Cons of Having a Ferret

Sure, ferrets are cute, humorous, clever, loving, and extremely distinctive. However there are additionally many cons of getting a ferret. Are you SURE you need one for a pet? On this weblog, I’m about to get into the nitty-gritty, costly, heartbreaking, shocking, and smelly elements of ferret possession to assist see if this pet is for you! I’ll reply all of your questions, reminiscent of ‘Are ferrets simple to care for?’ ‘Are ferrets soiled pets?’ ‘Are ferrets good pets?’ and far more.

If you happen to’re new to my website, my identify is Haley and that is Half 2 of my Professionals and Cons of Ferrets as Pets sequence. If you happen to haven’t already learn it, try Half 1, the place I focus on ferret possession’s many advantages. 

1. One of many cons of ferrets: They’re escape artists

The primary con of proudly owning a is a rebuttal to the primary level I made in my final weblog. In the case of ferret intelligence, particularly in problem-solving, ferrets rank someplace round small primates. And YES although it IS unimaginable to see them determine stuff out just like the little Einsteins they’re, this additionally means they’re sure to determine belongings you want they wouldn’t, like the best way to open doorways, the best way to get to the meals they shouldn’t, and the best way to jump over gates meant to maintain them secure.

So, that additionally means except you’re taking excessive measures to ferret-proof your complete residing quarters, your ferret will doubtless find yourself escaping or injuring themselves. Ferrets can find yourself inside your partitions, inside your recliners, behind your cupboards, and below your doorways. 

Additionally, simply since you ferret-proofed for one ferret doesn’t imply it should work for an additional. I hardly needed to ferret-proof something once I first received Moose. However when Newt got here alongside, I needed to rethink all the things after he scaled my balcony fence and jumped off. 

I’ve an intensive sequence of movies I made particularly on ferret-proofing your house room by room, so examine that out. 

2. One other con of proudly owning ferrets: They get bored simply

There’s one other draw back to ferret intelligence. They get bored shortly. This isn’t the kind of pet you may lock in a cage all day with the identical toys and hope they are going to be okay. You could present ample room to play and rotate the enrichment objects you give in order that they don’t develop stress behaviors. 

Many individuals have requested me on social media, ‘Do ferrets want a pal?’ The reply is sure, ferrets require common interplay all through the day. If you happen to don’t have the time for that, this isn’t the pet for you!

3. Not all ferrets like to cuddle :”(

Lots of people ask me, ‘Are ferrets pleasant?’ The reply is all ferrets like to play, which is implausible, however not each ferret likes to cuddle. Some folks will undertake a ferret with the expectation that their ferret will probably be SUPER cuddly on day one after which be upset when they aren’t.

Although there ARE issues you are able to do to bond along with your ferrets and get them extra enthusiastic about snuggling with you, some ferrets by no means turn out to be huge cuddlers. Moose was an enormous cuddler, and Albert is changing into one as he will get older, however Newt would at all times slightly examine a room than sit with me. And that was okay. 

4. Ferret nips: When furry buddies get feisty

Now let’s get to the query, ‘Do ferrets assault people?’ Ferrets can have many cute behaviors like struggle dancing and velocity bumping. However they exhibit different behaviors that some folks may discover annoying, tiny youngsters. Many youthful ferrets (and older ones, too) wish to nip after they play. And if they need you to hitch them, they may nip you too. Many occasions, ferrets don’t know the way laborious they will chunk a human, who has a lot thinner and extra delicate pores and skin than their furry brothers and sisters. This conduct turns into an enormous ache level for a lot of new ferret homeowners. 

I’ve a video on ferret biting and recommendation on the best way to prepare your ferret to not chunk so examine that out.

5. They’re mini thieves in disguise

One other doubtlessly annoying factor ferrets do is steal private objects. This might embody your cellphone, your pockets, and your television distant. If you happen to’re in no rush, chances are you’ll discover this humorous, however if you’re working late, it’d begin to be a extreme nuisance, attempting to find all of your ferret’s stashes round the home seeking your automotive keys so you may get to work. 

6. They might get a tad annoying

As soon as a ferret decides they need to get someplace, it should dedicate its complete existence to engaging in that aim till they meet it. It’s inspiring. A closed door usually appears to be like like an open one to your ferret -if they will scratch lengthy sufficient. If they will’t work out the best way to wiggle their means below it, your ferret will attempt their greatest to dig a trench into becoming by. And when you have carpet, this leads to mangled, bald spots subsequent to your bed room doorways – so that you in all probability have to get your deposit again. 

7. Ferrets are foes with smaller pets

Ferrets could make nice companions to you and your canine or cat below the correct supervision. Nonetheless, holding ferrets with different animals like rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, birds, and reptiles shouldn’t be a good suggestion. Your ferret is an obligate carnivore, and despite the fact that it may not look like it to you, it has developed to hunt. Retaining prey animals close by will be extremely demanding for these different small animals and will end in a lethal accident. 

Now BEFORE I GET to the largest criticism we get recurrently about ferrets, which is the largest common con of ferret possession, my identify is Haley and I create entertaining and academic content material about ferrets. If you happen to’re having fun with this text, subscribe to our weekly Ferret Feature Newsletter to benefit from the particular tales of the ferret homeowners in The Fashionable Ferret neighborhood.

8. Ferrets poop lots

Alright, prepared for this? The largest criticism I’ve seen from the worldwide ferret neighborhood is…. Their poop! It’s runny, it’s smelly, and it’s plentiful. Ferrets poop lots, and it’s not the primary time I’ve mentioned it! 

Why is that this? Effectively, ferrets have a comparatively quick metabolism and will poop each 3-4 hours. And when you have a number of ferrets in a single home, that provides a lot poop. 

Ferrets are additionally obligate carnivores, in order that they don’t have little rodent poops which can be small, fashioned, and odorless. As a substitute, ferrets produce one thing extra like unfastened canine poop -in phrases of scent and form -but fortunately not when it comes to dimension!

And check out as we’d, even the best-trained ferrets nonetheless want to seek out causes to overlook their litter field, leading to stained carpets (aka misplaced deposits) and ruined socks. Generally ferrets will even begin their enterprise too excessive and soiled your baseboards. Yeah. True story. 

My ferrets additionally appeared to revolt at any time when I slacked on cleansing their litter packing containers, which led to the invention of many new ferret-selected potty corners. 

I realized that if you’d like your ferrets to remain potty skilled, you should consistently clear up their potty areas! However for those who’d wish to learn to reduce accidents, try my video on potty training your ferret. 

9. Well being issues

Sadly, ferrets appear to endure from severe well being issues like insulinoma, adrenal illness, mast cell tumors, helicobacter, ear mites, and enlarged hearts -to identify a number of. My three ferrets grew to become sick with lots of these items, and caring for them grew to become very tough for a lot of causes. If you wish to hear about that have, click here.

Well being issues are costly (costing a whole bunch a 12 months to deal with), heartbreaking (as a result of a few of them are very long-suffering, like insulinoma), and time-consuming (with medicines that must be given each 3-4 hours in some circumstances).

If you’re critically interested by ferrets, changing into conscious of those animals’ most typical diseases and illnesses is essential to be financially and emotionally ready. 

10. Watch out for their mischief & mishaps

Along with contracting or inheriting numerous diseases, ferrets are susceptible to get damage.

In line with Ferrets for Dummies, intestinal and abdomen blockages are the main explanation for demise in ferrets below 2 years of age. Ferrets like to chew on and swallow a lot of issues they shouldn’t, and since they like to weasel their means into forbidden locations in your house, it’s laborious to forestall this threat 100% of the time. 

Ferrets additionally like to run below and between our toes once we stroll, so getting stepped on (or sat on) is one other widespread explanation for damage.

This implies you might need to take some last-minute journeys to the vet!

11. Could also be laborious to discover a vet

And that leads me to the following draw back of ferrets. Discovering a vet who can deal with your ferret accurately could be very laborious. Many vet clinics are strictly canine and cat-focused. For some purpose, ferrets fall into the ‘unique’ class, despite the fact that they’re changing into extra widespread, narrowing the variety of out there vets much more. 

I keep in mind talking with my vet some time again, and he or she prompt I purchase 3 particular books. One was Ferrets for Dummies, and the opposite two had been medical, veterinary textbooks. She mentioned, “Learn these, and you’ll know extra about ferrets than most skilled vets.”

Fortunately we’ve made an in-depth information on what to search for when selecting a vet in your ferret. It additionally features a record of 60+ trusted ferret vets, offered by our neighborhood. So test it out. 

12. Restricted merchandise

As a result of ferrets are much less in style than canine and cats, there are fewer choices for meals, treats, and enrichment. Many huge field shops promote unhealthy or unsafe objects marketed for ferrets too, and first-time ferret homeowners normally have to study higher. 

It takes time and analysis to pick out one of the best stuff in your ferret, and it may be difficult as a result of, similar to the merchandise, studying sources presently remains to be restricted. 

13. Ferrets will price you severe cash

If you wish to comprise your ferret for any interval, you have to a cage, and appropriate ferret cages are costly. Good ferret meals is costly, relying on whether or not you feed high-quality kibble or a uncooked prey weight-reduction plan. 

Vet care turns into costlier as ferrets age as a result of they ceaselessly want annual implants to deal with their adrenal illness or twice-daily remedy for insulinoma. 

This can be a expensive pet. Here’s a detailed cost-breakdown of ferret possession which gives you a transparent image. 

14. Touring with ferrets is a fur-midable problem

There aren’t many locations that board ferrets. Maybe extra are popping up, however these items cater extra to canine and cats. 

Meaning you’re both going to wish to convey your ferrets with you whenever you journey (which suggests discovering a lodge or Airbnb that can permit them after which ferret-proofing that area) or leaving them with a trusted pal who’s comfy altering litter packing containers a number of occasions per day, feeding them a doubtlessly particular weight-reduction plan like uncooked prey meat and giving them twice day by day remedy if they’re sick. 

When a pal watched my ferret, I keep in mind being so scared they may step on them sleeping in a pile of garments or by accident go away the door open and allow them to escape. 

As a result of I could be a little additional, I made indicators for his condominium and put them on the ground, saying, “Step flippantly! There could possibly be a ferret sleeping below these garments!”

15. You could unfastened them earlier than you suppose

I coated ferret lifespan within the execs part of this sequence, however relying in your desire, a ferret’s typical lifespan of 5-7 years could possibly be an enormous con for you. The bond you kind is profound, and ceaselessly the time we get to spend with them right here on earth doesn’t appear lengthy sufficient. 

That very same vet from earlier than as soon as advised me there are two kinds of ferret homeowners -those who’ve ferrets for all times and people who do ferrets simply as soon as after which determine they will’t deal with the heartbreak once more. They get sick so usually, and they’re gone too quick!

16. Not authorized in all places

A final one I assumed I’d shortly point out – ferrets aren’t authorized in all places. I do know in the US, ferrets are nonetheless banned in California and Hawaii. There are additionally some cities and different international locations the place ferrets are unlawful. This might be one thing to contemplate for those who plan on shifting throughout your ferret’s lifespan. 

Conclusion- What are the cons of getting a ferret?

I might not describe ferrets as simple pets. Would some ferret homeowners within the remark part agree with me?! They’re time-consuming, costly, messy, they like to steal, they CAN be smelly, and so they CAN get sick -but for some folks, it’s all value it. Even after studying this text, which may be you. Be sure you are ready for this type of dedication, time-wise, financially, and emotionally. And when unsure, first be part of an internet neighborhood like The Fashionable Ferret and begin speaking to actual ferret homeowners about their experiences!

I hope this video sequence sheds some gentle on what it’s ACTUALLY wish to have ferrets -the good, the dangerous, and the smelly! Please let me know what you thought within the feedback, and if this was weasily one of the best factor you’ve seen all day,  be sure to observe our Instagram & Youtube for extra enjoyable ferret stuff. See you quickly!