hello! this is my wife and I. we actually dont have a ferret but thats actually where we were hoping that you could help us. We really want a ferret they are so cute and fun. we both owned one when we were younger. mine was an albino one named wee wee I loved her to death but she started making my cloths and my room and everything stink. my Mom made me get rid of her so I gave her to a family friend that takes really good care of her. My wife's was a family pet and her whole family says the same thing that they stink. but then neither of us or our families knew the power of the enternet and knew the things that can help keep a ferret from stinking so bad. As we understand there will always be a natural musky smell, but I think that comes with any animal that you own there will always be a smell. some of the things we have read that are. 1. diet is a big one 2.bathing INfrequently 3.clean litter 4.goodbye odor stuff 5.happiness 6. ferret shampoo or baby shampoo 7. spritz deoderant stuff is there anything that i'm missing? I have read really good things on the goodbye odor stuff but I also have read really bad stuff. has anyone on here used it with good results or bad results? like I said we both really want one but we dont want to be known as "that" family that stinks or that is overpowering. I have read that really if you take care of them they are no worse than a dog but I want to know is this true? we can handle the presence smell we are just scared of a really strong smell. Thank you so much for your help :) we appreciate it.

Hi and welcome to the group.

You got most of the tips I would give.  We don't use Bi-Odor or anything like that in their water, or spritz deodorant.  But, we don't mind their smell anyway.  I prefer it to a dog anytime, and at their worst they smell less than a dog.  Last week we got a dog from a lady who said her ferrets stank, back when she had them.  We let her handle Yoshi and she said he didn't smell at all.  Diet is the big one.  We don't feed anything with corn to any of our pets, and minimal fish.  Don't be afraid to bathe a ferret a few times a year.  Weekly is too much on a regular basis, but we've had to do it to control fleas a couple times, about 3-4 weeks in a row.  We honestly didn't find that it made them smell more long-term.    The basic Marshall's food that they feed Marshall ferrets in pet stores is notorious for causing bad-smelling poop.  It used to contain fish, but I see it doesn't anymore.  We've never fed Marshall's Select, but they both have corn meal, so they're off out list.   Select has cane molasses, and sugar is highly suspected of causing insulinoma. Why would you want to feed it to your fuzzy every day?


Feel free to browse around the forum and ask questions.  

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Hello and Welcome to the forum! I love the smell of ferrets. If you change their bedding often and keep the litter box clean they don't have a bad smell. Like unclejoe said, it also has a lot to do with their diet.

 
Fuzzbutts Rule!

Thank you. I appreciate the help. everyone we talk to the first thing they say is they stink! but these people say they just fed them the cheapest kitten or ferret food they could. yikes!!!! if we get one we plan on feeding it wysong or something similar. we still dont know when we will be able to get a fuzzy but we would sure like one. we just want to make sure we can take care of him or her before we do :)