What does the doctor
look for in a healthy ferret?
Vital Statistics:
Body weight for
males is 2.2-4.4lbs, for females 1.1-2.2lbs and they reach adult weight at 6 months
of age; Body length is typically 12-20 inches;
Sexual Maturity is reached between 5-9 months (can be surgically altered at 4-6 months);
Average Life Span: 5-7 years and they reach senior status about 3
years of age.
What Should You Feed
Your Ferret?
The exact dietary requirements for ferrets have been studied, but are
still not completely understood. What we do know is that ferrets are
carnivorous animals with very short intestinal tracts. This means that
they need to eat frequently, so the best thing is to leave their food out
and available at all times. It is important that you pay attention to what
your ferret eats because they have a 30% minimum protein requirement and
about a 20-30% requirement of fat. If ferrets do not receive enough fat in
their diets their coats may become dry and brittle. The current
recommendation is to feed a high-quality dry cat food or a specially
prepared pellet ferret food. You want to make sure the food you choose has
a high-quality animal protein source, not plant. Ferrets are not
vegetarians and have difficulty utilizing carbohydrates for their energy
requirements. So, excessive plant proteins may lead to urine disorders.
Most ferrets prefer a poultry or beef flavor food instead of fish. Ferrets
also utilize fiber poorly, but small amounts of fruit and vegetables will
do no harm and provide a fun treat. Fruits that are good include apples,
bananas and melons. Vegetables that are preferred are green peppers,
cucumbers and carrots.
Always provide fresh water for your ferret
in either a bowl or sipper tube. Bowls are OK to use, but may get knocked
over. Therefore it is advisable to use a heavy crock type container or a
sipper tube.
Where Should You Keep
Your Ferret?
Ferrets are easily confined to small spaces during the day or night and
can be caged inside or outdoors, which provides an excellent opportunity
to be creative with their cages. Rabbit or cat size cages that measure at
least 24 x 24 x 18 inches high are suitable houses for 1 or 2 ferrets.
When creating housing to accommodate more than 2 ferrets, take into
consideration the amount of space each ferret will require. The sides of
the cage may be wire, but holes should not be any larger than 1 x ½ inch.
In addition, the floor may be ¼ inch wire mesh or a solid material, but
not wood because it is hard to clean and absorbs odors. Solid plastic may
irritate ferrets’ feet, but linoleum or no-wax type flooring is all
right.
An enclosed sleeping area or some type of
bedding is necessary for the psychological well being of ferrets. Towels
work well, but tend to be chewed or eaten because ferrets love to nibble.
Sleeves or leg sections of sweat suit material, stocking caps, and
cardboard or wood boxes work exceptionally well. If a ferret is housed
outdoors, they must have an enclosed, sheltered sleeping area that is
filled with fresh hay or straw for insulation.
Ferrets need a fresh supply of water at all
times because they can dehydrate quickly. If a ferret is outdoors, it is
very important to either heat the water source or change the water
frequently to prevent inaccessibility of frozen water.
Ferrets may be litter trained relatively
easily when their box is placed inside the cage. A small cat litter box
should be positioned in the corner of the cage the ferret has already
chosen as the toilet area. Clay kitty litter, pine shavings, or a variety
of pelleted paper or other organic products are the best choices for
litter material for ferrets. Ferrets love to dig and may end up spending a
lot of time in the litter box, which may lead to a dry hair coat or
respiratory problems because of clay dust. If you notice any problems with
clay litter, it may be a good idea to switch to an organic pellet product.
If you allow your ferret to roam around the house, it is a good idea to
place one or more litter boxes in their play area. Even as good as a
ferret is with litter training, they won’t always go back to their cage
to use the bathroom.
Ferrets are extraordinary escape artists
because of their small size and tubular shaping, which allows them to fit
through very small openings. Because of their curious nature, it is
extremely important to inspect under cabinets and along baseboards for any
possible escape routes. Also, ferrets are notorious thieves. If there’s
anything in their play area that you want to keep, remove it before they
see it, or it will be gone forever.
How to Keep Your Ferret
Happy, Healthy and Safe:
- Take your ferret to the veterinarian for
vaccines and routine physicals
- Have your ferret spayed or neutered at an
early age to prevent possible problems in the future and help with body
odor
- Provide fresh, adequate food and water
daily
- Keep litter box(es) clean and readily
available
- Provide your ferret with plenty of fun,
safe toys
