Ferret owners and experts- ferret advice?
Question by Lily: Ferret owners and experts- ferret advice?
Hi, I’m not actually allowed (yet) to buy a ferret but I want to know about them. Different websites say different things about ferrets, so if I could get some advice from real ferret owners and experts then I’d be so grateful.
My question is: can I get a ferret?
I’m 14 and because I live in Scotland, I’m in my standard grade years. Because of this I’m planning on spending about 45 minutes a day revising, and definitely much more than that by Christmas. Would having a ferret take up too much of my time? I get home at 4pm and I go to bed at 10pm.
My family’s planning on going on holiday to New Zealand for 3 weeks in Christmas 2010. Would my ferret go into mourning for me after a few days? How are ferret owners supposed to go on holiday, surely there must be a solution?
I’m probably going to college/ university in 3- 4 years. I know it’s impossible to take a ferret to a college/ university and it seems a bit mean to just have a ferret for the last few years of it’s life if I got it from a shelter. Plus I don’t want it to die. Is there a solution?
is it true that females develop cancer after 2 years if they don’t mate?
Thanks for your help.
Best answer:
Answer by FerretQueen
First of all, ferrets require a lot of time and attention -they’re just like dogs, really. They’re high maintenance animals and require a lot of money, too, during middle-age.
I think no, if you’re going to be away a lot there’s no point in getting one. Do you have a younger brother/sister or relative who’d be interested in taking on your ferret? If not, don’t get one.
When I went on holiday, my ferrets got fed and watered once a day. When I came back they were very miserable -and that was only a week!
Also, unspayed female can get a lot of diseases if they are not bred every season they have. So unless you want a helluva lot of kits, I’d suggest getting a spayed one (they have to be spayed two years or younger). Jills (females) are half the size of hobs (males). Just thought I’d tell you that xD
I hope I helped.
(In response to Celeste- NEVER descent a ferret…it’s not the anal glands which make the smell, it’s the oil glands all over the ferret. Descenting ferrets is cruel and unnecassary, and can lead to many problems.)
What do you think? Answer below!
Ok so ferrets take a lot of time I owned one for about three years. They take up a lot of time, leaving a ferret home alone in or out of the cage until 4pm would be very irresponsible. Ferrets are very energized and very social perhaps your ferret may get depressed. I too had the same problem as you with the college situation. I had to get rid of my ferret in order to move into a dorm room and the ferret got depressed and it was never the same. But the fact that you are choosing to save a life from the shelter is responsible but please don’t get a ferret at this time in your life you should be devoting as much time too school as possible… and as far as cancer no but if you do not get it spayed it will die of genital infections and it is a very painful experience for both ferret and loving owner..
P.S
you might want to check laws i know here in the US there are some states where if you have ferrets its a big fine and sometimes jail time
I say no. I agree with most of the other answerer’s that said no. And another reason is because when you go to college you can’t take a ferret and WILL have to give it up. Un neutered females do die if they can’t mate. They will die i when you’re on vacation because if they don’t get to play out of the cage with you for a few days because they get depressed. And they need to be played with for at least 4 hours a day or they get depressed and die. So your last years before you go to college would be terrible, school then ferret then bed, school, ferret, bed, school ferret bed. You understand it would be terrible for you. Please just wait until you’re out of college.
No you shouldn’t get one. Wait until you’ve left college and you’ve moved into a mansion and get married. Then get one after the honeymoon.
Females dont develop cancer. Buy a descented and neutured ferret. Ferret need at least one hour of attention OUT of the cage a day. They can cost anywhere from 30.00- to 75.00 a month.If yuh are going to get a ferret , yet are away alot buy 2 ferrets so they are entertained and less bored. They cope better in two’s. Colllege is a while if yiour 14 so dont be worried. You can give it away. Dont buy shelter ferrets in my opinion especially if older because they would have been sick or abused and can react to that and be agressive. Ferrets are like dogs or cats in my opinion. A 3 week vacation is NO problem. Have someone who you know spend time with the ferret from the begininng when you get one so they will be farmiliar with the perosn for yur vacation.
Im 13. I have one SPOILED LITTLE GIRL. Her name is Matilda. She a ferret of course.