The ferret is a domestic animal that can be charming as a pet. Ferrets are quite sleepy animals, sociable and above all very intelligent. They are also small pets, ideal for being at home and, like cats, they can relieve themselves in boxes and for this reason it is not necessary to take them out on the street.
A ferret is an excellent rabbit hunter, as it was used in the past to control rabbit pests, although today it is prohibited in almost all autonomous communities to use it as a hunter (except for pests).
Ferrets are pets that although they are still uncommon as pets in Spain, but in countries like the United States they are one of the most common pets in homes and in Spain they are increasingly present.
If you are thinking of having a ferret as a pet, we are going to offer you a series of tips to properly care for this friendly animal.
What do you need to take care of a ferret?
- Cage for ferret, better than the size is large.
- Ferret food, preferably pellets.
- Ferret shampoo.
- Deposition box with cat litter.
Instructions for caring for a ferret
- Choose the ferret: This must be done in a specialized store, since having a ferret in Spain requires that we have valid papers, that we have vaccinations and that our ferret has a chip. For all these reasons, the purchase must be made in an authorized establishment for the sale of ferrets. Once we have everything in order, we can take our animal to our home.
- Your home: The ferret normally lives in cages intended for them; a cage for ferrets must be large and spacious so that the animal can play inside it. Inside it we must place its stool box with cat litter so that it relieves itself and a couple of bowls to place its food and water. A number of ferret toys can also be placed if desired.
- Their food: Ferrets are basically carnivores, so the classic cat food is not very useful, although some people believe it. We must give him specialized food for ferrets, commonly called pellets, which are found in specialized pet food stores. Failing that, we can give it a diet rich in meat and fruit since it is an animal that is not prepared to digest wheat and its derivatives.
- Your hygiene: The ferret naturally always has a bad smell; this is due to a gland called perianal that produces this unpleasant smell, if you wish you can take your animal to a veterinary clinic for its removal. In any case, you should always bathe the ferret every 15 days, does it gently, using special ferret shampoo and trying to reach its entire body? You must also keep the animal’s cage clean, collecting its droppings, renewing the cat litter and cleaning the cage from time to time.
- Interact with the ferret: The ferret is a sociable animal, they love spending time with humans, but some conditions must be respected. First of all, ferrets are nocturnal animals, that is, they prefer to sleep during the day and go out at night, so you must always respect their sleep cycles. Secondly, the ferret has to walk around the house for a while to relieve its curiosity, do it carefully and always watch it, if you have a garden it is a good idea to take walks through it but you must constantly watch.
Tips for caring for a ferret
- Beware of rabbits: If you have rabbits as pets in your house, this is totally incompatible with having ferrets, ferrets are rabbit hunters and if you do not want to see your rabbit devoured in the blink of an eye, it is better not to gather them.
- Health: Ferrets are living beings and as such they can get sick, so you should take them to the vet at least every 6 months to monitor their health so they don’t get sick. You must also comply with the vaccination schedule and be well cared for to prevent all diseases.
- Watchman: The ferret is a very curious animal, so for this reason you must be very careful in what the ferret does for your home, since it could get into dangerous holes, gutters or gaps. It is also a playful animal and could damage cables or small appliances so always be vigilant.
