Is a ferret a rodent/What is a ferret?
A ferret is NOT a rodent, it is a mammal of the type Mustela. They are an ansestor of the weasel, skunk and otter and have many relatives such as the minks, ermines, badgers, black-footed ferrets, polecats and fishers.
Is my ferret going to stink?
Ferrets have their own smell, just like a normal domesticated cat or dog, so yes they will smell, it is a very mild musky scent.
How do I reduce my ferrets smell?
Ensure you keep their bedding, litter and cage clean and tidy and this will reduce if not eradicate the smell. Keeping 4 ferrets in one cage, nice and clean is very easy to do and you won't even notice they are there.
Is my ferret going to bite?
Ferrets have the potential to bite very hard but if trained correctly from a young kit (just like a puppy or a kitten) then they will learn that biting hard is not acceptable behaviour.
Please keep in mind that harmless nipping during play time is to be expected as this is normal behaviour from a ferret. Ensuring you adopt from a responsible breeder who adopts them out at the correct age will ensure that mum and siblings have taught each other manners and acceptable social behaviours as well as the breeder doing a great deal of the nip training for you.
Will my ferret be litter/toilet trained?
Yes it will be, mum and me as the breeder train them prior to adoption. They may have the odd occasional forgetful moment but will be 90% trained. I ensure I advise all of my clients to purchase the same litter as I use and to also place the litter tray in the same corner I have had it so your kit will adopt much easier.
How many hours a day does my ferret need out of its cage?
Ferrets require an absolute minimum of 2 hours a day out of their cage, playing, exploring, interacting with you as their owner and if they have a cage mate for them to play with so it keeps them busy, mentally stimulated, physically active and healthy.
Can i just leave my ferret in a cage and never play with it?
NO, you cannot. Ferrets are a high maintenance pet who require a great deal of time out of their cage and only have YOU as their friend/playmate.
Don't forget that, you have your friends, family, sports, hobbies and more. Your ferret only has YOU. For this reason excatly it is best to adopt ferrets in pairs so they grow up together and have each other to play with, interact with, sleep with, eat with and more.
Do I have to desex my ferret?
Yes you do have to desex your ferret. When adopting from SJ Ferrets you sign a legally binding Adoption Contract that states you must desex your ferret between 6 & 12 months of age and provide a copy of the certifcate back to me prior to its 1st birthday.
Female ferrets will come into estrous at approx 9 months of age (sometimes earlier) and never come out causing them to become very sick with asplastic anemia and if left unnoticed and or untreated the possiblility of death is VERY high.
Male ferrets will become very smelly, oily & possibly quite angressive towards you and other ferrets so ensuring you castrate and or spay your ferrets is a must!
A ferret is NOT a rodent, it is a mammal of the type Mustela. They are an ansestor of the weasel, skunk and otter and have many relatives such as the minks, ermines, badgers, black-footed ferrets, polecats and fishers.
Is my ferret going to stink?
Ferrets have their own smell, just like a normal domesticated cat or dog, so yes they will smell, it is a very mild musky scent.
How do I reduce my ferrets smell?
Ensure you keep their bedding, litter and cage clean and tidy and this will reduce if not eradicate the smell. Keeping 4 ferrets in one cage, nice and clean is very easy to do and you won't even notice they are there.
Is my ferret going to bite?
Ferrets have the potential to bite very hard but if trained correctly from a young kit (just like a puppy or a kitten) then they will learn that biting hard is not acceptable behaviour.
Please keep in mind that harmless nipping during play time is to be expected as this is normal behaviour from a ferret. Ensuring you adopt from a responsible breeder who adopts them out at the correct age will ensure that mum and siblings have taught each other manners and acceptable social behaviours as well as the breeder doing a great deal of the nip training for you.
Will my ferret be litter/toilet trained?
Yes it will be, mum and me as the breeder train them prior to adoption. They may have the odd occasional forgetful moment but will be 90% trained. I ensure I advise all of my clients to purchase the same litter as I use and to also place the litter tray in the same corner I have had it so your kit will adopt much easier.
How many hours a day does my ferret need out of its cage?
Ferrets require an absolute minimum of 2 hours a day out of their cage, playing, exploring, interacting with you as their owner and if they have a cage mate for them to play with so it keeps them busy, mentally stimulated, physically active and healthy.
Can i just leave my ferret in a cage and never play with it?
NO, you cannot. Ferrets are a high maintenance pet who require a great deal of time out of their cage and only have YOU as their friend/playmate.
Don't forget that, you have your friends, family, sports, hobbies and more. Your ferret only has YOU. For this reason excatly it is best to adopt ferrets in pairs so they grow up together and have each other to play with, interact with, sleep with, eat with and more.
Do I have to desex my ferret?
Yes you do have to desex your ferret. When adopting from SJ Ferrets you sign a legally binding Adoption Contract that states you must desex your ferret between 6 & 12 months of age and provide a copy of the certifcate back to me prior to its 1st birthday.
Female ferrets will come into estrous at approx 9 months of age (sometimes earlier) and never come out causing them to become very sick with asplastic anemia and if left unnoticed and or untreated the possiblility of death is VERY high.
Male ferrets will become very smelly, oily & possibly quite angressive towards you and other ferrets so ensuring you castrate and or spay your ferrets is a must!
