Ferrets are a wonderful, social and highly interactive animal.  They are members of the weasel family, and absolutely not related to rodents.  They are crepuscular, which means they are typically most active at dusk and dawn, but they will eventually alter their sleep patterns so they will go to sleep and wake up when you do. They can live to be 5-11  years old.

Housing:  Their cage should be mesh or wire to provide plenty of ventilation and room to play and climb. They will need to have food and water bowls, a bed to sleep or hide in, and a litter box. Never use clumping or silica litters, which can be toxic if ingested or inhaled.

Handling:  Ferrets need to be handled and played with as much as possible.  You need to make sure that you have your home “ferret-proofed” before you let them free roam, but daily interaction and out of cage time is essential to them. 

Feeding:  You will need to get a ferret specific food that is high in fat, low in fiber, and meat based.  Don’t feed your ferret too many treats either.  They need minimal sugar and lots of meat protein.

Exercise:  Again, there is nothing that is more beneficial to a ferret than...YOU!  They crave interaction and playtime, and the more, the better!  A cage mate will help alleviate boredom, but they will still need time out of the cage to roam and explore.

Health:  First, make sure that you have a vet that specializes in ferrets.  They have some very specific requirements, and will need regular vet check -ups.  Make sure that you are aware of your areas shot requirements.  Rabies can be given to a ferret.  Ferrets also have a predisposition to have intestinal blockages, due in large part to the indigestible things that they will eat.  You will also need to brush their teeth, trim their nails, and clean their ears regularly.  Use products that are specifically designed for ferrets to avoid unnecessary problems.

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