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Updated 24 August 1999 I have updated all links, so hopefully everything is working!  
Please be aware that I am just an
average person, and all the advice about ferrets that I have written here is only personal
opinions, or things that I have learned or read from "trustworthy" ferret
sources, or learned through personal experience with my own ferrets. |
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Please read the ferret FAQ. The FAQ is a more complete guide and will hopefully answer any and all questions you may have about proper ferret care & nutrition. The FAQ also provides tons of information about diseases and other medical problems related to ferrets. Please see the Ferret Medical FAQ for information on: Please subscribe to the Ferret Mailing List. Here you will find a mix of experiences, good & bad, from the average ferret owner, vets, shelters, and breeders. Just type in "subscribe" in the body of your e-mail. You may also wish to subscribe to either of these ferret newsgroups:
Please check out (and print!) Ferret First Aid by CDFA. It may just
save your ferret's life!! |
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| Ferret Food
The best place to order *Ferret* food on-line would probably be
The Ferret Store.
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Ferret Treats As for treats, (besides Ferretone & raisins) I feed my guys the soft "Whisker Lickin's" cat treats. I think the Whisker Lickin's may be better than Pounce, since it has more protein & fat. In fact, they will not eat Pounce treats. Here's a run down of the nutrition info & ingredients:
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Ferret Litter The very best litter you can use for your ferret is Pine Pelleted litter!! The brand that I have used most is called "Pine Fresh." And it's very, VERY inexpensive!! (Something like $2.00 for 7lbs!!) It looks like alfalfa pellets, only its yellow. And it smells good too. My cat uses one of the litter boxes in my room that is filled with pine pelleted litter, and I cannot even smell the cat urine! (Now that is a great feat... because cat urine STINKS!!!) So, check out their web page & give it a try!! I found a site on the web for a litter called "Feline PineŽ" which sounds like the same thing I use. So, you may want to check this site out too. You can also purchase wood pellets at a home depot type store (AGWAY, etc). These would be pellets that are used for pellet stoves. As long as they are not treated with chemicals to help them burn, they work just as well & are just as safe to use as the above mentioned litters. I just purchased a 40# bag for only $3.99!! Some people use recycled newspaper pellets. One brand is "Yesterday's News". I have used a similar type of litter, though I wasn't too impressed with it. I still prefer the pine pelleted litter. |
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| Ferret Basics Ferrets should not be kept caged for long periods of time. Sure, the pet shops keep them caged up, but pet shops keep their dogs and cats locked up in unbearably small cages too. And I sure don't think anyone out there that owns a dog or cat keeps them locked up in a little cage all day long. If you can afford to buy (or make) a very large multi-level cage, then it would be more suitable for keeping a ferret caged for longer time periods. DO NOT use glass or plastic aquariums! Only pet shops that have very (and I stress) little knowledge of ferrets, will keep them in aquariums. And if you see ferrets in aquariums, you should complain to the pet store's manager about it. Its not a healthy home for a ferret. Ferrets need to have plenty of ventilation and space. You may want to print out the Ferret FAQ and distribute it to pet shops that sell ferrets, in order to try to better educate them on proper ferret care. Ferrets should never ever be put in a cage with cedar/wood shavings. Ignore claims by pet shops that cedar shavings are just fine for their bedding. Cedar is very bad for a ferret's respiration and health. Instead, use towels, or old clothes as bedding. And use a small litter box (more as needed) filled with non-clumping cat litter. Clumping litter can stick to the ferrets' bottoms or could be ingested and cause blockages. Some people use, and recommend pelleted litter, like newspaper pellets or even alfalfa pellets. Young ferrets need to be fed diets high in protein & fat. Totally ferret is a highly recommended ferret food. Iams kitten chow, as well as some other high quality kitten chows can be fed as well. Ferrets are carnivores, so high protein and fat is necessary to maintain a strong, energetic animal with a healthy shiny coat, and bright eyes. As ferrets get older the amount of protein and fat required in their diet lessens, yet they still need fairly high amounts. Fruits and vegetables should only be fed in moderation as treats, not as a main diet. And plenty of water should be available. Either a sturdy bowl that cannot be tipped easily or a large bottle that attaches to the side of the cage should be used. Ferrets love to play in water bowls (wish they loved bath time equally as much! =)) A leash and a sturdy harness should be purchased for when taking your ferret outside for walks or travel, or even to the vet. Collars are not as reliable since ferrets can easily slip them over their heads and escape. Small bells may be desirable to attach to your ferret's collar/harness so that you can hear where your ferret is (if you keep a collar on your ferret when it is not on the leash). Toys are important to keep your ferret happy and entertained, though just about anything will entertain a ferret... they will get into everything and anything!! Ferrets seem to like squeaky toys. Be sure that you monitor your ferrets well, because if they start chewing on their toys, or any other objects, they can tear off and swallow small pieces of the object. This could lead to a blockage and a scary trip to the vet for an operation. Be aware that some blockages could be fatal if they're not caught and taken care of! |
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