We're moving this Saturday and me and my sis are getting the basement all to our selfs.. i really want a ferret.. i have 220$ that i can use up.. so money isnt the problem but my mom doesnt want to let me get one- even tho it'll be in the basement and no where near her.... but she still wont let me get one... im runing out of ideas and out of time.. iwant to buy one on Sunday.. HELP ME!. I wont rest untill i have my ferret!!!!
Ferrets are very messy....atleast the one I had. My parents never let me have one for that reason and I had to wait untill I was 18 (and gone). I really loved that ferret alot, but I will never have another one. It was so much work to keep up with the cleaning and I didnt have time. Plus I didnt like to keep him in a cage and he made a mess of my apartment on a daily basis. I guess the most you could do would be to ask your mom for a compromise, that you can keep him as long as you keep up with the responsibility. Other that that...I dont know what to tell ya. Sorry.
Ferrets are messy. They can be litter trained, but they will only go where they're supposed to if they feel like it. They are a lot of care, they need a special diet and get a lot of illnesses. My ferret has insulinoma, which is very common. His three medicines cost about $200.00 a month, plus he needs a lot of care. Ferrets need big cages, which are usually expensive. They also need a lot of attention, at least three hours of playtime a day. If they do not have another ferret for company you will have to entertain it. Also most ferrets will need at least one surgery in their lifetime. Our last ferret had two, our current ferret has had three. His last surgery was around $300.00, which really wasn't that much as far as surgery goes. He had his speen removed (it weighed 1/2 pound), his left adrenal gland removed, and two tumors removed from his pancreas. Read up and think about all this, then make a decision. You can't just leave a ferret in a cage with some food and water.
Woah, think this though Companion animals are a serious commitment What are you going to do when you're on vacation/at school/move out? They are expensive Branwen has clocked up £200 in vets bills since Febuary. Then there's not including the outlay for her food, hutch, toys etc. How much do you know about ferrets? You can never know too much, and it is so easy to make mistakes that can be a serious problem (I learnt rabbits and wet grass don't mix the hard/messy way) Are you prepared for the hard work involved in their care? No animal is mess free They are at times dirty, smelly, literally covered in shit. And guess who has to clean them up. Get your parents suppourt They are ultimatly responsible. It's their house and rules. They are bound to come into contact with, will probably end up spending money on, your animal.
ferrets do require a lot of care. They need lots of playtime and are happiest with a companion. Their digestive systems are only about 4 hours long, so don't get one unless you are prepared to clean a lot. Providing lots of time outside of the cage is the most important aspect of ferret care, IMO. Ferrets are often mistreated. They are unlike any other pet. Carefully consider a ferret purchase!
everyone here's forgotten to mention what great animals ferrets are, yes they're a lot of work, but if you're prepared to put the effort in its definately worth it. my cousin's have always had ferrets, they run round the kitchen and nibble toes they've always been a big part of their family, and they've never complained about the amount of work, but then again the parents love them as much as the children, so maybe it wouldn't work without support from yours. plus, they smell...
i got a ferret a few months ago and i absolutly love him. i spent $10 a month on his food and let him run around. yes he does go pretty much wherever he wants, but i learned that he mostly goes after he wakes up, so i make sure that he goes before i let him out and then he is good for awhile. but he is fat so i need to cut back on his food for awhile. lol.
If you really want a ferret think first. They do chew through furniture and wires. They can be litter trained fairly well. I have one and he has accidents at least once a week. They also need distemper and rabies shots. I clean my ferret's cage at least once a day. They do nip. I do love my ferret and I wouldn't trade him for the world. He also comes when I whistle. I had to really ferret proof my apt. first. He is just like a cat and dog mixed. If you decide a ferret is for you try to get a Marshall's Ferret. They are the ones with the green dots tattooed on their right ear. Good luck...
I've heard that Marshall Farms sells their ferrets to researchers for questionable scientific experimentation though... I hope not! If ya really wanna buy a Marshall, my advice is save yer dough for some Marshall Amplification - experimentation then won't be an issue! Seriously tho, Sentai and Venus are Marshall ferrets, and they've never had any of the health problems that I've heard the Marshalls are notorious for - and if you wanna buy from a "reputable dealer" there are few other choices... ::sigh:: b/w all the scientists, California, and Mike Tyson, how do the poor ferrets get any love at all?
please check into the shelters in your area before you buy one. too many ferrets are homeless because people buy them and then just drop them off in places like parks. there are actually shelters dedicated to just ferrets all over the country.
Do not get a Marshall Farms ferret! They raise them for lab animals. They are also inbred and specially bred to have tumors so they can be used for testing. They are very unhealthy I had one. She had three operations and only lived to be 5 or 6. Get one from a private breeder or better yet a shelter.