The first thing you should look for when picking your ferret is health. Are their eyes bright and clean, are their ears and teeth clean, do they have long shiny whiskers? Does the shelter have their vaccination records? Their environment will be a good indicator of their health as well. If it is clean and well looked after, you can assume the ferret is also.
Whether you are buying a ferret from a reputable breeder or adopting one from a shelter, always assess that they are healthy and that their personality is a match for your home. Do you have any tips and tricks for finding the perfect ferret personality?
Choosing the right ferret can be fun!
There aren’t any distinct breeds of domestic ferrets, so choosing the right ferret should be a breeze, right? Not exactly! There are plenty of things to look for when choosing a ferret. You may not have to choose between long and short hair, but there are plenty of other things you need to consider when bringing a ferret into your home!
First off, you should consider if the commitment of ferret parenting is right for you, and right for the ferret. If you are a first time ferret owner, you should adopt an adult ferret, not a kit. Kits, or baby ferrets, are very energetic and need potty training, which is not easy for a first timer to do! If you decide to get a kit, make sure that they are no less than 8 weeks old. Being weaned earlier than that can cause behavioral and developmental issues!
The next thing to look at is personality. If they are alert and interested in you, try playing with them and seeing if they want to play or cuddle. If the ferret bites you and runs away in fear, that might not be the best ferret for you! But if they engage and try to play, you could have a winner. Also, try squeaking a squeak toy to get their attention and asses if they are deaf or not. Ferrets with certain coat patterns consistent with Waardenburg syndrome are often deaf.
The first thing you should look for when picking your ferret is health. Are their eyes bright and clean, are their ears and teeth clean, do they have long shiny whiskers? Does the shelter have their vaccination records? Their environment will be a good indicator of their health as well. If it is clean and well looked after, you can assume the ferret is also.
Whether you are buying a ferret from a reputable breeder or adopting one from a shelter, always assess that they are healthy and that their personality is a match for your home. Do you have any tips and tricks for finding the perfect ferret personality?
There aren’t any distinct breeds of domestic ferrets, so choosing the right ferret should be a breeze, right? Not exactly! There are plenty of things to look for when choosing a ferret. You may not have to choose between long and short hair, but there are plenty of other things you need to consider when bringing a ferret into your home!
First off, you should consider if the commitment of ferret parenting is right for you, and right for the ferret. If you are a first time ferret owner, you should adopt an adult ferret, not a kit. Kits, or baby ferrets, are very energetic and need potty training, which is not easy for a first timer to do! If you decide to get a kit, make sure that they are no less than 8 weeks old. Being weaned earlier than that can cause behavioral and developmental issues!
The next thing to look at is personality. If they are alert and interested in you, try playing with them and seeing if they want to play or cuddle. If the ferret bites you and runs away in fear, that might not be the best ferret for you! But if they engage and try to play, you could have a winner. Also, try squeaking a squeak toy to get their attention and asses if they are deaf or not. Ferrets with certain coat patterns consistent with Waardenburg syndrome are often deaf.