Ferrets are hard to discipline in the early stages. They need supervision even when they turn into adults because of their sneaky and clever nature. But ferret babies are more stubborn; it is harder to deal with them. Their sensitive nature compels you to stay extra cautious and care for them at all times. When you try caring for a baby ferret for the first time, even if you are prepared, the difficulty may surprise you.
This is the reason why most experts don’t recommend buying a ferret baby, especially if it is your first. You have to train them and teach them discipline which can be immensely tough.
You have to act like their mother, not their owner or teacher.
What Should You Feed a Newborn Ferret?
This is one of the most important questions because a normal animal would need milk to drink which helps them to grow both physically and mentally, but in some cases, milk is toxic for some animals, such as for baby ferrets, milk isn’t a good option.
Baby ferrets are lactose intolerant therefore they can’t consume too many dairy products or else it will lead to diarrhea and other digestive problems which may lead to dehydration.
Lactose-free milk is okay for a ferret, as long as you don’t feed it to them too often.
For that reason, make sure you are buying the right kind of milk (lactose-free) only.
Keep in mind, just because your ferret likes milk does not mean you should keep on feeding them. The lactose-free milk feeding should be within a limit always.
Apart from that, baby ferrets can consume fresh meat.
Fresh meat is a great option, as feeding them something that has a number of animal proteins and little carbohydrates is good for their health. It is the best way to start their diet.
Focus on just these two things. If you have some special recommendation from a vet, you can follow that special diet plan as well, as professional vets can recommend a diet after assessing the health of your baby ferret.
Other than that, ensure your baby ferret isn’t consuming something harmful when it is out of your sight. As we have mentioned before, they have a sneaky nature, and their ability to hide anything they can hold is problematic at times.
So, check their hiding spots and tunnels and clean them in case they have old food hidden. If they eat the food after it goes bad, it can be harmful to them. Follow this food chart for a good general diet plan for any ferret.
What Environment Is Best For A Ferret Baby?
It is important to provide a safe and secure place for them to live.
Buy a cage that will be big enough for them to roam around. It should give them a sense of freedom. Baby ferrets can’t always remain caged; they are playful creatures and would love to come outside to play around and have company.
Give them a separate bigger cage for them to play in. It is a good trick if you can’t keep an eye on them due to your busying lifestyle. Put a lot of toys in it as well.
Also, remember, ferrets love to play and run around, so no matter how big the cage is, you will have to let them out of it and roam freely inside the room under your supervision.
Another casual idea you can try is to get them a small water pool.
You can also use the kiddie pool; it keeps the water shallow and at room temperature. Baby ferrets can have an incredible time in it.
Litter Training For A Baby Ferret
Babies learn everything with time, therefore, you can’t expect them to be litter trained.
It is your duty to train them in the litter department as well, which is also one of the most important training in the early stages of their life.
Pay attention to where your baby ferret goes to litter, there has to be that one spot they choose, read their behavior carefully, and put a litter tray on that spot.
But what if your ferret decides to litter anywhere it finds at first sight?
Well, it may happen but chances are still very slim. Because ferrets are naturally clean creatures, very much like cats, and don’t like to spread mess everywhere. Even an adult ferret will be using one spot as a latrine without any supervision.
We recommended a wood pellet litter for a baby ferret because it controls their bad odor.
The wood pellet litter aren’t easily movable too, so they will remain in their place when the baby ferret steps out of them.
Cleaning of A Baby Ferret
Ferrets should be cleaned at most only twice a month since bathing them too much will make their natural musky smell even more stinky.
To clean a ferret you need to find the perfect shampoo.
There are shampoos made especially for ferrets that are non-toxic and gentle. Using a gentle shampoo will help get rid of the itchiness and fleas and it will cause no harm to their eyes and skin either.
If you don’t have a ferret shampoo, look for one that is made for kittens. Even baby shampoo is okay to use on a ferret, but ensure that it is non-toxic before using it.
You can ask for these details from your nearest veterinarian and they will tell you the variety of shampoos and soaps you can use on a baby ferret skin.
Once you are done with the bath, try to dry them off as soon as possible.
Ferrets don’t like to remain too wet. Once they are out of the water, they go crazy. They rush to dry them off and shake themselves a lot to get rid of all the water drops.
Conclusion
Lastly, add these few things to your daily routine.
- Clean their cage daily; remove the things they brought on their bed from outside.
- Replace the old food with the new one; give them fresh meal each day.
- Clean out the litter tray at the end of the day.
Wash their beddings and hammocks every weekend, because they will start emitting a musky ferret smell after some time. Also, get your baby ferret checked by a professional veterinarian after every 6 months to keep their health in check. If you need help locating a good veterinarian, we have some general tips here.