Ferrets are very smart. They are relatively popular companion animals; however, interestingly, most people have never seen a pet ferret in their lives. They think they are like rats. But these mammals are not rodents – they are the members of the Weasel family and related to badgers and wolverine. Like any other animal, keeping ferrets as pets comes with its own pros and cons.
Ferrets As Pets Pros
Before we reveal the pros as cons of keeping ferrets as pets, first, it is imperative to clear some major myths and misconceptions about them.
Yes, they are WILD animals.
But there are no feral (wild) colonies of domesticated ferrets in the United States.
These mammals were first domesticated thousands of years ago. Some people believe they were domesticated in Egypt, but it seems to be just a myth. There have never been any mummified ferrets discovered, and so we can assume they were not normally kept there.
Because they are quick and curious creatures, ferrets must be watched closely. If you ever lose ferrets in the woods, it would be immensely tough for them to survive; they don’t have good eyesight and they aren’t able to handle heat and dehydration well. Keeping an eye on them when they are out and playing alone or with ferret companions is a necessary part of proper ferret care.
Here are some pros and cons you should consider before getting a baby ferret.
1 – High Levels of Energy
Do you want to have a pet with a high level of energy? A pet ferret is a great choice.
Ferret require a large enclosure to burn off their excessive energy; you can’t keep them in a small cage if you want to keep them happy and healthy. And this is one of the potential cons of keeping ferrets as pets – but it can be easily treated as a pro if you have the right approach.
You ideally want to let your ferrets get plenty of exercise both in their cage and around the house.
If you are buying or making your own cage for them, make sure it has several levels and a lot of space so that they can move freely. An ideal ferret cage has balls, strings hanging from their cage, tunnels, baby toys, and other small things for them to explore constantly. Ferrets love to chew and play with toys, and will often do this to keep themselves entertained. Before buying your first cage, check out our Ferret Cage Buying Guide here.
2 – Easy To Care For
It can seem like a pet ferret, especially a baby ferret, needs lots of care and attention.
Fortunately, they are actually a rather low maintenance type of animal. The key thing you must keep in mind is that they need 2-4 hours every day outside their cage to stay healthy.
The cage should contain feeding and watering areas.
Baby ferrets in particular often tip over food and water bowls. It is better if the bowls are attached to the side of the cage to save the need for clean up. If you’re looking for some of the better bowls, check out our ferret bowl review here.
Apart from this, these pets prefer to urinate and defecate in the same spot. For that reason, it is pertinent to clean their cage constantly. You should read our guide on potty-training your pet ferret to overcome potential hurdles with this step.
If you want to see more information about ferret care, check out this article.
3 – They Are Often Already Trained
For the most part, pet ferrets are already trained when you buy them.
You don’t need to teach them basic things, such as training them not to bite or training them to sit. Just ensure that you are buying them at the local pet store or from an experienced/licensed breeder.
They teach them almost all the tricks like how to use a bathroom or rollover.
You can also train your ferrets to do tricks with the help of treats. It is one of the best ways to teach them specific behaviors.
If you are planning to train a pet ferret, remember you have to be patient with the process over a couple of weeks, as ferrets as pets are slow learners.
4 – Social Animals
According to experts, it is better to keep two ferrets together as a pair.
Since they are social animals and love to stay in groups. A pair stays happier than a single pet ferret, as they seek out the company of other ferrets always. For them, playing is just much more fun when they are with their buddies.
It doesn’t mean all ferrets like other ferrets.
In case you are getting more than one ferret, it is important to watch them closely for several days. You need to make sure they aren’t fighting over resources.
5 – Smart And Intelligent
Ferrets are quite smart.
They are also mischievous, loyal, and affectionate pets; they demonstrate these behaviors by being leash and litter trainable. Their intelligence is also reflected through their curious yet persistent nature. Compared to dogs and cats, ferrets are better in solving problems; they stay determined to find solutions.
But it also counts on how you view a measure of intelligence. For instance, if you consider memory to be an indicator of intelligence, dogs may be more intelligent than ferrets.
Ferrets rank lower when it comes to memory…though their memory is still better than cats.
Wondering what makes them intelligent? Well, it is their curious and playful nature that compels them to ponder different situations nonstop.
Cons of Keeping Ferrets as Pets
- You have to keep your doors and windows closed if your ferret is outside its cage, because their exploratory nature will encourage them to escape whenever they can. Their curiosity will become a con if you are not careful. Ferrets don’t like being locked up all the time, so they may even try to figure out the locking mechanism on their enclosure. It is not easy to prevent them from escaping if they get bored and restless.
- Ferrets as pets are illegal in some states; this includes even baby ferrets. Therefore, before purchasing or adopting a ferret, check the local laws. Particularly, in states like California and Hawaii, pet ferrets are forbidden. Certain cities may have their own laws against them as well.
- It is not a good idea to adopt them if you have young children in the family since these pets don’t respond well to being handheld roughly. Besides, if ferrets feel threatened, it is in their nature to lash out against humans. They can even bite in certain conditions. You have to be extra careful and be gentle with them. If you are interested in learning more about keeping ferrets around young children, check out this article.
Conclusion
A well-trained ferret is probably one of the most fun pets you can have.
Just like other animals, keeping ferrets as pets comes with their specific pros and cons, but once properly trained and familiar to humans, they are quite fun to play with. You will enjoy watching them play for hours, and we promise, you will grow to love their mischievous habits.