Why SHOULDN'T I get a ferret?

[Chickerdoodle13]

I never had a lot of the problems most people here mentioned. If you clean the litter box daily, you should not have a problem with the smell. We kept ours in a cage with a towel and he loved to sleep under it. We never had any escape attempts. I took him out in the house on a leash regularly. I also had a corner of my room that I would let him play in. I would do this every other day at least! When I didn't have time to take him out, I would hold him. Usually he would wiggle around, but sometimes he would fall asleep on me while I was watching TV. I also had a backpack I would put him in. He came lots of places with me and loved it!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

As far as cost, it's probably about the same as a cat. You might pay more for vet care if needed. We only bought mine to the vet when we noticed he was looking sick. Like I said though, we had to do a bit of searching to find a vet who would see ferrets. Most of them would not.

 

[Godsgrl]

ferrets, ferrets, ferrets. I don't even know where to start. They steal things. Lots of things, and stash them in your furniture. Things like coins, keys, leather, FOOD!! Ours was very much into stealing food, crackers, cookies, pop tarts, an entire sleeve of them. Oatmeal cream pies, you name it, she stole it. A friend of mine had 7, and would take them to work with him. They put their heads together, and stole 10 York Peppermint patties from the counter, and stashed them under the couch.

Ferrets can get into ANYTHING! Like potted plants? Forget it! They can climb up to them, and will dig all the dirt out all over the floor. Like your cupboards and drawers neat and tidy? What if you opened your silverware drawer to find a sleeping ferret? Like to sleep? If your ferret hides so well you can't find her, (even my dog was fooled quite a few times), she will want to play at 3 am. Nothing like waking up to a ferret nose in your ear.

They can easily slip out the door, and go un-noticed for hours. It's a lot of work and stress trying to find a ferret outside. They require a lot of people time, especially if you only get one. Our ferret quickly learned that the ferret war dance gained her fruit loops. She was always attacking our feet. If you get multiple ferrets, they put their little weasel heads together, and cause double the mischief. They also only have two speeds-full steam ahead, and sleep. Full steam ahead? They don't want to be held, there is trouble to be had!

But mostly, they will steal your heart, and never give it back. They simply don't live long enough.