If you are unaccustomed to the lifestyle of a ferret, it is a good idea that you do a bit of research or ask your local pet store about ferret information. Ferret care is very different from caring for a typical dog, cat, or hamster. For instance, you may be in for a shock if you aren’t aware that ferrets are most active in the late night hours to early morning hours, and sleep throughout the day time.
It will do you a great deal of good to find out as much information about feeding ferrets as you can, as ferrets have a very different diet than most indoor pets. Ferrets are carnivores—that means that most plants hold absolutely no nutritional value for them. They also digest their food quite fast, so you will need to make sure that the food your ferret receives is full of the energy he needs.
You will need to make sure that you feed your ferret food that is high in things like protein and fat, yet low in fiber. Do make sure that you always feed food that is recommended for a ferret, and never feed him food specified for another animal.
While training a ferret to use litter is not impossible, it is much more difficult than, say, training a cat to use the litter box. Make sure that the litter is easy to access, and try to leave a bit of urine or feces in the litter instead of fully replacing it, as the scent will entice the ferret to associate the litter box as the proper area for relief. Also, make sure that the food and sleeping areas have their own distinct section of the cage. Ferret cages should be kept in a general state of tidiness.
If you are unable to live with a distinctive “musky” pet odor, you may want to consider getting a different type of pet. Ferrets are notorious for their “musky” odor, and no amount of bathing will be able to prevent this. In fact, over-bathing your ferret can result in his skin releasing even more of the odorous oils to replace those which were stripped from his coat.
Ferret ownership can be very rewarding, but you must be prepared for the responsibilities of owning one. Make sure that you research all of the ferret pet supplies that you will need, as well as eating and behavioral habits. It is even a good idea to look into the diseases and various conditions that ferrets are prone to and set up a regular vet schedule for check-ups.
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