Our ferrets are free roam! We weren't anticipating to have them free roam 24/7, but got the biggest suitable cage we could find for them. Not even a month into having them they're now free roam and it's the best thing we've ever done for them, finding them sleeping in various places we've set up for them is so precious!
That's so great! When we first got our first ferret, he was caged at first. My husband suggested letting him free roam, because we started feeling bad about him being locked up. I started doing research, and realized that it was much better for them!
My ferret has 7 "Bedrooms" he sleeps in, on occasion. Never know which "Bedroom" he's sleeping in. I even made him a nice lego house, but he loves sleeping in the plastic bag drawer in the kitchen. Sometimes, when the mood strikes him, he hops in bed with me, licks my hair and face and then lays down at the far end of my bed.
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
Say it louder to the people at the back! Genuinly got emotional watching someone finally give good advice! I needed this kind of info when I first got my babies
Hi and thanks so much for the comment! It is so frustrating for so many (including me) when you first get ferrets. So much conflicting information out there! We've even changed veterinarians a few time because we didn't like their lack of ferret knowledge :/
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
I just lost my nine year old a few days and I wanted to refresh my knowledge on ferrets before adopting new ones. Thank you so much for this cause everything you said is true! Ferrets are amazing creatures and need proper care!
I’m so sorry for your loss! My ferret is turning 8 this year, and she’s starting to show the signs of old age wearing her down. I can’t imagine losing her, so I can only imagine your pain.
Interesting about the diet! I want to add my personal experience with two ferrets I had. They used to be free in a house that I used to live in (no cage). At the beginning, we observed where they would hide to sleep and we simply dedicated those places for them (a drawer in the tv furniture and a chest in which we removed toys to put an hammock... We made a hole in the chest so that they could easily access it). They were clean, they would go in a litter by themselves after we trained them and we would close some doors before going to work/school to make sure that no accident would happen when we wouldn't be there. It was their happiest and healthiest time! I recommend this kind of method and living space if you want to have happy ferrets that live longer. They deserve as much free time as they want!
This is exactly what we do with our two. They love having the ability to run around and have fun. My husband and I work and couldn't imagine keeping them caged up all the time.
It is all nice in theory but not practical. A ferret should be supervised at all times. A lot can go wrong with free roam ferrets. They can escape, they can eat things they arent supposed to, they can get to places they arent supposed to. I had 3 ferrets escape the house. One was mine which escaped because my parents were careless with the door. She came back on her own luckily. The other 2 belonged to a lady that stayed with us and she left the door open to smoke and her two ferrets escaped without her noticing. One was found roaming the garage, the other was hit by a car and crushed. As much as we would love to have them free roam all the time, it is simply not safe for them to do so. Ferrets should be supervised anytime they are outside of their cage or ferret proofed room. Ferrets WILL always find trouble and danger.
And it's stressful for them being left in a room, with no human being there, because they love their human to guide them, no play, they get bored, depressed and stressed into stopping eating, also they can chew through concrete, if they do not want the environment they are in. If they get trapped, how would you know? If they fall, chew wires, eat the wall, get stuck under a TV cabinet eat rotted food hidden in inacceable places, you just should feed them in their hutch, a very strong big hutch, with plenty of air. However, a ferret I had roaming, got into my bedroom, she was no biter, but she got under the duvet cover, and sunk her teeth into my right calve, and I was asleep. The pain was agony, she was scared because I was screaming, and bit down and within 2 seconds took a piece of flesh and ate it . A trusted, well loved lady ferret got a scare, because I was asleep and I moved out my leg, not on her or anything, agonising, pain for me. So no way would I ever advise this situation for anyone. I have had ferrets for 42 years. I know enough about these animals that they are never bullet proof. I respect my laddie.I love my ferret enough to not have that ever happen again
They're prone to tumors and bad things because of Marshall Farms inbreeding, which is about 95% of the ferrets you will find in most pet stores (blue tattoo dot in their ear). Step one to having a healthy ferret is get a ferret from a private breeder if possible (ie: no blue dot in their ear)... getting a ferret bred from Marshall Farms is already committing yourself to more vet bills and a shorter lifespan (plus financially supporting an evil ferret mill).
I soooo wish I could find a private breeder anywhere in the New England area. I’m hoping in the future I’ll have the ability to travel further to adopt (currently have 2 small human children as well as 4 ferrets). Ferrets have been my therapy animals for the past 14 years and I need them as much as they need someone to love them. Breaks my heart knowing I’m adopting from a terrible corporation, but I give my babies the best life they could ever have. One day, it’s my hope to jump through all the hoops to become a private breeder and carefully select where my kits will go when they are ready to be away from mom.
My boyfriend felt sad when he found out ferrets were decented in NY it shortens their life span our fur babies has 2 dots on their ear :( .... We haven't seen private breeders over here..
@@stephyislive7595 well love your ferrets with all your heart... it's not their fault if they came from Marshall Farms. Here in America, it is what it is, 99% of all pet stores (and because of that number 99% of all shelters) you're just going to end up with Marshall Farm ferrets... which, at least, is easy to tell because Marshall's does the blue dot ear tattoo. We're blessed in our Florida city to have access to private bred ferrets that look so much healthier than Marshall ferrets.. easy to spot the difference... just look at videos from European ferret owners. Ours look just like European ferrets. So much "chunkier". I wish there was an easy answer to the Marshall Farms problem here in America, but they have a stranglehold on the ferret market here in America (oh, and don't buy their food either, it's corn based!)
I HATE Marshall Farms. They’ve used capitalism to dominate the market and now it’s near impossible to find a private breeder. When I was growing up there was an amazing breeder 10 minutes down the road
I just noticed my ferret had the blue dots. I'm so ashamed that she was brought from there and i really hope that i can raise enough money to get her not only a buddy but a medical check up to make sure she can live her long life
Loved all the sweet kisses and cuddles during the video! So interesting about their diet and such a great point about saving for health issues- my sister is a vet tech and that’s a huge pet peeve of hers. And your point about natural instincts! Love all your knowledge bombs! 💕❤️
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
Absolutely brilliant video especially the part about cohabitation. Even keeping them with cats and dogs is dangerous as ferrets bite to communicate. A playful little nip on a nose or ear is a recipe for even the most tame of animals to turn aggressive. One more thing i'd love to have seen mentioned would be water bottles, these come with the idea that ferrets are rodents and thus must use bottles like a rodent right? Nope, those bottles are really bad for their carnivorous mouth and whilst not providing enough water, they also act to file down their canines or worse. We had a ferret surrendered to our shelter that had his canine broken by a water bottle and the owner couldn't pay for the vet bill, it was heart-breaking
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
@@maliiandthemango Ferrets, being creatures with stubby legs and thus naturally have their noses so close to the ground (due to the evolution of mustelids being carnivorous hunters with sleek bodies designed to enter the narrow burrows of mice, rabbits, and other rodents), are susceptible to being triggered by pollen, micronized dead skin cells from humans/insects (i.e. dust), floor cleaners, microplastic particles, and bacteria that litter the floors of your home. Be wary that the owner's choice of deodorant, perfume, or shampoo (especially since many ferret owners are demographically female who are likely to use much more generous amounts of hair product compared to men), can drastically also affect a ferret's respiratory system. These risks, however, can be mitigated with proper household ventilation, HEPA air purifiers, dusting, and vacuuming. Their bedding is also an overlooked critical item, since ferrets sleep on it 16-20 hours a day, they spend 3/4ths of their entire lifespan coming into contact with the material their bedding is made out of. Ferrets are known to chew or eat their bedding when curious, bored, or nauseous, thus causing further nausea if the bedding contains synthetic fleece, plastics, hay, loose sawdust particulates, aspen or cedar wood shavings, or material laden with fragrances/perfumes. A ferret's blanketed sleeping area should be comprised of natural fibers such as organic cotton, alpaca fleece fur, natural silk, or wool (though their claws are susceptible to getting stuck in unkempt fibers or knitt-holes), with the rest of their cage lined with odor-free, non-toxic wood pellets or recycled paper product bedding. For a personal touch, ferrets who are close to their owners are sometimes able to sleep more peacefully when sleeping alongside an article of clothing laden with their owner's scent. Just be sure that the clothing is also non-perfumed/made of natural non-synthetic fibers as well. Many types of essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, oregano, clove, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, wintergreen, and ylang ylang that are found in human skin/hair care products are actually quite toxic to ferrets (and cats), since they cannot metabolize or respiratorily filter out essential oil phenols the way that humans can. In fact, most plant-based oils should be avoided since ferrets are _obligate_ carnivores, a.k.a. hypercarnivores who can only survive on the consumption of fats and proteins. Ferrets derive no nutrition or benefit from carbohydrate plants or vegetables, though they do inevitably end up with some (
my ferret came from a hobby breeder and he had never had his nails cut for over 6 months, underfed with only chicken mince and milk, and more. he’s in much better conditions now and is getting more trusting with humans every day :)
at 66 i received my first ferret - never even saw one IRL before. Have had horses, cows, chickens, pigs and many, many cats and dogs. But the two ferrin I now have have enriched my life beyond belief. I'm still learning but I love how they love to just hang out with me. Thanks for the excellent video
That sounds amazing! We have only had 1 ferret every respond to their name 100%. It was our first ferret, Dobby (who unfortunately is no longer with us). It's great that you guys have such a good bond!
I personally find it rather difficult to find ferret care content out there on the internet so I’m very excited to of found another UA-camr spreading ferret knowledge! Greatly appreciated and very helpful video. :)
You do unless you can spend a lot of time with them. Especially for people who are working. They sleep a lot but they dont sleep all at once. They usually are up for 1-2 hours between sleep sessions.
I have 8 free roam ferrets and they are happy and healthy. 4 were rescues and just days away from death full of fleas and smelled so bad and way under weight. We washed them at tractor supply and brought them home and they are now normal healthy ferrets and no stress smells or anything like that.
I know you said no other animals for ferret friends, i know. But when i first got my ferret I already had a bunny at the time. I let them free roam together and they did pretty good. They would both take turns chasing each other and when my bun died my ferret got depressed and stopped eating. I had them together for about 4 and a half years and it wasn’t until his (the rabbit’s) final year he started latching onto and humping my ferret. I wouldn’t do it again or recommend it for others to try but i always thought it was weird my rabbit became the aggressor after years of co-living.
They’re definitely can be exceptions to the rule. Sounds like they had a good life together. I just try to warn people, because it doesn’t always work out that way. ❤️
I am a Ferret-keeper of 10+ years, and I approve this message 👍 Fun aside really great video. I feel there is often a lot of misinformation about ferrets in general. Another point I think ist very important with ferrets is their smell. I don't really smell then at all anymore, except when they use their glands, but other then that ferrets do have an odor. For people who are sensitive to that they might not be a good option for a pet. Also: embracing the chaos. Ferrets should freeroam as much as possible (ours do in fact freeroam 24/7 in our apartment), and while they do, they will get into everything. Your laundry, under your wardrobe, in your trash etc. Like you said it's essential to Ferret proof stuff, but even when the apartment is safe for them they still can do a lot of chaos. So I think people who are like super organized and particular about their space should think about if they want a Ferret. They just can't be trained to the extent a dog can, but still are on the same level of care-and bonding requirements like a dog or a cat. So I would highly recommend to anyone who likes to ceep Ferret to contact a breeder or other Ferret keepers in your area, to maybe get to visit them, and get an idea first.
Free roaming really depends on the ferret's individual personality. My first was a headstrong male that would poop in the middle of a room. Time outs never worked. Yelling at him before he squatted would make him run to and use the puppy pad. Knew what he was supposed to do but if no one was watching he'd go where he pleased! Had to cage at night to stay sane and give carpet cleaner a rest. While on the other hand my last ferret, may she rest in peace, was 100% free roam. She was also a solo ferret. Wonderful disposition and actively set out to do as told. Never caused any headache just heartache.
Thanks for the tips! I’ve been thinking of getting a ferret recently, luckily I did know ferrets free roam but I can see why a lot of people wouldn’t know that! I appreciate the info you are trying to spread
my ferret has always been free roam, i have a cage which has his food and water in. but i leave it open and only put him in if hes bit me etc, then take him out. he falls asleep all over the house
as someone who really wants a ferret. would it be a got fit for me? i work only 3 days a week but its 12 hours a day so im kinda nervous if thats too long or will they adapt to that period and just sleep while im at work?
Ferrets are really great at adapting. I would still and try to give them some free roam/ human interaction on the days you work (before and after if you can). When we originally got our ferrets, we worked 10-12 hours a day (not including drive time which added another 2 hours for me). This was 5 days a week. Because we were gone a lot, we upgraded to 2, double-ferret nations for our boys, to make sure they had a ton of space to play while we were gone. We still made sure to let them out to play for a short bit while we got ready for work in the morning, and then right when we got home until we went to bed. On our day's off of work, they were out most of the day if we weren't gone. Even with the larger cages and tons of toys, they slept most of the time LOL
>"They can eat non meat items!" >"They are obligate carnivores" These two points contradict each other, and should be clarified on more c: Feeding peanut butter to them isn't the best idea as it isn't a meat product.
I'll have to re-watch what I said, as they definitely shouldn't eat non-meat items. I appreciate you catching this, as sometimes I do stumble upon words when recording lol.
@@Mousekins I’m a little late here but I’m pretty sure the ‘you can feed them non meat items’ was the common mistake. Then the ‘they are obligate carnivores’ was the correction to the common mistake. I hope you don’t take this as hate, I just happened to see your comment right after I watched that part!!
the spending time with them needs to be a common sense to people because to me if you get a pet you need to spend time with them otherwise dont get a pet right? also thanks for the video i have been thinking about getting a ferret for 3 years now [im saving up for the bills just in case]
I just got my first ferret. I can’t afford a second but I live with a roommate who will also give him plenty of love and play time. I’m going to try to save up for a play pin for him to roam in instead of staying in the cage. I’m so glad I found this account!
I also have a roommate to attend to my one and only ferret. I do take him for 6-8 block walks every night, rain or shine, as I really don't have any choice, for if I don't take him for his walk every night, he'll tear my house apart. I've had 8 ferrets over 28 years, and I leash walked all of them every night. After my ferret's long walk, he's then ready for bed. And I also take him for short bicycle rides, him riding in the basket.
Please remember that ferrets are precious animals. They will be more calm after a year or maybe 1.5 years old. BEST pets for busy people. I do leave mine in a cage at night while I sleep and while at work during the day. That way I don't mistakenly step one them like a man at Pet Smart did. He awakened one morning and his ferret was asleep at the foot of his bed ... He STEPPED on it and killed it! NEVER WILL own another one !
Oh that would be just awful! I've seen too many people on social media make their carnivorous pets eat a vegan diet... I don't understand it at all. I was a vegetarian for around 10 years... but that was MY choice, and not my pets' choices... I still fed them species appropriate diets..
Fantastic advice!! I built my father a ferret room. He "stole" nearly all of my snakedogs and currently has his work-from-home setup in the ferret room. Alas, his last boy passed away not too long ago 😪 I'm unsure if they're planning to adopt more, but he keeps the photos and some sentimental play items in there. By the way, they all pretty much got to free roam that entire floor...so much for my room plan!
@@ratslayer6064 pretty sure my mother would kill me 🤣 But, due to health reasons, he's holding off and sticking to cats. We both get our weaselly fixes at my brothers. My furry nieces are deservedly spoiled rotten!
Great Informative video for people thinking of buying ferrets, I always feel so bad for them when I see parents buying them for their kids, or ask me if I’d recommend them for kids and I’ll straight up tell them no! I don’t know about anyone else’s ferrets but mine are crazy wild and always looking to get into whatever they can, always under your feet and chasing you, always places you don’t expect them to be smh, they are DEF NOT CAGE ANIMALS, get a hamster or something not ferrets also I only have 2 ferrets and they have 4 story condo cage and that’s still not enough it’s really best to just ferret proof and let them run around, when they’re tired they eventually come back, also have a dog and cat who are happy with them
Thanks for the comment! You definitely are very ferret knowledgeable! I think a lot of people get the idea of them being 'easy pets' from pet stores. I've seen so many pet store employees talk new ferret owners into buying tiny cages for them to live in full time :( A lot of ferret care has gotten so much better over the years. But for there to be a big difference, the knowledge in the pet stores needs to change.
Ferrets are not pets for children... especially young children... I have teenagers, but I am the primary caregiver for the ferrets in the house and I do my very best to educate my teenagers on all the different needs and care for ferrets... I raised ferrets for about a decade before I had kids, then took time of of ferrets to focus on family and waited till my children were old enough to have ferrets in the house again. They are great animals, but with great animals comes great responsibility! ;-)
My female ferret is surprisingly very tame for being a female ferret and very affectionate but boy does she love to scurry like she’s in a hurry! I let her roam free when I saw she was so much happier out of her cage. It’s like people. Just because you have a house doesn’t mean you should stay in it 24/7!
Always get a pair, ferrets should never be kept alone unless health issues require it. Great advice, it's a proper commitment, and they need you everyday, they will smell! but they are well worth it.
2 ferrets. Male ferrets, no. One male ferret. They need to be trained individually. All ferrets. Litters are big, up to 8 kits a litter. Female ferrets are raped if you have an intact Hob. He needs neutering and the Gill she needs to be fully spayed, the operation of spaying is very similar to a domestic cat, in operative physiognomy, however very few vets know how to do the surgery, which I can do. Also, ferrets should have their own space. If you go out buying a male and female, then you will have to then find a vet surgeon. England, you say ferrets are bigger and more healthy. True because we do not have rabies snymore. For now. Ferrets are mixed with polecats genetics more strongly here. It's illegal also to not have a breeding license. There are always some who under the radar of course. Miximatosis was rife here in the 1970s. Horrific for the wild populations of rabbits, hares, wildcats and others. Fur farms likely get away with evil stuff. We have places where Americans have imported sick wild animals, causing disease. Why are you adopting from fur farms? It's illegal surely? You should not be advocating this Marshall fur farm ferret breeder!
I would definitely wait on a ferret, unless you can find a way to free-roam them in a safe way. I have seen people ferret-proof an area of their home (like 1 specific bedroom), and just not allow other animals in there while they free roam; but you definitely have to be careful.
Upon adopting a ferret, immediately bring them to the vet, I would also run total health blood tests to just see if there is any inflammation/variables unnoticeable within their behavior.
I live in Finland and here all ferrets are from private breeders, you can't get them from pet shops. They also cost quite much, about 450 euros (475 USD) per individual. The cost is mostly to show that the new owner actually has money to take care of their ferret if something happens. I would say about 90 % of ferret owners here only feed them raw. And love it this way. The ferrets you see here are big and healthy
In the UK, the average price of a ferret is FREE or £10 or €12 each .. I have micro ferrets less than half size of the regular European ones .. very tiny and very cute.
@@PawsToJourney I appreciate the passion.. I can't wait to get a ferret in a couple years after I move into a house. I would love to get one now but I live 13 floors up and my windows don't have screens. I'd be too paranoid lol
Thank you for this video 🙏... I genuinely hate how people have pets and just have zero concept of their pets needs.. animals exist for other reasons than to be your object to keep in a cage !!
We are always trying to learn more and better ourselves; and always hope that others do the same. Whether they watch our videos, or someone else’s, it’s all about learning to make our animals lives better!
Rule number 1 is really important !! Mine was free roaming in my entire house (except bedrooms, toilets and bathroom) 24/7 and he was the happiest, calm and well behaved ferret my vet has ever seen :]
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
@@maliiandthemango Hello, ferrets are not chewing everything like rabbits, it's fine :) ! The bitting is their way to play, so as long as you educate them they won't bite this hard :) Their life span is approx 7-8 years. Ferrets are 10% carnivore, only meat !
@@freemannn3789 Be cautious of their obsession with rubber! cloth gloves can be a must for teenage male ferrets. They like to play rough during that age. None of my 4 made it to 7 years of age before cancer struck. Raw meat is ideal but ferrets imprint when young so new foods can be a coin flip when introducing.
The ferret nation cage is the most recommended cage for ferrets. I would also make sure you have money saved for emergencies and vet bills. Not only do ferrets need yearly vet checkups , but sadly, they are very prone to diseases and having emergencies. We have spent so many thousands of dollars on our ferret’s vet bills.
It’s mainly due to horrible breeding in the USA. Here, there is basically 1 mass breeder that breeds ferrets, and they don’t care to make sure they are making good choices for their breeding program. They are a huge mill/factory that functions out of profit, not for the love of the ferrets 😭. They also will not ship them to pet stores until they are neutered and de-scented (which I feel is unnecessary), meaning young kits are having those procedures done. I’m sure this does not help their overall health and size. There are a few, good private breeders in the US, but they are few and far between. Our boys have always topped out at 1.5 lbs (we’ve never had females, but they are usually smaller). I know in other countries, they are much healthier, and get a lot bigger.
We were planning on our ferret being only part time free roam... But he's pretty good at escape attempts. So we ferret proofed everything and he's free roam 24/7, but keep his cage open and he goes in there to take naps if the cats are bothering him.
You should cover the adrenal disease in more detail in a video, as I'm sure your aware desexing is a big cause of this but there are implants available that prevent adrenal disease (superlorin), I believe the same implant can be used instead of desexing. Would be great to see a video about it as there is very little out there covering it.
We really try hard to do our research, and love sharing what we learn! Information is always changing, so it’s good to constantly be learning so we can all learn to improve the quality of life for our pets. ❤️
Years ago I had 2 gils (female) ferrets, they were from the same litter. They had an indoor free roaming space for the winter and an outdoor free roaming space for the warmer months but they still came indoors for cuddles too. One thing I wanted to point out is that they required a hormone injection every year to stop them from coming into season because females can get sick if they don’t have litters, so here in the UK our vet insisted on this annual treatment if we weren’t going to breed with them, which we weren’t. They were the most adorable, aromatic girlies (not quite as aromatic as hobs (males)) I had them as rescue pets, the rest of the litter perished and I hand reared them, they are very cat like in many ways, including their ability to hunt. They would fall asleep in the sleeves of your clothing or down the front of your jumper! Their tongues are rough like a cat too, those licks never stop! Be careful not to wear lotions or creams that could be harmful for them to ingest, they are after your salt! 😅they will gently nibble sometimes too😊 I don’t live in a suitable home now to have another ferret family but they were amazing pets to own and care for 🤗😘 They are adorable animals but they do require a lot of love and playtime or they can become aggressive if they don’t have enough human contact or are confined in small spaces. They are not a hutch animal, they need to roam. I’ll shut up now 😂 RIP my babies 😢Happy memories.
I got my precious little angel ferret 3 1/2 years ago not knowing too much about ferrets. One of my best friends was moving and couldn’t take her and noticed I had been bonding with her. After I got her I did research until a migraine kicked in. She came with a cage that I started out keeping her in more than out of, but eventually I let her roam free full time. She has a favorite owl hammock in her cage that she loves to nap in, so I keep the bottom door of her cage open and the levels and little ramps situated to help her up to it of course. When she’s out and about, I have a couple comfy cat beds with old clothes that have my scent as blankets since she seems to prefer that over actual blankets. I got corner litter boxes and stopped using cat litter. She can’t stand any ferret food, so I put turkey breast in with the food softened with water so she’ll eat it. I’ve learned to mimic a squeaky toy with my vocal chords for added fun. Vet appointments are so expensive but so important. Nala has had that multiple tumors problem too, but she’s more than worth it. I have cats as well, but they don’t bother her nor does she bother them. I very gradually introduced cats into our home. I never once considered getting a dog though. Her previous home had dogs that saw her as a chew toy and limited her free roam time and I didn’t want to take that freedom from her. For a while though, it was just us, just me and Nala. She used to hoard anything chewy I dropped. She checks in on me when I take a bath. She naps at my feet when I’m on the toilet. If I close the door, she flattens herself in front of it. She has a weird obsession with licking the inside of my nose. I honestly can’t notice whatever musk she might have because when I smell her scent it reminds me of her and makes me happy. Ferrets are a lot of work and require so much maintenance, but getting Nala was truly one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten in life.
i'm glad i looked into this more. i was thinking of a ferret but after finding out they're not cage pets that was an instant disqualification for me. i think a pair of rats would be better but i can't get over how they pee on everything.
I have a baby ferret and she is pretty young only about 6 months and I let her free roam A LOT, but she is still showing cage rage. However I can’t let her out while im asleep because I can’t watch her. What should I do?
Keep in mind she has a huge cage, it’s 3 stories and lots of toys, I plan to get a second ferret soon hoping prices drop back down to normal, since she was about $400
Some ferrets will always show some cage rage, unfortunately. I would definitely make sure you're ignoring it when she does do it, so she doesn't learn that she gets attention when she is doing it :)
My 2 have an entire shed to themselves 6ft by 8ft and they run around it free time all day and then they come inside the house for 3-4 hours every day to have play time with us and the cats, they run up and down the stairs like little maniacs 😅
Thank you for this video...I lost my baby boy hip hop passed last week leaving our girl R&B alone. he was about 6years I wasn't sure how old he was since we were second owners we took him to the vet they never found any illnesses with him...yes bills are expensive but that don't matter when you want your fur baby to be healthy 💕😊...now our girl ferret has 2 new friends and they get along so well I let them out everyday after work when they get tired they go back to the cage or stay under the sofa 😂😂 .. They're 3months old...also I saw huuuge ferrets I did not know existed "bulldog ferrets" are beautiful but I wasn't sure how they were going to be with the smaller ones so I didn't risk it lol
Oh i volunteer work with a person who has mental health problems so she isnt home that much she has 8 ferrets its way too much in my opinion but i cant choose for her im learning there body language and try to make them play run around when im cleaning the gages when im working some stand up against my leg
Sounds like you are doing great helping with them! It can definitely be hard for someone to let their pets go when they can't care for them appropriately anymore, because of their love for them. Sometimes, explaining how happy the ferrets could be in someone else's care can help.
Got to have an argument with you about the cross species friendships. My ferret Ferdinand is best friends with my boxer. They've been friends for going on 8 for 9 years now. I've lost track. They snuggled together they played together well not as much anymore since they're both senior citizens but Ferdinand he's still rambunctious and mischievous. He's pretty much free roaming except for bedtime. He also likes to wrestle with the cat. They've all been friends for all their lives just about so I guess it's about training and exposure. I definitely would not let Ferdinand around a rabbit or a prey animal, that would just be stupid.
We definitely don’t have an issue with cross species when done safely. Our ferrets have always free roamed, therefore hanging out with our dogs and cats. It’s really important to know your own animals, and to be able to read animal body language. It sounds like you guys have a great thing going!
Same.. both of my wuzzles were besties with both my.boxer and my cat.. from day one until the very end.. my cat was so lost when my Meeko finally passed 😢
This helps a lot, I was planning to get 2 ferrets around Christmas this year, and will definitely give them a lot of free time, the cage size will definitely help me out, but quick question, is it okay to let them sleep out of their cage
Yes, you can let them sleep outside their cage. There are lots of people who let them free-roam 24/7. I’m an over-worrier, and I always worry about something bad happening to one of them while we slept, or worry they’ll climb into bed and I’ll squash them.. or if there’s an emergency like a fire: what if I can’t find them right away.
Thank you so much. Im getting a ferret tomorrow and completely forgot about vet bills. Everything else I expected but this video saved me a lot of trouble.
Glad we could help. We knew about vet bills before getting ours; but never realized the huge amounts we would be spending left and right on all the issues they have.
I have a single ferret. I feel guilty about not having a friend for her but she hates other ferrets. She hates cats too. She will only bond with humans. I've tried multiple times trying to socialize her with other ferrets and I give up. So in order to keep her happy, I keep her free roam 24/7, she sleeps with me in my bed, she goes to the grocery store with Me, I take her on walks every day. I even take her camping with Me. Even backpacking. You can have a happy single ferret. You just have to spend alot more time with them
Don't feel guilty! There are definitely some ferrets out there that just don't like their own kind! Just like there are humans who prefer hanging out with their pets versus other humans LOL. Each ferret will definitely have their own personality, and that's okay! It sounds like you are giving her an amazing life!
I want to get a ferret but I have a dog also would you think play areas would be enough room I could let my ferret roam around the whole house when I am watching but do you think a play pen would be good?
Omg I didn’t know Guinea pigs experienced cage rage😭my little Sandy leant how to open it and all - I am now about to get a ferret and your video lost definitely helped me
We dog and cat proof our houses, we should be able to do the same for ferrets, rabbits, rats, or any other small 'pocket' pet! I dk how this is so hard to understand..>.>
I would never force them to swim; so I wouldn't just put them in a body of water. If there was a way to make a ramp or something, where they could choose to be in or out; then you could. Ferret's aren't really like other Mustelids (Minks, Otters, etc.) and don't usually enjoy swimming. Some ferrets can enjoy it, but again, I would let them make the choice. Our one ferret, Hagrid, for example, usually does enjoy swimming. If we go to the beach, he will choose to leave the beach for the water. I don't ever just put him in the water, I let him always make the choice :)
I have to ask this burning question I have, (sometimes) why does a mother ferret grab the owner's hand to bring to her kits? What would be the benefit of this for her? Why does she do it?
I work as a childrens psychologist . I recently got a ferret , and I have ferret proofed the house , but since I work as a psychologist , I have to leave my ferret alone in a cage . I bought a cage for a large sized dog , added different levels and everything a ferret needs . My boss recently allowed me to move the cage into my office , so that my ferret could feel better , and also because animals seem to calm down children with anxiety . I agreed , since my ferret was pretty friendly . I let out my ferret to snoop around the room on my breaks . Does anyone have any recommendations on how to make my room safe for my ferret without ferret-proofing it ? Or do I have to buy a harness for my ferret ?
Could you use exercise pens , and just give a small corner of space to them? I'm going to link something we use for camping, it's 52 inches wide. I have read that some people's ferrets rip holes in theirs, but ours have never in the 4 years we've had it. amzn.to/3IjgRHW
Another option is using these clear panels to designate just a portion of the room as 'ferret space'. We used clear masking tape to tape ours together, because they can pop apart real easy. amzn.to/3vdMO0K
The plastic pens I linked below worked real well in our bedroom. We were able to give them a large portion of space, and they weren't able to climb it. :)
I accidentally clicked on one ferret video. One. IT WAS AN ACCIDENT UA-cam. ACC ..I…DENT. STOP WITH THE FERRET VIDEOS. no offence you seem absolutely delightful and they’re very cute BUT FOR FUCKS SAKE UA-cam.
I want a pet ferret but caring for them is so much more expensive than your average Guinea pig or hamster simply because they’re considered as “exotic” pets.😔 Some states like Texas are lucky to let you legally own ferrets. I remember watching 2-4 ferrets sleep in a huge cylindrical aquarium tank at Petco or Petsmart when I was still living in Houston and I really wanted to ask my parents if i could get one but eventually I never did because I knew they were going to say no. My brother and I wouldn’t mind owning a ferret but my parents wouldn’t want a musky smelling pet roaming around and “terrorizing” our home anyways and then having to pay so much to care for it. When I moved to Taiwan, there aren’t any ferrets available in their pet stores. What a bummer!
I am thinking about getting a ferret or maybe some other pet. If I were to get a ferret, could I make a small space in my room to keep while I’m at school and when I get home let him free roam in my room? I would make sure the space in my room would be large enough to run around with lots of enriching toys? Also, I wouldn’t be allowed to have more than one small pet, so could, if having enough playtime, live without a pair? If this wouldn’t be a good situation for a ferret, is there any animal recommendations that could fit my situation? Thanks for listening! 🫶
Facts!! 11 years old got home from school. My sister's ferret killed both my guinea pigs... We had them both for 2 years, They played and ate together. One day out of nowhere chocolate (( the ferret)) Climbed up and went inside their cage. Long story short, They know how to get out of the cage, They do love to eat meat My sister has 3 of them now. And she loves them to death..
I’m gonna get one this coming payday and I can’t wait. I’m watching all the videos I can to soak up all I can about them and refresh memory on things too. Sadly I’m gonna be paying Petco about $450 for one but I don’t wanna deal with breeders. They’re way too overbearing with all the questions and wanting references. It’s not a car I’m financing or a home lol it’s a pet lol I’m a very affectionate person so ferrets are perfect for me. Had one very long ago and was the funnest pet I ever had right next to dogs. Slightly better than dogs lol I can’t decide color tho lol gonna search for a black one ❤ thanks for the awesome video. To the point and no bs. Love it ❤
Do you think ferrets should have custom cages like 2 cages attached obv safely attached and free roam time, also do you think that half - 3/4 halfs of a room will be good, another question is it ok to have multiple people petting a ferret or around ferrets an once or do you think that they could get stressed around too many people, last question is toys, are good choke-free toys like a tennis ball mabye some hanging toys to climb rat toys like climbing ropes tunnles and platforms to climb up to? If you read this and can respond it will help me a lot to convincing my parents to let me buy ferrets (I will be glad to sacrifice my money to get ferrets, toys, food and cage)
Ferrets are like furry toddlers. They can and will get into situations that are bad. An emergency medical fund is extremely important. But they are wonderful companions for someone who has done a lot of research before adopting one or two.....
Hello!can I ask you something?can I get a single ferret without it having any issues?of course I’m gonna give it a lot of attention, bond with him etc etc . Please let me know ❤
Good advice! Re: medica issues - I wonder if cross breeding them with the polecat would create an offspring with less medical issues? I know people were cross breeding them about 20 years ago, but the offspring were too wild to be pets. There has been enough time to continue to cross breed them with other ferrets to decrease their wildness but, hopefully, keep the healthier genetics. Does anyone have any news?
I’ve had ferrets …… they were working animals and I’ve never considered them a pet , I can’t believe ppl have them for pets !! Pretty cool ready i suppose
You the shit girl!!!! I love seeing your common sense ferret advice!....i never feed my girls anything but meat products...but i feel guilty cuz i feed them cat food cuz its cheaper, but im seriously thinking about going back to marshals ferret food....for teats i give my first ferret (nippy) turkey gerber food, the other,(zoey) dont like it for some reason ...and zoey wont eat chicken breast either...im confused and wish i knew something i could give zoey for a treat,but nothing works...all she wants is cat food....i noticed her stomach makes wierd bubbly noises and wonder if thats normal....im about to google what that can mean..(???) But anyway,i bought nippy one of your harnesses, and now i got zoey, so im gonna buy one from u for her!...i just hope the ppl that gave me zoey (they couldnt take care of her and seen how much of a ferret lover i am), i hope they didnt lie to me cuz they said they got her shots 6 months ago......im wondering what her stomach noises are...did u ever wind up getting more ferrets after the last one died???? I know u were heartbroken and dont blame u...but i heard someone say its better to have loved and lost ,than to never had loved at all....i hope u get more ferrets...theyve made my life so much happier..but these stories i hear on how theyre prone to health problems makes me worry ...ill go without my basic nessessities to have the money to pay the vet to keep them alive if nessessary.....ive payed a 200$ vet bill to save the life of a 8$ pet furless rat before. ..lol ..some say im crazy ,but my love for animals is priceless....i think they crazy for not caring....hope u doing good, and ill be ordering another harness soon... :)
Yeah I have to take my gliders out every time the ferrets are out. I keep the gliders pouched on me cause one of our naughty boys likes to climb their cage when no one is looking. Thus why the ferrets rarely get living room time and mostly get bedroom time if they are out of their own room. They have a big cage in there we leave open so they have vertical climb area and its a consistent place to put food and one of their 2 water dispensers. We use 2 incase the rechargeable battery runs out on 1 and we don't notice for hours and to have one while charging the other.
It really depends on the ferret and the cat. I don't usually recommend it, as mixing any species could result in a bad outcome. I definitely wouldn't mix a kitten with a ferret, as a ferret can easily overpower and kill a kitten. On the norm, a lot of people do allow their cats to interact with their ferrets, but you need to make sure to supervise, and understand their behavior to make sure no one is stressed out.
Ok so first time ferret owner here but could like say a 2 year old cat and a ferret maybe be able to adjust to eachother or would it result in the cat eating the ferret?
Bad info. 6 hours a day? Mine get 2-4 hours 2-3 times a week and they are super healthy and happy. They are animals and your instincts will guide you right. Don't listen to this over zealous woman who treats animals like royalty.
Our ferrets are free roam! We weren't anticipating to have them free roam 24/7, but got the biggest suitable cage we could find for them. Not even a month into having them they're now free roam and it's the best thing we've ever done for them, finding them sleeping in various places we've set up for them is so precious!
That's so great! When we first got our first ferret, he was caged at first. My husband suggested letting him free roam, because we started feeling bad about him being locked up. I started doing research, and realized that it was much better for them!
True about Ferret: ua-cam.com/video/k4CZkqDBKlg/v-deo.html
My ferret has 7 "Bedrooms" he sleeps in, on occasion. Never know which "Bedroom" he's sleeping in. I even made him a nice lego house, but he loves sleeping in the plastic bag drawer in the kitchen. Sometimes, when the mood strikes him, he hops in bed with me, licks my hair and face and then lays down at the far end of my bed.
heh , heh , heh , go to grab a pair of underwear in the morning and they are already warm
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
Say it louder to the people at the back! Genuinly got emotional watching someone finally give good advice! I needed this kind of info when I first got my babies
Hi and thanks so much for the comment! It is so frustrating for so many (including me) when you first get ferrets. So much conflicting information out there! We've even changed veterinarians a few time because we didn't like their lack of ferret knowledge :/
Facts
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
Gayass
@@williamstewart1126what is he/she is a girl 💀💀💀
I just lost my nine year old a few days and I wanted to refresh my knowledge on ferrets before adopting new ones. Thank you so much for this cause everything you said is true! Ferrets are amazing creatures and need proper care!
I am so sorry for your loss!
I’m so sorry for your loss! My ferret is turning 8 this year, and she’s starting to show the signs of old age wearing her down. I can’t imagine losing her, so I can only imagine your pain.
So basically you did it wrong for 8yrs?
Interesting about the diet!
I want to add my personal experience with two ferrets I had. They used to be free in a house that I used to live in (no cage). At the beginning, we observed where they would hide to sleep and we simply dedicated those places for them (a drawer in the tv furniture and a chest in which we removed toys to put an hammock... We made a hole in the chest so that they could easily access it). They were clean, they would go in a litter by themselves after we trained them and we would close some doors before going to work/school to make sure that no accident would happen when we wouldn't be there.
It was their happiest and healthiest time! I recommend this kind of method and living space if you want to have happy ferrets that live longer. They deserve as much free time as they want!
This is exactly what we do with our two. They love having the ability to run around and have fun. My husband and I work and couldn't imagine keeping them caged up all the time.
It is all nice in theory but not practical. A ferret should be supervised at all times. A lot can go wrong with free roam ferrets. They can escape, they can eat things they arent supposed to, they can get to places they arent supposed to. I had 3 ferrets escape the house. One was mine which escaped because my parents were careless with the door. She came back on her own luckily. The other 2 belonged to a lady that stayed with us and she left the door open to smoke and her two ferrets escaped without her noticing. One was found roaming the garage, the other was hit by a car and crushed. As much as we would love to have them free roam all the time, it is simply not safe for them to do so. Ferrets should be supervised anytime they are outside of their cage or ferret proofed room. Ferrets WILL always find trouble and danger.
And it's stressful for them being left in a room, with no human being there, because they love their human to guide them, no play, they get bored, depressed and stressed into stopping eating, also they can chew through concrete, if they do not want the environment they are in. If they get trapped, how would you know? If they fall, chew wires, eat the wall, get stuck under a TV cabinet eat rotted food hidden in inacceable places, you just should feed them in their hutch, a very strong big hutch, with plenty of air. However, a ferret I had roaming, got into my bedroom, she was no biter, but she got under the duvet cover, and sunk her teeth into my right calve, and I was asleep. The pain was agony, she was scared because I was screaming, and bit down and within 2 seconds took a piece of flesh and ate it . A trusted, well loved lady ferret got a scare, because I was asleep and I moved out my leg, not on her or anything, agonising, pain for me. So no way would I ever advise this situation for anyone. I have had ferrets for 42 years. I know enough about these animals that they are never bullet proof. I respect my laddie.I love my ferret enough to not have that ever happen again
They're prone to tumors and bad things because of Marshall Farms inbreeding, which is about 95% of the ferrets you will find in most pet stores (blue tattoo dot in their ear). Step one to having a healthy ferret is get a ferret from a private breeder if possible (ie: no blue dot in their ear)... getting a ferret bred from Marshall Farms is already committing yourself to more vet bills and a shorter lifespan (plus financially supporting an evil ferret mill).
I soooo wish I could find a private breeder anywhere in the New England area. I’m hoping in the future I’ll have the ability to travel further to adopt (currently have 2 small human children as well as 4 ferrets).
Ferrets have been my therapy animals for the past 14 years and I need them as much as they need someone to love them. Breaks my heart knowing I’m adopting from a terrible corporation, but I give my babies the best life they could ever have. One day, it’s my hope to jump through all the hoops to become a private breeder and carefully select where my kits will go when they are ready to be away from mom.
My boyfriend felt sad when he found out ferrets were decented in NY it shortens their life span our fur babies has 2 dots on their ear :( .... We haven't seen private breeders over here..
@@stephyislive7595 well love your ferrets with all your heart... it's not their fault if they came from Marshall Farms.
Here in America, it is what it is, 99% of all pet stores (and because of that number 99% of all shelters) you're just going to end up with Marshall Farm ferrets... which, at least, is easy to tell because Marshall's does the blue dot ear tattoo.
We're blessed in our Florida city to have access to private bred ferrets that look so much healthier than Marshall ferrets.. easy to spot the difference... just look at videos from European ferret owners. Ours look just like European ferrets. So much "chunkier".
I wish there was an easy answer to the Marshall Farms problem here in America, but they have a stranglehold on the ferret market here in America (oh, and don't buy their food either, it's corn based!)
I HATE Marshall Farms. They’ve used capitalism to dominate the market and now it’s near impossible to find a private breeder. When I was growing up there was an amazing breeder 10 minutes down the road
I just noticed my ferret had the blue dots. I'm so ashamed that she was brought from there and i really hope that i can raise enough money to get her not only a buddy but a medical check up to make sure she can live her long life
Loved all the sweet kisses and cuddles during the video! So interesting about their diet and such a great point about saving for health issues- my sister is a vet tech and that’s a huge pet peeve of hers. And your point about natural instincts! Love all your knowledge bombs! 💕❤️
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
Absolutely brilliant video especially the part about cohabitation. Even keeping them with cats and dogs is dangerous as ferrets bite to communicate. A playful little nip on a nose or ear is a recipe for even the most tame of animals to turn aggressive. One more thing i'd love to have seen mentioned would be water bottles, these come with the idea that ferrets are rodents and thus must use bottles like a rodent right? Nope, those bottles are really bad for their carnivorous mouth and whilst not providing enough water, they also act to file down their canines or worse. We had a ferret surrendered to our shelter that had his canine broken by a water bottle and the owner couldn't pay for the vet bill, it was heart-breaking
Very good points!
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
@@maliiandthemango
Ferrets, being creatures with stubby legs and thus naturally have their noses so close to the ground (due to the evolution of mustelids being carnivorous hunters with sleek bodies designed to enter the narrow burrows of mice, rabbits, and other rodents), are susceptible to being triggered by pollen, micronized dead skin cells from humans/insects (i.e. dust), floor cleaners, microplastic particles, and bacteria that litter the floors of your home. Be wary that the owner's choice of deodorant, perfume, or shampoo (especially since many ferret owners are demographically female who are likely to use much more generous amounts of hair product compared to men), can drastically also affect a ferret's respiratory system. These risks, however, can be mitigated with proper household ventilation, HEPA air purifiers, dusting, and vacuuming.
Their bedding is also an overlooked critical item, since ferrets sleep on it 16-20 hours a day, they spend 3/4ths of their entire lifespan coming into contact with the material their bedding is made out of. Ferrets are known to chew or eat their bedding when curious, bored, or nauseous, thus causing further nausea if the bedding contains synthetic fleece, plastics, hay, loose sawdust particulates, aspen or cedar wood shavings, or material laden with fragrances/perfumes. A ferret's blanketed sleeping area should be comprised of natural fibers such as organic cotton, alpaca fleece fur, natural silk, or wool (though their claws are susceptible to getting stuck in unkempt fibers or knitt-holes), with the rest of their cage lined with odor-free, non-toxic wood pellets or recycled paper product bedding. For a personal touch, ferrets who are close to their owners are sometimes able to sleep more peacefully when sleeping alongside an article of clothing laden with their owner's scent. Just be sure that the clothing is also non-perfumed/made of natural non-synthetic fibers as well.
Many types of essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, oregano, clove, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, wintergreen, and ylang ylang that are found in human skin/hair care products are actually quite toxic to ferrets (and cats), since they cannot metabolize or respiratorily filter out essential oil phenols the way that humans can. In fact, most plant-based oils should be avoided since ferrets are _obligate_ carnivores, a.k.a. hypercarnivores who can only survive on the consumption of fats and proteins. Ferrets derive no nutrition or benefit from carbohydrate plants or vegetables, though they do inevitably end up with some (
There not rodents
Awww ferret kisses. Such sweeties and cutie pies. I want to cuddle your ferrets
They certainly are cuddly!
my ferret came from a hobby breeder and he had never had his nails cut for over 6 months, underfed with only chicken mince and milk, and more. he’s in much better conditions now and is getting more trusting with humans every day :)
at 66 i received my first ferret - never even saw one IRL before. Have had horses, cows, chickens, pigs and many, many cats and dogs. But the two ferrin I now have have enriched my life beyond belief. I'm still learning but I love how they love to just hang out with me. Thanks for the excellent video
They are pretty amazing aren't they?
all I can say is don't let the f horse kill it
Me and my Ferret have a great bond he gets free roam in my room so if I leave and come back and say "Asher" he comes running!
That sounds amazing! We have only had 1 ferret every respond to their name 100%. It was our first ferret, Dobby (who unfortunately is no longer with us). It's great that you guys have such a good bond!
@@PawsToJourney Sorry late reply and I am sorry!
I personally find it rather difficult to find ferret care content out there on the internet so I’m very excited to of found another UA-camr spreading ferret knowledge! Greatly appreciated and very helpful video. :)
So glad you enjoyed it! Hope you enjoy the rest of the videos!
"The Modern Ferret" is a great resource, especially to just learn about certain topics... a well done and well educated UA-cam channel for ferrets.
@@wolfshanze5980 We love The Modern Ferret! They have such great information!
I saw a double ferret nation at my local pet store and I WAS IN SHOCK🥰 but so happy
How awesome! They are so big!
My first ferret was a loner. I was his playmate, his friend. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ My little boy! You do not ALWAYS need two if you have time to be it's companion.
You do unless you can spend a lot of time with them. Especially for people who are working. They sleep a lot but they dont sleep all at once. They usually are up for 1-2 hours between sleep sessions.
@@seanbroccoli2698agree, if you work and are gone alot 2 are best.
Yes you do
I have 8 free roam ferrets and they are happy and healthy. 4 were rescues and just days away from death full of fleas and smelled so bad and way under weight. We washed them at tractor supply and brought them home and they are now normal healthy ferrets and no stress smells or anything like that.
Awwww so glad you rescued them! I'm sure they are so happy you found them!
HOORAY FOR YOU! HEROES!
I know you said no other animals for ferret friends, i know. But when i first got my ferret I already had a bunny at the time. I let them free roam together and they did pretty good. They would both take turns chasing each other and when my bun died my ferret got depressed and stopped eating. I had them together for about 4 and a half years and it wasn’t until his (the rabbit’s) final year he started latching onto and humping my ferret. I wouldn’t do it again or recommend it for others to try but i always thought it was weird my rabbit became the aggressor after years of co-living.
They’re definitely can be exceptions to the rule. Sounds like they had a good life together. I just try to warn people, because it doesn’t always work out that way. ❤️
I am a Ferret-keeper of 10+ years, and I approve this message 👍
Fun aside really great video. I feel there is often a lot of misinformation about ferrets in general. Another point I think ist very important with ferrets is their smell. I don't really smell then at all anymore, except when they use their glands, but other then that ferrets do have an odor. For people who are sensitive to that they might not be a good option for a pet.
Also: embracing the chaos. Ferrets should freeroam as much as possible (ours do in fact freeroam 24/7 in our apartment), and while they do, they will get into everything. Your laundry, under your wardrobe, in your trash etc. Like you said it's essential to Ferret proof stuff, but even when the apartment is safe for them they still can do a lot of chaos. So I think people who are like super organized and particular about their space should think about if they want a Ferret. They just can't be trained to the extent a dog can, but still are on the same level of care-and bonding requirements like a dog or a cat. So I would highly recommend to anyone who likes to ceep Ferret to contact a breeder or other Ferret keepers in your area, to maybe get to visit them, and get an idea first.
Free roaming really depends on the ferret's individual personality. My first was a headstrong male that would poop in the middle of a room. Time outs never worked. Yelling at him before he squatted would make him run to and use the puppy pad. Knew what he was supposed to do but if no one was watching he'd go where he pleased! Had to cage at night to stay sane and give carpet cleaner a rest.
While on the other hand my last ferret, may she rest in peace, was 100% free roam. She was also a solo ferret. Wonderful disposition and actively set out to do as told. Never caused any headache just heartache.
I have 2 ferrets so I gave them a cage with seven storys, they absolutely love it.
Seems like your name is Ashley... Thanks for the video 🎉
I only have one noodle and her cage is huge and she doesn't even use it she stays in my room
Sounds like she’s living a great life!
Thanks for the tips! I’ve been thinking of getting a ferret recently, luckily I did know ferrets free roam but I can see why a lot of people wouldn’t know that! I appreciate the info you are trying to spread
I let my ferrets out when I get out of school and my mother gets out of work so they are usually out 9 hours a day is that good?
I want to get 2 ferrets when I'm older, can they get along with dogs? I heard some dogs, if their gentle, can become friends with a ferret?
my ferret has always been free roam, i have a cage which has his food and water in. but i leave it open and only put him in if hes bit me etc, then take him out. he falls asleep all over the house
Sounds wonderful! What's their name?
as someone who really wants a ferret. would it be a got fit for me? i work only 3 days a week but its 12 hours a day so im kinda nervous if thats too long or will they adapt to that period and just sleep while im at work?
Ferrets are really great at adapting. I would still and try to give them some free roam/ human interaction on the days you work (before and after if you can). When we originally got our ferrets, we worked 10-12 hours a day (not including drive time which added another 2 hours for me). This was 5 days a week. Because we were gone a lot, we upgraded to 2, double-ferret nations for our boys, to make sure they had a ton of space to play while we were gone. We still made sure to let them out to play for a short bit while we got ready for work in the morning, and then right when we got home until we went to bed. On our day's off of work, they were out most of the day if we weren't gone.
Even with the larger cages and tons of toys, they slept most of the time LOL
if you were any closer to the camera it would be behind you. Back away ffs
good video, straight to the point for new ferrents. it’s so hard when people spread misinformation.
Thanks! There is so much conflicting information out there for ferrets; that it can be so frustrating for new owners!
>"They can eat non meat items!"
>"They are obligate carnivores"
These two points contradict each other, and should be clarified on more c: Feeding peanut butter to them isn't the best idea as it isn't a meat product.
I'll have to re-watch what I said, as they definitely shouldn't eat non-meat items. I appreciate you catching this, as sometimes I do stumble upon words when recording lol.
@@PawsToJourney c: That's valid, I know that feeling all too well! Good luck on your future videos and I'm glad I could catch that for you haha
@@Mousekins I’m a little late here but I’m pretty sure the ‘you can feed them non meat items’ was the common mistake. Then the ‘they are obligate carnivores’ was the correction to the common mistake. I hope you don’t take this as hate, I just happened to see your comment right after I watched that part!!
@@peeweejr4488 The phrasing of it was so strange to me that it didn't seem that way, but thank you for the perspective friend c:
Wait, so they can eat peanut butter or no?! Is in an exception or did you make a mistake?
I bought my ferret a squeaky lama toy and she kept attacking me and teared me up
So I researched and it said ferrets can't eat peanut butter
the spending time with them needs to be a common sense to people because to me if you get a pet you need to spend time with them otherwise dont get a pet right? also thanks for the video i have been thinking about getting a ferret for 3 years now [im saving up for the bills just in case]
I just got my first ferret. I can’t afford a second but I live with a roommate who will also give him plenty of love and play time. I’m going to try to save up for a play pin for him to roam in instead of staying in the cage. I’m so glad I found this account!
I also have a roommate to attend to my one and only ferret. I do take him for 6-8 block walks every night, rain or shine, as I really don't have any choice, for if I don't take him for his walk every night, he'll tear my house apart. I've had 8 ferrets over 28 years, and I leash walked all of them every night. After my ferret's long walk, he's then ready for bed. And I also take him for short bicycle rides, him riding in the basket.
Please remember that ferrets are precious animals. They will be more calm after a year or maybe 1.5 years old. BEST pets for busy people. I do leave mine in a cage at night while I sleep and while at work during the day. That way I don't mistakenly step one them like a man at Pet Smart did. He awakened one morning and his ferret was asleep at the foot of his bed ... He STEPPED on it and killed it! NEVER WILL own another one !
If the vegan teacher gets a pet ferret the ferret will die within a week
Oh that would be just awful! I've seen too many people on social media make their carnivorous pets eat a vegan diet... I don't understand it at all.
I was a vegetarian for around 10 years... but that was MY choice, and not my pets' choices... I still fed them species appropriate diets..
@@PawsToJourney yeah exactly
My ferret is always outside running around in my room. 😍
sounds super great! They sure do love to run around! What's your ferret's name?
@@PawsToJourney can i put a baby turtle with a ferret?
Fantastic advice!! I built my father a ferret room. He "stole" nearly all of my snakedogs and currently has his work-from-home setup in the ferret room. Alas, his last boy passed away not too long ago 😪 I'm unsure if they're planning to adopt more, but he keeps the photos and some sentimental play items in there. By the way, they all pretty much got to free roam that entire floor...so much for my room plan!
Bring your dad 2 new babies as a surprise
@@ratslayer6064 pretty sure my mother would kill me 🤣 But, due to health reasons, he's holding off and sticking to cats. We both get our weaselly fixes at my brothers. My furry nieces are deservedly spoiled rotten!
My ferret just died from flea medicine toxicity I can’t stop crying
Great Informative video for people thinking of buying ferrets, I always feel so bad for them when I see parents buying them for their kids, or ask me if I’d recommend them for kids and I’ll straight up tell them no! I don’t know about anyone else’s ferrets but mine are crazy wild and always looking to get into whatever they can, always under your feet and chasing you, always places you don’t expect them to be smh, they are DEF NOT CAGE ANIMALS, get a hamster or something not ferrets
also I only have 2 ferrets and they have 4 story condo cage and that’s still not enough it’s really best to just ferret proof and let them run around, when they’re tired they eventually come back, also have a dog and cat who are happy with them
Thanks for the comment! You definitely are very ferret knowledgeable! I think a lot of people get the idea of them being 'easy pets' from pet stores. I've seen so many pet store employees talk new ferret owners into buying tiny cages for them to live in full time :(
A lot of ferret care has gotten so much better over the years. But for there to be a big difference, the knowledge in the pet stores needs to change.
Ferrets are not pets for children... especially young children... I have teenagers, but I am the primary caregiver for the ferrets in the house and I do my very best to educate my teenagers on all the different needs and care for ferrets... I raised ferrets for about a decade before I had kids, then took time of of ferrets to focus on family and waited till my children were old enough to have ferrets in the house again. They are great animals, but with great animals comes great responsibility! ;-)
My female ferret is surprisingly very tame for being a female ferret and very affectionate but boy does she love to scurry like she’s in a hurry! I let her roam free when I saw she was so much happier out of her cage. It’s like people. Just because you have a house doesn’t mean you should stay in it 24/7!
I have never undestood caging ANY pet. If you can't deal with the pet loose 14 to 18 hours a day, don't get one! Ferret pet's are great fun.
Always get a pair, ferrets should never be kept alone unless health issues require it. Great advice, it's a proper commitment, and they need you everyday, they will smell! but they are well worth it.
And then what happens, 4 years later, one of them dies?
2 ferrets. Male ferrets, no. One male ferret. They need to be trained individually. All ferrets. Litters are big, up to 8 kits a litter. Female ferrets are raped if you have an intact Hob. He needs neutering and the Gill she needs to be fully spayed, the operation of spaying is very similar to a domestic cat, in operative physiognomy, however very few vets know how to do the surgery, which I can do. Also, ferrets should have their own space. If you go out buying a male and female, then you will have to then find a vet surgeon. England, you say ferrets are bigger and more healthy. True because we do not have rabies snymore. For now. Ferrets are mixed with polecats genetics more strongly here. It's illegal also to not have a breeding license. There are always some who under the radar of course. Miximatosis was rife here in the 1970s. Horrific for the wild populations of rabbits, hares, wildcats and others. Fur farms likely get away with evil stuff. We have places where Americans have imported sick wild animals, causing disease. Why are you adopting from fur farms? It's illegal surely? You should not be advocating this Marshall fur farm ferret breeder!
The thing is I want a ferret but I got a dog and a cat so if I let them free roam I think the dog or cat will attack it
I would definitely wait on a ferret, unless you can find a way to free-roam them in a safe way. I have seen people ferret-proof an area of their home (like 1 specific bedroom), and just not allow other animals in there while they free roam; but you definitely have to be careful.
Upon adopting a ferret, immediately bring them to the vet, I would also run total health blood tests to just see if there is any inflammation/variables unnoticeable within their behavior.
Ok so I have a bearded dragon and I’m getting a ferret so is it okay to take my ferret out when my lizard is in the cage or no
I would make sure the ferret can’t reach the Dragon’s cage. They can be quite inquisitive and very smart at opening things.
I live in Finland and here all ferrets are from private breeders, you can't get them from pet shops. They also cost quite much, about 450 euros (475 USD) per individual. The cost is mostly to show that the new owner actually has money to take care of their ferret if something happens. I would say about 90 % of ferret owners here only feed them raw. And love it this way. The ferrets you see here are big and healthy
I’ve seen photos and videos of European ferrets, and they are so big and healthy looking!
🤩 they are wow
In the UK, the average price of a ferret is FREE or £10 or €12 each .. I have micro ferrets less than half size of the regular European ones .. very tiny and very cute.
With my ferret when I go to school I let them Rome around until I get home and then a bit of play time with me and then cage time for a bit
Sounds great!
Feels like I'm getting scolded
Never my intention ❤️. I just feel very passionate about pet care and tend to get carried away.
@@PawsToJourney I appreciate the passion.. I can't wait to get a ferret in a couple years after I move into a house. I would love to get one now but I live 13 floors up and my windows don't have screens. I'd be too paranoid lol
Thank you for this video 🙏... I genuinely hate how people have pets and just have zero concept of their pets needs.. animals exist for other reasons than to be your object to keep in a cage !!
We are always trying to learn more and better ourselves; and always hope that others do the same. Whether they watch our videos, or someone else’s, it’s all about learning to make our animals lives better!
Rule number 1 is really important !! Mine was free roaming in my entire house (except bedrooms, toilets and bathroom) 24/7 and he was the happiest, calm and well behaved ferret my vet has ever seen :]
then how do we stop them from chewing stuff and choking- and is it that hard to take care of them? i really want one so i’m tryna learn abt them, and i’m worried abt them biting. how long is their life span and they aren’t allowed to eat anything other than meat, protein kibble, etc? please answer these questions and more lol i seriously need to know. tysm!!
@@maliiandthemango Hello, ferrets are not chewing everything like rabbits, it's fine :) !
The bitting is their way to play, so as long as you educate them they won't bite this hard :)
Their life span is approx 7-8 years.
Ferrets are 10% carnivore, only meat !
@@freemannn3789 Be cautious of their obsession with rubber!
cloth gloves can be a must for teenage male ferrets. They like to play rough during that age.
None of my 4 made it to 7 years of age before cancer struck.
Raw meat is ideal but ferrets imprint when young so new foods can be a coin flip when introducing.
@@pillowkitty6 Yup I gave mine expensive food from the vet :) and meat as a treat :3
i will be in school so what do i do cause i really really want one and im saving and selling puppys sooo yea i need a cage wile im gone
The ferret nation cage is the most recommended cage for ferrets.
I would also make sure you have money saved for emergencies and vet bills. Not only do ferrets need yearly vet checkups , but sadly, they are very prone to diseases and having emergencies. We have spent so many thousands of dollars on our ferret’s vet bills.
Also to add if you get one you might want to get 2, they are extremely social. And yes your ferret can get depressed.
as a ferret, i love ferrets
Ur ferrets are tiny, is that the USA thing of neutering before they have hormones?
It’s mainly due to horrible breeding in the USA. Here, there is basically 1 mass breeder that breeds ferrets, and they don’t care to make sure they are making good choices for their breeding program. They are a huge mill/factory that functions out of profit, not for the love of the ferrets 😭. They also will not ship them to pet stores until they are neutered and de-scented (which I feel is unnecessary), meaning young kits are having those procedures done. I’m sure this does not help their overall health and size.
There are a few, good private breeders in the US, but they are few and far between.
Our boys have always topped out at 1.5 lbs (we’ve never had females, but they are usually smaller). I know in other countries, they are much healthier, and get a lot bigger.
We were planning on our ferret being only part time free roam... But he's pretty good at escape attempts. So we ferret proofed everything and he's free roam 24/7, but keep his cage open and he goes in there to take naps if the cats are bothering him.
You should cover the adrenal disease in more detail in a video, as I'm sure your aware desexing is a big cause of this but there are implants available that prevent adrenal disease (superlorin), I believe the same implant can be used instead of desexing. Would be great to see a video about it as there is very little out there covering it.
Finally! Someone who isn’t spreading nonsense about ferrets, thank you so much for this video
We really try hard to do our research, and love sharing what we learn! Information is always changing, so it’s good to constantly be learning so we can all learn to improve the quality of life for our pets. ❤️
Years ago I had 2 gils (female) ferrets, they were from the same litter. They had an indoor free roaming space for the winter and an outdoor free roaming space for the warmer months but they still came indoors for cuddles too.
One thing I wanted to point out is that they required a hormone injection every year to stop them from coming into season because females can get sick if they don’t have litters, so here in the UK our vet insisted on this annual treatment if we weren’t going to breed with them, which we weren’t. They were the most adorable, aromatic girlies (not quite as aromatic as hobs (males))
I had them as rescue pets, the rest of the litter perished and I hand reared them, they are very cat like in many ways, including their ability to hunt.
They would fall asleep in the sleeves of your clothing or down the front of your jumper! Their tongues are rough like a cat too, those licks never stop! Be careful not to wear lotions or creams that could be harmful for them to ingest, they are after your salt! 😅they will gently nibble sometimes too😊
I don’t live in a suitable home now to have another ferret family but they were amazing pets to own and care for 🤗😘
They are adorable animals but they do require a lot of love and playtime or they can become aggressive if they don’t have enough human contact or are confined in small spaces. They are not a hutch animal, they need to roam.
I’ll shut up now 😂 RIP my babies 😢Happy memories.
I think my ferret is broken, after an hour out of her cage she either goes back to her cage on her own or finds a hiding place and goes to sleep.
They do sleep a lot, probably 12-16 hours out of 24 hours is spent asleep, even if it’s power napping 😊
I got my precious little angel ferret 3 1/2 years ago not knowing too much about ferrets. One of my best friends was moving and couldn’t take her and noticed I had been bonding with her. After I got her I did research until a migraine kicked in. She came with a cage that I started out keeping her in more than out of, but eventually I let her roam free full time. She has a favorite owl hammock in her cage that she loves to nap in, so I keep the bottom door of her cage open and the levels and little ramps situated to help her up to it of course. When she’s out and about, I have a couple comfy cat beds with old clothes that have my scent as blankets since she seems to prefer that over actual blankets. I got corner litter boxes and stopped using cat litter. She can’t stand any ferret food, so I put turkey breast in with the food softened with water so she’ll eat it. I’ve learned to mimic a squeaky toy with my vocal chords for added fun. Vet appointments are so expensive but so important. Nala has had that multiple tumors problem too, but she’s more than worth it. I have cats as well, but they don’t bother her nor does she bother them. I very gradually introduced cats into our home. I never once considered getting a dog though. Her previous home had dogs that saw her as a chew toy and limited her free roam time and I didn’t want to take that freedom from her. For a while though, it was just us, just me and Nala. She used to hoard anything chewy I dropped. She checks in on me when I take a bath. She naps at my feet when I’m on the toilet. If I close the door, she flattens herself in front of it. She has a weird obsession with licking the inside of my nose. I honestly can’t notice whatever musk she might have because when I smell her scent it reminds me of her and makes me happy. Ferrets are a lot of work and require so much maintenance, but getting Nala was truly one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten in life.
Nala sounds wonderful; and you did so great with her!
i'm glad i looked into this more. i was thinking of a ferret but after finding out they're not cage pets that was an instant disqualification for me. i think a pair of rats would be better but i can't get over how they pee on everything.
I have a baby ferret and she is pretty young only about 6 months and I let her free roam A LOT, but she is still showing cage rage. However I can’t let her out while im asleep because I can’t watch her. What should I do?
Keep in mind she has a huge cage, it’s 3 stories and lots of toys, I plan to get a second ferret soon hoping prices drop back down to normal, since she was about $400
Some ferrets will always show some cage rage, unfortunately. I would definitely make sure you're ignoring it when she does do it, so she doesn't learn that she gets attention when she is doing it :)
A second ferret could end up helping with the cage rage. She may choose to play with them instead of cage raging. Sounds like she has a great setup!
My 2 have an entire shed to themselves 6ft by 8ft and they run around it free time all day and then they come inside the house for 3-4 hours every day to have play time with us and the cats, they run up and down the stairs like little maniacs 😅
Thank you for this video...I lost my baby boy hip hop passed last week leaving our girl R&B alone. he was about 6years I wasn't sure how old he was since we were second owners we took him to the vet they never found any illnesses with him...yes bills are expensive but that don't matter when you want your fur baby to be healthy 💕😊...now our girl ferret has 2 new friends and they get along so well I let them out everyday after work when they get tired they go back to the cage or stay under the sofa 😂😂 .. They're 3months old...also I saw huuuge ferrets I did not know existed "bulldog ferrets" are beautiful but I wasn't sure how they were going to be with the smaller ones so I didn't risk it lol
So sorry about your boy :( It's never easy losing a pet. Glad your girl has some new friends to play with!
I have had 2 HUGE ferrets! All American SWEETHEARTS! They are sweet.
Oh i volunteer work with a person who has mental health problems so she isnt home that much she has 8 ferrets its way too much in my opinion but i cant choose for her im learning there body language and try to make them play run around when im cleaning the gages when im working some stand up against my leg
Sounds like you are doing great helping with them! It can definitely be hard for someone to let their pets go when they can't care for them appropriately anymore, because of their love for them. Sometimes, explaining how happy the ferrets could be in someone else's care can help.
I’ve got 4 and they all live cage free in my house - they stay in the kitchen to sleep and when I’m at work ❤️
Mine are sleeping and I have a big cage and I have 2
That’s awesome!
Got to have an argument with you about the cross species friendships. My ferret Ferdinand is best friends with my boxer. They've been friends for going on 8 for 9 years now. I've lost track. They snuggled together they played together well not as much anymore since they're both senior citizens but Ferdinand he's still rambunctious and mischievous. He's pretty much free roaming except for bedtime. He also likes to wrestle with the cat. They've all been friends for all their lives just about so I guess it's about training and exposure. I definitely would not let Ferdinand around a rabbit or a prey animal, that would just be stupid.
We definitely don’t have an issue with cross species when done safely. Our ferrets have always free roamed, therefore hanging out with our dogs and cats. It’s really important to know your own animals, and to be able to read animal body language. It sounds like you guys have a great thing going!
Same.. both of my wuzzles were besties with both my.boxer and my cat.. from day one until the very end.. my cat was so lost when my Meeko finally passed 😢
@@jacquelinewest5735 I'm sorry to hear about your cat. I just put the boxer down a few weeks ago. I'm heartbroken, all of us are.
This helps a lot, I was planning to get 2 ferrets around Christmas this year, and will definitely give them a lot of free time, the cage size will definitely help me out, but quick question, is it okay to let them sleep out of their cage
Yes, you can let them sleep outside their cage. There are lots of people who let them free-roam 24/7. I’m an over-worrier, and I always worry about something bad happening to one of them while we slept, or worry they’ll climb into bed and I’ll squash them.. or if there’s an emergency like a fire: what if I can’t find them right away.
Got a ferret a while ago and I love him. He’s potty trained !
Thank you so much. Im getting a ferret tomorrow and completely forgot about vet bills. Everything else I expected but this video saved me a lot of trouble.
Glad we could help. We knew about vet bills before getting ours; but never realized the huge amounts we would be spending left and right on all the issues they have.
My 'cage' for my ferrets was 6x6x6 feet, I made it using aviary panels.
I used to take mine for walks with a harness and lead.
We only have a cage because we can't have them free roaming 24 hours
Totally okay! Ours don’t free roam 24/7 either :)
@@PawsToJourney fair enough. Our concern is mainly the my dad is a handyman so he would have times where he goes in and out
I have a single ferret. I feel guilty about not having a friend for her but she hates other ferrets. She hates cats too. She will only bond with humans. I've tried multiple times trying to socialize her with other ferrets and I give up. So in order to keep her happy, I keep her free roam 24/7, she sleeps with me in my bed, she goes to the grocery store with Me, I take her on walks every day. I even take her camping with Me. Even backpacking. You can have a happy single ferret. You just have to spend alot more time with them
Don't feel guilty! There are definitely some ferrets out there that just don't like their own kind! Just like there are humans who prefer hanging out with their pets versus other humans LOL. Each ferret will definitely have their own personality, and that's okay! It sounds like you are giving her an amazing life!
@@PawsToJourney thank you for your kind words. I just feel bad when I go to work 😔
I want to get a ferret but I have a dog also would you think play areas would be enough room I could let my ferret roam around the whole house when I am watching but do you think a play pen would be good?
its so cute how the ferret randomly started licking ur face
Omg I didn’t know Guinea pigs experienced cage rage😭my little Sandy leant how to open it and all - I am now about to get a ferret and your video lost definitely helped me
The first mistake made is buying a Marshall ferret. I really wish we could get rid of that group.
We dog and cat proof our houses, we should be able to do the same for ferrets, rabbits, rats, or any other small 'pocket' pet! I dk how this is so hard to understand..>.>
How the hell can a ferret get rabies in your home?Explain pls
Can I put my ferret in a baby pool? As long as I watch him?
I would never force them to swim; so I wouldn't just put them in a body of water. If there was a way to make a ramp or something, where they could choose to be in or out; then you could. Ferret's aren't really like other Mustelids (Minks, Otters, etc.) and don't usually enjoy swimming. Some ferrets can enjoy it, but again, I would let them make the choice. Our one ferret, Hagrid, for example, usually does enjoy swimming. If we go to the beach, he will choose to leave the beach for the water. I don't ever just put him in the water, I let him always make the choice :)
@@PawsToJourney ok thank you so much!!
I have to ask this burning question I have, (sometimes) why does a mother ferret grab the owner's hand to bring to her kits? What would be the benefit of this for her? Why does she do it?
I work as a childrens psychologist . I recently got a ferret , and I have ferret proofed the house , but since I work as a psychologist , I have to leave my ferret alone in a cage . I bought a cage for a large sized dog , added different levels and everything a ferret needs . My boss recently allowed me to move the cage into my office , so that my ferret could feel better , and also because animals seem to calm down children with anxiety . I agreed , since my ferret was pretty friendly . I let out my ferret to snoop around the room on my breaks . Does anyone have any recommendations on how to make my room safe for my ferret without ferret-proofing it ? Or do I have to buy a harness for my ferret ?
Could you use exercise pens , and just give a small corner of space to them? I'm going to link something we use for camping, it's 52 inches wide. I have read that some people's ferrets rip holes in theirs, but ours have never in the 4 years we've had it. amzn.to/3IjgRHW
Another option is using these clear panels to designate just a portion of the room as 'ferret space'. We used clear masking tape to tape ours together, because they can pop apart real easy. amzn.to/3vdMO0K
The plastic pens I linked below worked real well in our bedroom. We were able to give them a large portion of space, and they weren't able to climb it. :)
@@PawsToJourney Thank you ! this helps !
I literally named my ferret Wrigglie
I love this! So unique and perfect!
I accidentally clicked on one ferret video. One. IT WAS AN ACCIDENT UA-cam. ACC ..I…DENT. STOP WITH THE FERRET VIDEOS. no offence you seem absolutely delightful and they’re very cute BUT FOR FUCKS SAKE UA-cam.
I want a pet ferret but caring for them is so much more expensive than your average Guinea pig or hamster simply because they’re considered as “exotic” pets.😔 Some states like Texas are lucky to let you legally own ferrets. I remember watching 2-4 ferrets sleep in a huge cylindrical aquarium tank at Petco or Petsmart when I was still living in Houston and I really wanted to ask my parents if i could get one but eventually I never did because I knew they were going to say no. My brother and I wouldn’t mind owning a ferret but my parents wouldn’t want a musky smelling pet roaming around and “terrorizing” our home anyways and then having to pay so much to care for it. When I moved to Taiwan, there aren’t any ferrets available in their pet stores. What a bummer!
I am thinking about getting a ferret or maybe some other pet. If I were to get a ferret, could I make a small space in my room to keep while I’m at school and when I get home let him free roam in my room? I would make sure the space in my room would be large enough to run around with lots of enriching toys? Also, I wouldn’t be allowed to have more than one small pet, so could, if having enough playtime, live without a pair? If this wouldn’t be a good situation for a ferret, is there any animal recommendations that could fit my situation? Thanks for listening! 🫶
Facts!! 11 years old got home from school. My sister's ferret killed both my guinea pigs... We had them both for 2 years, They played and ate together. One day out of nowhere chocolate (( the ferret)) Climbed up and went inside their cage.
Long story short, They know how to get out of the cage, They do love to eat meat
My sister has 3 of them now. And she loves them to death..
I’m gonna get one this coming payday and I can’t wait. I’m watching all the videos I can to soak up all I can about them and refresh memory on things too. Sadly I’m gonna be paying Petco about $450 for one but I don’t wanna deal with breeders. They’re way too overbearing with all the questions and wanting references. It’s not a car I’m financing or a home lol it’s a pet lol I’m a very affectionate person so ferrets are perfect for me. Had one very long ago and was the funnest pet I ever had right next to dogs. Slightly better than dogs lol I can’t decide color tho lol gonna search for a black one ❤ thanks for the awesome video. To the point and no bs. Love it ❤
Do you think ferrets should have custom cages like 2 cages attached obv safely attached and free roam time, also do you think that half - 3/4 halfs of a room will be good, another question is it ok to have multiple people petting a ferret or around ferrets an once or do you think that they could get stressed around too many people, last question is toys, are good choke-free toys like a tennis ball mabye some hanging toys to climb rat toys like climbing ropes tunnles and platforms to climb up to? If you read this and can respond it will help me a lot to convincing my parents to let me buy ferrets (I will be glad to sacrifice my money to get ferrets, toys, food and cage)
Ferrets are like furry toddlers. They can and will get into situations that are bad. An emergency medical fund is extremely important. But they are wonderful companions for someone who has done a lot of research before adopting one or two.....
Hello!can I ask you something?can I get a single ferret without it having any issues?of course I’m gonna give it a lot of attention, bond with him etc etc . Please let me know ❤
Good advice!
Re: medica issues - I wonder if cross breeding them with the polecat would create an offspring with less medical issues? I know people were cross breeding them about 20 years ago, but the offspring were too wild to be pets. There has been enough time to continue to cross breed them with other ferrets to decrease their wildness but, hopefully, keep the healthier genetics. Does anyone have any news?
i wonder if ferrets just have a really flexible or no spine at all because the way they just folded their bodies head to toes is impressive
I’ve had ferrets …… they were working animals and I’ve never considered them a pet ,
I can’t believe ppl have them for pets !!
Pretty cool ready i suppose
You the shit girl!!!! I love seeing your common sense ferret advice!....i never feed my girls anything but meat products...but i feel guilty cuz i feed them cat food cuz its cheaper, but im seriously thinking about going back to marshals ferret food....for teats i give my first ferret (nippy) turkey gerber food, the other,(zoey) dont like it for some reason ...and zoey wont eat chicken breast either...im confused and wish i knew something i could give zoey for a treat,but nothing works...all she wants is cat food....i noticed her stomach makes wierd bubbly noises and wonder if thats normal....im about to google what that can mean..(???) But anyway,i bought nippy one of your harnesses, and now i got zoey, so im gonna buy one from u for her!...i just hope the ppl that gave me zoey (they couldnt take care of her and seen how much of a ferret lover i am), i hope they didnt lie to me cuz they said they got her shots 6 months ago......im wondering what her stomach noises are...did u ever wind up getting more ferrets after the last one died???? I know u were heartbroken and dont blame u...but i heard someone say its better to have loved and lost ,than to never had loved at all....i hope u get more ferrets...theyve made my life so much happier..but these stories i hear on how theyre prone to health problems makes me worry ...ill go without my basic nessessities to have the money to pay the vet to keep them alive if nessessary.....ive payed a 200$ vet bill to save the life of a 8$ pet furless rat before. ..lol ..some say im crazy ,but my love for animals is priceless....i think they crazy for not caring....hope u doing good, and ill be ordering another harness soon... :)
私は日本人で、8際のフェレットと共に一緒に生き、そしてそのフェレットは先月亡くなりました。大切な時間を一緒に過ごしました。あなたの言っていることは正しいです。ありがとう。
Yeah I have to take my gliders out every time the ferrets are out. I keep the gliders pouched on me cause one of our naughty boys likes to climb their cage when no one is looking. Thus why the ferrets rarely get living room time and mostly get bedroom time if they are out of their own room. They have a big cage in there we leave open so they have vertical climb area and its a consistent place to put food and one of their 2 water dispensers. We use 2 incase the rechargeable battery runs out on 1 and we don't notice for hours and to have one while charging the other.
Can cats and ferrets be friends?
It really depends on the ferret and the cat. I don't usually recommend it, as mixing any species could result in a bad outcome. I definitely wouldn't mix a kitten with a ferret, as a ferret can easily overpower and kill a kitten. On the norm, a lot of people do allow their cats to interact with their ferrets, but you need to make sure to supervise, and understand their behavior to make sure no one is stressed out.
My 2 ferrets rarely went in a cage. They had a litter box they always used and they liked sleeping with me . Had to ferret proof my house though 😂😂
Ok so first time ferret owner here but could like say a 2 year old cat and a ferret maybe be able to adjust to eachother or would it result in the cat eating the ferret?
Why do you go sooooo close to the camera
Bad info. 6 hours a day? Mine get 2-4 hours 2-3 times a week and they are super healthy and happy. They are animals and your instincts will guide you right. Don't listen to this over zealous woman who treats animals like royalty.