genitals, male and female domestic ferrets differ in their faces: “girls” have a more elongated and pointed face. The sizes of animals of different sexes are also different: males are usually much larger than females.
5. You can find out the approximate age of your pet by looking at its teeth. Three-month-old puppies should already have fangs in their mouths: sharp and snow-white. The yellowish tint of the teeth indicates the “advanced” age of the ferret. In such animals, the tops of the teeth are usually ground off.
6. Often, unscrupulous sellers try to pass off adult female ferrets as puppies. If a small animal has coarse fur and yellow teeth, one has to suspect deception.

A video about domestic ferrets and their habits will help you get to know the animals better:

Who to choose: female or male

Males and females of trochees have pronounced external differences: “boys” are larger, they have a stocky body structure, a flat muzzle, and large paws. The habits and habits of animals of different sexes are also very different. Thus, male ferrets have the following qualities:

• they need more food;
• the pet produces more feces;
• the odor emitted by the skin is stronger in males;
• a “boy” can lie in one place for a long time, bask on the owner’s lap;
• Male ferrets do not slip out of their harnesses and are easy to walk.

During the rutting period, a male ferret behaves almost the same as a cat: he “marks” his territory.

Female ferrets have their own distinctive behavior characteristics:

• eat less and defecate less;
• do not have such a pronounced odor as that of males;
• “girls” are more active and emotional;
• Often female ferrets slip out of the harness while walking.

During the rut, female domestic ferrets become very agitated and restless - this can be very tiring for the owner. In addition, ferrets rarely come out of heat without the help of a veterinarian or taking special medications.

If you decide to have a ferret in your home only as a pet, it is better to choose a male. When the owner wants to become a breeder and breed trochees, then, of course, it makes sense to buy females.

What are the upcoming expenses?

Keeping ferrets at home for beginners and inexperienced owners can be fraught with an unpleasant surprise - such pets will not be cheap. Before buying a small animal, it is better to make a rough estimate. Mandatory expenses for a pet ferret:

• Fritka puppy – from 2 to 20 thousand rubles;
• cage – minimum 3000 RUR;
• food - from 300 rubles per kilogram (the better quality and safer for a domestic ferret, the more expensive);
• vitamins and nutritional supplements – about 400 rubles per month;
• tray – 50-300 rubles;
• house or bed, hammock – 500 rubles and more;
• shampoo – 100-200 rubles;
• leash - 500-700 rubles;
• toys – 100-300 rubles (will need to be updated regularly);
• scissors for cutting claws – 150-200 rubles;
• vaccinations - 500-600 rubles per year;
• sterilization/castration – 700-3500 rubles (more expensive for females);
• carrying bag (for trips to the veterinarian, for example) – from 300 rub.

Ferrets rarely get sick, but no one is immune from this. You will have to pay 400-600 rubles for an appointment with a veterinarian – consultation only. For example, a cardiogram for a ferret will cost 600-750 rubles.Serious treatment with surgery and hospitalization can cost up to 30 thousand.

Breed or sterilize

Photos of ferrets living at home, full of admiration reviews about these smart animals, can make you want to start breeding pets. In a city apartment, it is better not to breed animals, but residents of private houses can try to make money by breeding ferrets.

The body of domestic ferrets is ready for mating from late winter to mid-summer. It is recommended to “breed” animals for the first time no earlier than 10 months (although the rut of male and female domestic ferrets can begin as early as six to seven months of age). To mate, the female is placed in a cage with the male and they are left together for several days.

Domestic ferrets can give birth 1-2 times a year. Depending on what period of the cycle fertilization occurred, a female ferret gives birth to from 2 to 12 babies.

If the pet owner does not set a goal to breed ferrets, it is better to castrate both the female and the male. The operation will have a beneficial effect not only on the animal’s behavior, but will also protect its body from possible tumors and other problems.

How to keep a ferret at home

In order for a ferret to feel good in an unfamiliar home, grow up healthy and be constantly cheerful, she needs to create suitable conditions. It is necessary to prepare your home for the arrival of a new “tenant” in advance. The first thing the ferret owner must do is to seal all cracks in the floor and walls with a diameter greater than three centimeters.

A curious pet can also climb into the housing of household appliances, so all equipment in the house needs to be inspected and secured. Rubber and rubber objects, electrical wires, small plastic parts will have to be hidden - the ferret will certainly begin to chew them. Pots with indoor flowers and boxes with seedlings are also removed, otherwise the pet will dig holes in the ground and damage all the plants.

You can place a pet in a living room, on a heated balcony, loggia or in a cage. Of course, a ferret feels best in a large room. If you decide to keep a ferret in a cage, choose a spacious and multi-story “house” for it.

How to care for a ferret at home

In the cage or in the corner of the room reserved for the ferret, you need to place the things the animal needs: a tray, a feeder, a drinking bowl, toys and hide-and-seek boxes. All items must be kept clean, then no unpleasant odor will appear in the house. The floors near the tray and feeders must be washed regularly, otherwise the domestic ferret will not approach them.

How to litter train a ferret

In order for a pet to get used to relieving itself in a designated place, the first thing a person must provide for a ferret is cleanliness. If the owner uses an empty tray, it will have to be washed several times a day as it gets dirty. In the case of toilet filler, it is changed regularly.

Accustoming a domestic ferret to a litter tray is not an easy task, but it can be done. There are several rules:

1. The tray must be firmly attached to the floor or cage - with suction cups or clamps.Otherwise, it will become a toy for the ferret.
2. A pet will not “go” into an already soiled litter box, and ferrets have a very fast metabolism (they can defecate more than ten times a day). Therefore, it is better to place several trays around the house.
3. Ferrets do not know how to “tolerate”; if the animal does not find a clean tray, it will relieve itself directly on the floor.
4. Before placing the tray, you need to monitor the animal - it is easier to train a ferret to defecate in the place that he chose himself.
5. After sleeping or eating, you need to observe your pet ferret. At this time, he usually begins to look for a “secluded place.” The owner just has to “direct” the animal to the tray.
6. It is better to choose special corner trays for domestic ferrets - animals get used to them much faster.

How to bathe a ferret

After sterilization, ferrets need bathing much less often, because the smell from them becomes several times less pronounced. One or two bath procedures per month will be enough for your pet. The owner will be pleasantly surprised by the ferret's love for water; he will not struggle or scratch - this pet loves to swim.

The water temperature for swimming should be quite high - 39-45 degrees. On sale you can find special shampoos for domestic polecats, but cat “cosmetics” are also quite suitable.

Feeding

The domestic ferret is a carnivore, so what he likes to eat most is raw meat and fish. However, such a diet is dangerous for the health of a domesticated pet; natural food should only be given to it along with dry food.Special chorionic food can be found on the Internet or in large pet stores.

Raw quail or chicken eggs, low-fat cottage cheese, and hard cheese are suitable natural supplements to the diet of a domestic ferret. You need to feed the animal 2-3 times a day. A domestic ferret will not eat “yesterday’s” food, so only a little food is given to her, and the dishes must be washed after eating.

How often should you change the litter?

Caring for and keeping a ferret at home is not an easy task. Not just any bedding is suitable for a fastidious animal. It is best to cover the floor of the choir's cage with a piece of dense fabric. To keep the “house” clean, it will be enough to wash the litter once or twice a week.

It is better not to use sawdust and hay to maintain ferries; they can cause various diseases in animals. If there is a hammock or “sleeping tube” in the cage, and the ferret likes to sleep there, you can completely abandon the bedding.

Sharp claws: pedicure at home or at the vet's office

Untrimmed nails on a pet are not only a risk for upholstered furniture and carpets in the home, they can cause injury to the animal itself and its owner. You can watch how to trim a ferret's claws at home in this video:

As a tool, it is better to use special scissors for trimming the claws of cats and domestic ferrets. If the owner cannot trim the pet’s nails on his own, you can contact a veterinary clinic; for a specialist, this is a matter of a few minutes.

Ferret toys

The ferret always chooses what and how to play. For this pet, even an ordinary box or some kind of garbage can become a favorite toy. However, not all of these items are safe for ferrets. The best toys for pet ferrets are:

• special cat toys from a pet store;
• hard balls with rattles inside;
• soft toys made of fleece or faux fur;
• unnecessary cardboard boxes;
• pieces of PVC pipe with non-sharp edges;
• hanging toys for parrots (if they have a rope, your pet ferret should play under supervision);
• teethers and rattles made of hard plastic intended for infants;
• tents or houses;
• old bags;
• hammocks and pipes for home ferrets.

Toys made of soft plastic, rubber or rubber can become unsafe for ferrets - anything from which the animal can bite off a piece and swallow it. Toys with small parts should be avoided. Chewed or damaged toys should be thrown away immediately.

Now let's go for a walk

Domestic ferrets really enjoy walks in the fresh air. In order for walking to bring benefit and not harm to your pet’s health, you need to follow several rules:

1. Walk only those animals that are regularly vaccinated.
2. You should not take a puppy under 9 months of age with you outside; his immunity is still too weak.
3. Those ferrets who go on walks should be regularly treated for parasites (fleas, ticks, worms).
4. Domestic ferrets should only be walked on a leash; when frightened or carried away, the animal can quickly run away.
5. Two fingers should be placed between the ferret's neck and the harness.
6. For walks, it is better to choose quiet parks away from roads. It is advisable that there are no dogs nearby.

You can walk with your pet ferret at any time of the year. Only in extreme heat and severe frost is it better to stay at home.

How to tame a ferret

Although it is not forest ferrets that are kept in the apartment, but their domesticated relatives, sometimes the new owners have problems - the animals show aggression and demonstrate complete disobedience with their behavior.

Taming a domestic ferret requires several stages:

1. Buy several pairs of strong gloves so as not to suffer from unsuccessful attempts at “training”.
2. First, lure the animal with tasty food.
3. When he begins to safely approach you for the treat, transfer the piece to your palm so that the ferret eats from your hand.
4. Then you can gently stroke your pet.
5. It is better to completely hold your ferret while sleeping. Waking up, the animal will see its owner and understand that the person did not cause him any harm.

Conclusion

The domestic ferret is a difficult but very interesting animal. You should not get such a pet rashly, indulging your own or a child’s whim. First, you should learn about the character and habits of the cunning creature, prepare a house for it and all the necessary attributes. Keeping, and even more so breeding, ferrets is a troublesome and costly matter. But the cute fluffy is worth all this - he will quickly get used to the house, the person and become his best friend.

Reviews about domestic ferrets

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