Getting Started with Pet Ferrets

By Karen Hearing

This book is meant to be, just as the title suggests, a primer for new and prospective ferret owners. Here's just some of what you will find in this book:

10 reasons why you should own a ferret (Did you know that ferrets can be good for you?)
11 questions you must ask yourself to determine if a pet ferret is right for you (You need to be certain.)
Exactly where and how to get a pet ferret, especially ferret adoption
7 essential steps to ferret-proofing your home
The ferret accessories you must have – and the ones you don't really need
How to choose the best ferret cage for your and your ferret's unique needs
Detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to make a ferret hammock
What to feed your ferret and, more important, what you should never feed your ferret
Basic guidelines for training your pet ferret (Do you know the one habit your ferret can never be trained out of?)
12 fundamentals of ferret care – and the 2 must-have vaccinations
All about ferret poop (Did you know that the state of your ferret's poop is the best indicator of his overall health?)
Special chapter on ways to afford vet bills (There really is such a thing as pet health insurance.)
Ferret language (Find out what your ferret's behaviors/actions are telling you about her health and happiness.)
Bonus checklists to help you determine your ferret preparedness

Ferrets do make great pets. They are fun, quirky, lovable, playful, mischievous, and entertaining little critters. But they also require a commitment on your part. You will need to invest time, money, and energy to take care of your woozles properly. Reading Getting Started with Pet Ferrets will aid you in preparing and getting outfitted for your ferret journey.

It is recommended that you begin with this book. Then, having mastered the material here, you'll be ready to move on to one of the more advanced ferret books. And, then, you'll know just about everything you need to know to have a great relationship with your healthy, happy, playful carpet sharks.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karen Hearing
• Release date: Sep 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466131224

Karen Hearing

An animal lover since she was a young girl, Karen has three dogs,one cat, three horses, one husband . . . and four ferrets. It might be better, though, to say that these ferrets share her home. When you have a pet that combines a cat's curiosity and an otter's playfulness and a dog's silly antics, you can't really say you own it.Karen has been sharing her home with ferrets for about four years (as of this writing – September 2011). They are Rikki, a female albino ferret, and Possum, a male panda ferret, and Loki and Luna. Her adventure with pet ferrets began like this . . .Karen found Rikki, the fuzzball who started her love affair with ferrets, curled up on the ground beside her truck at work on a cold, rainy December night. Karen scooped her up, dried her off, and took her home. (She did do her best to locate the owners.) Thus began her life with ferrets.After having Rikki for about a year, Karen began to feel guilty about not being able to give her the attention she needed (because of work and family and all that). So, in early November, she put on her brightest, most-fetching smile and asked her husband for an early Christmas present. And he said, "We'll see" – which was close enough to "Yes" for Karen.So in a few days they set off to the local pet store to find Rikki a "baby brother." Karen took Rikki with her so she could help pick out her "brother," but Rikki, her furry little mind boogled by ferret speed dating, couldn't make a decision. Karen decided for her, and she made a good choice. Possum is a playmate, cohort in adventure and loving companion to Rikki and both a joy and a trial to Karen.Now, Karen shares her enthusiasm for fuzzy carpet sharks and growing knowledge of ferrets with anyone willing to listen. Ferrets are fairly high-maintenance pets. They require a lot of care, a lot of attention, in-depth knowledge of diet and health issues, and just the right ferret accessories and ferret toys.Karen’s goal is to help people who are in the same boat she was when ferrets first came into her life – that is, knowing almost nothing about ferrets or where to turn for help. She hopes to make the journey a little smoother for other ferret owners. For healthy, happy ferrets are worth it.

Book preview

Getting Started With Pet Ferrets

A Primer for Prospective and New Ferret Owners

Karen Hearing

Smashwords Edition

PUBLISHED BY :

Oudeis Books

Getting Started with Pet Ferrets

Copyright © 2011 by Oudeis Books

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Why a ferret?

Chapter 2 – Should YOU own a ferret?

Chapter 3 – Where to get a ferret

Chapter 4 – Ferret proofing your home

Chapter 5 - Ferret accessories

Chapter 6 – Ferret cages

Chapter 7 – Feeding your ferret

Chapter 8 – Ferrets and fluids

Chapter 9 – Playtime!

Chapter 10 – Training

Chapter 11 – Your ferret's social life

Chapter 12 – Traveling with your ferret

Chapter 13 – Caring for your ferret

Chapter 14 – Cleaning your ferret's home and possessions

Chapter 15 – Ferret-health supplies

Chapter 16 – Common ferret ailments

Chapter 17 – Ferret poop

Chapter 18 – Ferret scent

Chapter 19 – How can I afford the vet bills for my ferret?

Chapter 20 – Fun ferret facts

Chapter 21 – What is my ferret trying to say?

Chapter 22 – Breeding ferrets

Resources

Checklist

About the Author

Disclaimer

The information in this work was accurate to the best of the author’s knowledge when it was written. However, the author makes no representations or guarantees and disclaims all warranties. Research published since the creation of this book may negate the information provided within it.

The information and advice offered may not be appropriate for every situation. The author does not imply or offer professional, legal, or veterinary services. Please consult a licensed, qualified veterinarian for all medical matters. Please consult a licensed, qualified attorney for specific legal questions.

Mention of a specific product, publication, company, organization, and/or website does not imply the author’s endorsement, and any of these may have been discontinued since this book’s publication.

Introduction

So you want to own a ferret. All right, then. Did you know that there are approximately 4 to 5 million ferret households in the U.S. with a total of 5 to 7 million ferrets? This makes ferrets the third most-popular pet in the U.S.

Those numbers are especially impressive when you consider that in many areas of the U.S. owning a ferret is illegal. So there are some things you need to take into account when considering ferret ownership or adoption.

Still, ferrets are hard to resist as pets, as you know. They are incredibly cute, and you can’t help but laugh as you watch them scurry around. It’s even better when you get into the act yourself. Once you cuddle up with one, you can’t help but want to get a ferret for your very own. If you do, it will quickly become one of the family.

Ah, but there’s the rub. Even the happiest of families have problems, and ferrets bring their own peculiar challenges. Just like the human members of your family, ferrets can be picky eaters. They are constantly in need of attention from their humans. Some of them are prone to illnesses. Some of them are more active than others. And as ferrets age, they too are just as prone to medical problems as their human counterparts.

That’s not to say that ferret ownership is impossible. Of course not. Just like any other relationship, the more love you have for your ferret, the richer the experience will be.

Even if you have a great deal of love for your fuzzy friend, you will also need a great deal of information. That’s why this book was written – to provide some information to help you get started and to enrich your ferret relationship as much as possible.

It is my hope that this book will answer many your questions and that you and your ferret(s) will be happy and healthy for years to come.

Enjoy,

Karen Hearing

Chapter 1 – Why a ferret?

Why a ferret?

If you’ve been wanting a ferret and have mentioned that desire to someone else, chances are you’ve been asked that question.

Why a ferret indeed?

There are many reasons why someone like you should consider owning a ferret.

1. They are unusual.

Although, as we’ve stated in the introduction, ferrets are the third most-popular pet in the U.S. after dogs and cats, they are still a bit unusual. Many people consider them to be exotic. In many areas of the country they are still relatively rare. It’s rather fun to have a pet that few others have.

2. They are fun.

Ferrets are active. They are always getting into something. Who can resist getting down on the floor and playing with them or watching them chase other ferrets around the place? Coming home to your ferrets is one of the easiest ways to cast off the troubles of the day.

3. They are social.

Unlike cats, which are largely independent, ferrets thrive when they have company, especially human company. There’s nothing better than knowing there is a certain someone who really wants to see you, whether for cuddling or for roughhousing.

4. They are easy.

Unlike horses that must be exercised and groomed every day or goldfish that must be fed a precise amount of feed at regimented times, a ferret is pretty easygoing. While a ferret does have certain nutritional and health needs, they are fairly easy to meet. Also, they sleep 14 to 18 hours a day on average. Ferrets are generally quiet and only need a small space in your home. Just like Linus’ Christmas tree in A Charlie Brown Christmas, all a ferret needs is a little love.

5. They help you meet new people.

When you take your ferret out for a walk, chances are very good that you will meet people asking about your pet. There are also many organizations for ferrets and their owners that give you both a chance to socialize and to exchange tips and stories. When you own a ferret, you open up a whole new world of social possibilities.

6. They are historic.

There is a certain aura about a pet that has been around since ancient Greece and Rome. Back in the day, ferrets were used to help sniff out vermin and small game, but almost certainly they became much loved members of the household. Anyone can own a tropical fish, but how many people can say they own a pet that was known to Caesar Augustus?

7. They are threatened.

One type of ferret, the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes),