How To Care For A Baby Ferret

Ferret Lifespan

A lot of people don’t realize it, but ferrets can live for up to 10 years and sometimes even longer than that. Their longevity depends a good deal on how well you care for them. So, if you’re planning to enjoy this rewarding friendship for a long time, keep reading and you can learn about proper ferret care.

Ferret Care And Feeding

One of the first things you should know about ferrets is that they are nocturnal. They sleep a lot during the day, sometimes for 18 to 20 hours. However, when they’re awake they are very active and will be looking to run around and to play with you.

Playing with your pet is great, but you also need to know how to care for all their needs. Since ferrets are carnivores, they need to eat meat. You must supply them food that consists of meat and poultry products that are rich in protein and fat. Never give them anything that is high in sugar or carbohydrates as those types of foods can cause serious health problems for your pet.

Baby Ferret Diet

If you have a baby ferret, you should start them off with specially formulated baby ferret food for up to three years before gradually switching them to adult food.

Water is also a very important component of your ferret’s diet. You can offer them water in either a bowl or a bottle, however, we’ve found that most ferrets prefer to drink water from a bowl and will drink less from a bottle.

Ferrets Cages

A roomy cage is also essential to keeping your ferret healthy and happy. As a minimum, a cage that measures about 18″ x 18″ x 30″, would be acceptable. Some owners like to buy their pets multilevel cages to give them more room and make life more interesting. Whatever kind of cage you choose, make sure it is escape-proof so they can’t get out while you’re not at home.

Ferret Toys

Toys are another aspect of ferret care that you should think about. Ferrets just love to play. Be sure that whatever kinds of toys you buy for your ferret will stand up to their very sharp teeth. If they are able to break pieces off of a toy, they may swallow them and that could cause an intestinal blockage. Such a problem may require surgery.

Ferret Collar or Harness

Ferrets also need a lot of exercise. You might want to consider training your ferret to a harness and leash so you can take them for walks.

When you do let your ferret out of its cage, be sure to supervise. This way you can make sure that they don’t chew on electrical cords, swallow small objects or even escape out of the house. Ferret-proofing the area your pet will be allowed to explore is very important.

Ferret Litter

In order to keep your house free from little “accidents”, it’s a good idea to train your ferret to use a litter tray. It will take a little time, and a lot of patience, but it is definitely worth it.

After they have eaten, or just after they have woken up, place them in their litter tray and don’t let them leave until the have been to the bathroom. You may want to reinforce correct behavior with a small treat. But, never physically punish your ferret for any accidents, just reinforce the good behavior.

Ferret Treats

Treats can also be used to train your ferret to do other things. Just remember not to give them too many treats. An example of a trick you can teach your ferret is to use a squeaky toy which signals them to come to you. They will then associate the sound of the toy with receiving a treat from you. You can also teach your ferret other tricks like fetch, play dead or roll over, just like you can a dog.

Ferret Illness

Make sure that you take your ferret to the vet for regular check ups and any required vaccinations. As ferrets can get rabies, many places that allow you to own ferrets as pets will also require that they are vaccinated each year and you will need to keep proof that you have done so.

If you follow the steps for proper ferret care, you’ll be able to enjoy your pet for a very long time.