- Thread starter
- #11
redhen, they are like freakin' Pringles! They are so awesome you have to have more!
In answer to the questions:
Can you play with them? Heck yes you can! You can also let them play with your dogs (under supervision of course!) and sometimes cats. You can even train them, but we haven't mastered that art yet...figure on our eventual 3rd and 4th ferrets we'll get that down at some point.
Do they stink bad? Honestly? Nope. If you purchase from say, a PetCo, or similar store, the ferrets are sold neutered/spayed and descented. There's still a "slight" musk, but honestly, it's just a "pet" smell. No moreso than a dog. And MUCH less than a cat. We may cheat though, we have one of those automatic-spray air fresheners on top of the cage. But our apartment managers had no idea we even had a ferret and he was 2 feet away from the cage and looking inside of it before he realized it.
Do they piss everywhere in your house when they are out of the cage? Actually, it's fairly easy to train the ferret to use a litter box. You have to use a litter that won't stick to their rears as they, um, wipe themselves on the material. We use something similar to crushed up egg cartons. Seems to get the job done. They do like to tunnel in it sometimes though, so have a shop-vac handy.
If you let them out of the cage... do they go back into the cage on their own? They will come and go in and out of it. Most of the time they'll curl up underneath your couch to take a power nap. They do love their hammocks though...
Or do you have to have a ferret hunt and catch every day? There's a secret way to get them to come to you. You know those annoying squeaky toys? Squeak it endlessly and they will come running (unless they are asleep under the aforementioned couch). Give a treat when they get there or play with them with the squeaky, catch them up and you're good to go!
OOh and do the bite? I'll admit it. Some do. You can train them not to though. BUT, I do not choose the kits that:
Are ridiculously rambunctious, bite (and HARD) or try to get away as soon as you pick them up. I like the kits that sit in your hand calmly, then can begin to squirm to investigate. As it's investigating, it may use a nibble to see what's up, but they should not bite hard. Don't go for color first...let the personality envelop you and be the deciding factor!
I am FAR from an expert on this as we've only had our ferret about a year and she is so chillaxed....this second one is gonna be another learning curve for us!
In answer to the questions:
Can you play with them? Heck yes you can! You can also let them play with your dogs (under supervision of course!) and sometimes cats. You can even train them, but we haven't mastered that art yet...figure on our eventual 3rd and 4th ferrets we'll get that down at some point.
Do they stink bad? Honestly? Nope. If you purchase from say, a PetCo, or similar store, the ferrets are sold neutered/spayed and descented. There's still a "slight" musk, but honestly, it's just a "pet" smell. No moreso than a dog. And MUCH less than a cat. We may cheat though, we have one of those automatic-spray air fresheners on top of the cage. But our apartment managers had no idea we even had a ferret and he was 2 feet away from the cage and looking inside of it before he realized it.
Do they piss everywhere in your house when they are out of the cage? Actually, it's fairly easy to train the ferret to use a litter box. You have to use a litter that won't stick to their rears as they, um, wipe themselves on the material. We use something similar to crushed up egg cartons. Seems to get the job done. They do like to tunnel in it sometimes though, so have a shop-vac handy.
If you let them out of the cage... do they go back into the cage on their own? They will come and go in and out of it. Most of the time they'll curl up underneath your couch to take a power nap. They do love their hammocks though...
Or do you have to have a ferret hunt and catch every day? There's a secret way to get them to come to you. You know those annoying squeaky toys? Squeak it endlessly and they will come running (unless they are asleep under the aforementioned couch). Give a treat when they get there or play with them with the squeaky, catch them up and you're good to go!
OOh and do the bite? I'll admit it. Some do. You can train them not to though. BUT, I do not choose the kits that:
Are ridiculously rambunctious, bite (and HARD) or try to get away as soon as you pick them up. I like the kits that sit in your hand calmly, then can begin to squirm to investigate. As it's investigating, it may use a nibble to see what's up, but they should not bite hard. Don't go for color first...let the personality envelop you and be the deciding factor!

I am FAR from an expert on this as we've only had our ferret about a year and she is so chillaxed....this second one is gonna be another learning curve for us!