keykaye
-
Total Posts
:
3
-
Reward points
:
0
- Joined: 6/15/2015
- Location: Dayton Ohio
-
Status: offline
|
Want to own a ferret
-
Monday, June 15, 2015 4:37 PM
This is going to be a while from now, maybe a year or so because i have to move out of my current home so i have space or the little guy/gal, then save up money into a account for supplies/vet/toys/ect. However i have been doing my own research on ferrets but i want some tips or advice from owners. I have experience with other pets including rats, gerbils, cats, and dogs. Please bear with me on all the questions I'm just trying to be super thorough. 1. So they will have their own room that will be closed off from the rest of the house, how would you guys advise setting up a barrier or gate to keep them in there(I will be in there with them) 2. Recommended foods? I read around and found that this seems to be a good brand and the for ferrets "Wysong Ferret Archetype Chicken Formula Ferret Diet" This also comes in quail and rabbit too. 3. I have heard that ferrets that are by themselves bond with their owners more then a pair, but would a ferret like to have a playmate at all? I've heard if you have a young ferret and kitten bond from young ages they can be together when older, but my current cat is 7-7 1/2 years old so i don't believe that would work for her. Wouldn't want either animal hurting themselves or each other in a scuffle. 4. Do you recommend walking a ferret outside on a leash? Or going to a secluded park that's not known for having a lot of dogs or anything for them to play? 5. I know ferrets have to have rabies shots, so should i always keep a collar on them with their tags? Or would the collar irritate the animal. 6. What types of Litter? I am planning on using corner trays for their cage and just a high wall cat box for in the room when they are roaming, what type of litter would be best for them? But if the cat decided to use the outside box wouldn't hurt her either. 7. What to use and how often should i bathe them? I have been to pet stores and handled the ferrets and noticed that some, males more then often, have a strong musky smell to them. Sometimes the females have a smell as well, so how should i wash them, how often, and with what?
|
|
unclejoe
-
Total Posts
:
1431
-
Reward points
:
0
- Joined: 12/11/2008
- Location: NE Tennessee
-
Status: offline
|
Re:Want to own a ferret
-
Monday, June 15, 2015 5:14 PM
Member in blocked list
Hi there. I'll start with a couple questions based on research and personal experience. Other members will have their own experiences, some similar, some different. I would skip the corner boxes. Ferrets like to be completely inside the box when they go, and don't always fit. Ferrets do like having play mates and bed mates. You can't be with them all the time and having a buddy helps keep them out of trouble. As for bonding, that's up to the individual ferret, but one other ferret in the house isn't too much for that. Your cat may or may not get along with your ferret, but I don't know of any case where a cat tried to harm a ferret. In my previous home, we had 3 older cats when we got fuzzies. One liked to play, one was afraid of them and one tried her best to ignore them. Rabies tags are big on a ferret. I wouldn't make a ferret wear it all the time. You could tape the tag to the harness (not collar-they come off too easily) so it doesn't get in the way. Personally, we don't vaccinate for rabies because of the risk and the fact that it's so hard to transmit. For that reason, no one handles any of our ferrets that have been known to bite. Ours only have a harness on when they go outside. Yes they can go for walks. Of 25, we've had maybe 4 that actually did well going for walks. The rest, too busy sniffing around to actually get anywhere. We have a pet stroller for when they get tired of walkies before we do. If you go to the food section there is a food chart where you can compare ferret foods and cat foods that ferrets can have. Wysong is a good one but only a couple of my ferrets liked it.
THE DOOKS OF HAZARD
|
|
keykaye
-
Total Posts
:
3
-
Reward points
:
0
- Joined: 6/15/2015
- Location: Dayton Ohio
-
Status: offline
|
Re:Want to own a ferret
-
Thursday, June 18, 2015 4:15 PM
so use square boxes like inside the room, alright what kind of litter would be best for them? I'm wanting something that could be scoopable but wont harm the animal.
|
|
unclejoe
-
Total Posts
:
1431
-
Reward points
:
0
- Joined: 12/11/2008
- Location: NE Tennessee
-
Status: offline
|
Re:Want to own a ferret
-
Thursday, June 18, 2015 5:17 PM
Member in blocked list
Different people have different opinions. Some are scared of scoopable cat litter for fear they'll inhale the dust. I used low dust clay cat litter for years before I found pine pellet horse bedding. We get it at a feed store, about $6 for 40 lb. I like to lightly wet it so it breaks into sawdust. It can be scooped that way, but it gets tracked out of the box a little. It does a good job of absorbing odors. 40 lb would last a couple ferrets months. Even with 8, and 5 litter boxes, 40 lb lasts us ~2 months.
THE DOOKS OF HAZARD
|
|
keykaye
-
Total Posts
:
3
-
Reward points
:
0
- Joined: 6/15/2015
- Location: Dayton Ohio
-
Status: offline
|
Re:Want to own a ferret
-
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 4:36 PM
well i have this bedding i use for my rats called Kaytee Soft Granule, it seems to work well for them so maybe for ferrets to?
|
|
unclejoe
-
Total Posts
:
1431
-
Reward points
:
0
- Joined: 12/11/2008
- Location: NE Tennessee
-
Status: offline
|
Re:Want to own a ferret
-
Wednesday, July 01, 2015 10:53 AM
Member in blocked list
I'd say it's ok. Looks like recycled paper? Low dust and easy to scoop are two good points.
THE DOOKS OF HAZARD
|
|