Pet Ferret Facts

Series Summary

The domesticated ferret is an elongated mammal that closely resembles the weasel. Domestication of ferrets dates all the way back to 1500 BC, though wild ferrets do still exist. Ferrets make great pets, and seem to be more people-friendly than the typical housecat. Making your home ferret-friendly is often the most challenging aspect of ferret ownership. Ferrets tend to enjoy chewing on rubber and foam items and can be harmed if these are ingested. Also, ferrets can chew holes into walls and be injured by electrical wires, or escape to the outdoors. Ferrets are meat eaters and live on a diet of meat, organs and raw bones. For the domestic ferret, there is a variety of dry foods available.

Learn more about your pet ferret in these educational video clips. See examples of different cages, foods and litter boxes recommended for domestic ferrets. Learn the basics of ferret behavior and learn how to handle a ferret. Ferrets are biters, but if you watch these videos, you will learn how to train your ferret not to bite your hands. Get ideas and information on the general care such as bathing and flea prevention. Our expert guides you in preparing a safe exercise area for your ferret and teaches you about vaccinations, spay and neutering, and dental care for your ferret in this video series.

Video Transcript

"Hi my name is Sarah and on behalf of expertvillage.com I am here at Petland in Pembroke Pines, Florida to educate you a little bit today about caring for your ferret. Ferrets make absolutely wonderful pets. They are playful, energetic, very intelligent and very entertaining. Most people who would describe them are kind of like owning a kitten for 8 to 10 years. That is generally a ferret’s life span. When you first get your ferret from the pet store, it will generally be anywhere around 8 to 10 weeks of age. Sometimes ferrets are available at older ages. When you first get your ferret you should take it to a qualified ferret veterinarian as soon as possible. You can look up qualified ferret veterinarians at aemv.org. If you would like any more information about the animal hospital that I work at, you can go to www.extracareanimalhospital.net and if you would like anymore information about Petland in Pembroke Pines, you can go to www.petland.com. "