Ferret ~ Mustela Furo

As the name implies, these fuzzy little creatures that capture our heart and soul are not rodents; they are from the mustildae family with cousins consisting of the mink, weasel, otter, skunk, badger and European polecat. Unlike their cousins, the domesticated ferret is not wild nor feral. In fact if left outside on it's own they would most likely die without human intervention in a few day as their survival instincts at best is extremely minimal.

While these little creatures warm our hearts and depend on us for their every need, they are not the right pet for everyone. Taking on the responsibilities of caring for a ferret and knowing what their care and health needs are should be considered before taking the step of bringing one home.

A ferrets normal life span is from 7 - 9 years, and beginning at the age of 2-3 they are susceptible to two very common serious illnesses: Insulinoma and Adrenal Disease, which could require medical and/or surgical intervention, which could become quite costly. A ferret will need to be seen by a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian at least annually for a check-up and required vaccines consisting of rabies (IMRAB3) and distemper (Purevax-D). Though not approved for use in ferrets, Galaxy-D has been used safely for years and provides the necessary protection.

Ferrets should be housed in a cage when supervision, or a dedicated ferret proof room cannot be provided. The cage should provide ample room for playing, as well as house a litter box, water bottle, food bowl, and various hammocks to relax in. Rabbit cages or cages of this size are not appropriate. While they will be content and happy in their cage, they do require ample time out of their cage to run free and burn off the energy they have an abundance of. Minimally, they should let out for 3-4 hours each day.

While they are very social creatures, care and attention should be given at all times around other pets, especially young children. Young children tend to grab and pull, and the small ferret weighing around 1.5-4 pounds could get hurt and attack in self-defense. Ferrets (or any pet) should NEVER be left unsupervised with children.

Owning any pet should be a lifetime commitment, regardless of their health, needs and/or expenses involved. While these fuzzy little babies with their crazy little antics keep us entertained and provide an eternity of love, it's important to ensure they're the right pet for you and that you can take on the full commitment and responsibility they trust you will provide.