Hey!

Welcome to this ferret site for all ferrets in Ireland! :)

I hope you'll find useful information here that will help you and your ferret friend grow happily together. :)

This wiki is our website where we can share everything we know about ferrets! So lets dive in into ferret world together! Enjoy and join to share stories about you and your little fuzzy friend(s)! :)

2009 04 11

It's not only about ferrets... Dogs and puppies have it bad too... Please read this! I can't explain it in words how something like that sickens me! If you can, please find a reputable breeder, do not buy your puppy from anyone! And people : spay spay spay and neuter neuter neuter and one more time spay/neuter your pets! For crying out load: enough with the "it is not natural!", "do you think it is fair to make a decision for your pet?"... It is silly if you ask me! Don't you make all of the decision already??? What food to feed, where to go for a walks, what names to give, what commands to train, leave or bring them with you on the holidays and sooooo on and soooo on!!! Don't you make all the decisions for your kids? I don't think any grown up asks his/her kid(s) what kind of school you would like to attend or would they want to eat sweets insted of vegetables... only minor examples... could't come up with better ones but I guess you got my point! Although it is old article shelters being full up until this day speaks for them-selfs! Another article (old one). And legislation plans...

2009 02 18

I was browsing internet today for some new ferret facts and it is kind of sad how much incorrect and unfair (towards ferrets) info there is out and about! No wonder people have so many strange questions and believes when they talk to me about my ferret or ferrets in general. Here is a few facts that I found on internet:

What do Ferrets need?

• A diet of raw, fresh meat twice a day.

• (Now this is completely false! There is nothing wrong feeding your ferret high premium cat or ferret food! Plus, most owners find it unorthodox to feed they ferrets live mice or too confusing to feed them raw meat because you would have to know every little detail about the meat you giving and how nutritious it is. Fact is, chicken necks or some beef mice as a treat is really good but it would be too damn expensive and too much work to find your ferret high quality meat everyday! (It has to be fresh!) Plus, yes you can control how much does your ferret eat BUT it is best to have the bowl of food for ferret to reach every time he/she feels like eating. Their digest the food so fast that I would not see the point of food - control unless your little one gets over weight... It is not common but sometimes happens.)

• A constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water in a drip feed bottle with a metal spout.
  

• (OK, well nothing wrong with this one but if your ferret has no cage (as it is in my case) drinking bowl works as good! LOL Yes, sometimes they tend to play with water in the bowl provided to them but it is well known fact that most ferrets and pregnant jills do better with bowl of water.)
  

• A deep, clean layer of wood shavings on the cage floor and plenty of fresh meadow hay for bedding.

• (Ferrets are not rodents! Wood shavings give them allergies! The most common cause of allergy is from liter-box (or the whole cage floor in this case)! Avoid dusty clay litters, or any litters with special scents. Never use clumping litters. Most ferrets (percentage is high enough) have an allergic reaction to cedar shavings, and some to pine shavings. Now if you just MUST use wood shavings, at least stick to aspen.)

Most often asked questions:

1.Do ferrets smell?

With proper diet, attention to ferrets' cage/bedding/toys etc. and in-time castration the smell of they body disappears or becomes almost unscented. Also kits have stronger smell than adults. In general ferret odour is much weaker than that of dogs and many people find it likable(I am one of them).

Also read about ferret odour here.

2.How long do ferrets live?

Ferret live around 10 years. If healthy, happy and properly looked after he or she can reach the age of 15.

3.Do I need to vaccine my ferret and from what? Can ferret that hasn't been vaccinated yet be brought outside?

Yes! You have to vaccine your ferret from Canine Distemper. Even if your ferret is indoor pet you can bring this deadly (100% if your ferret catches it) thing on your shoes! So if your little one hasn't been vaccinated yet it's best for him or her to stay inside until time comes to go to the vet.

Vaccination begins at 6-8 weeks of age; boosters should be given at three to four week intervals until the ferret is 16 weeks old.

The vaccine is then given once every year.

You can bring your pet outside than 2 weeks have past from the day of vaccination.

4.Will my dog or my cat be friends with with my new ferret?

Everything depends on each individual but ferrets get along with cats and dogs. Especially if everyone is introduced to each other at early age.

Ferrets and your pet rat or rabbit etc. is a "No no" relationship. In the wild ferrets eat rodents (sometimes even snakes or lizards...) so its one in a million chance of your ferret becoming a friend with a rodent in your house. Keep them away from each other. :)

5.Do I need a cage or any special preparation before I bring my new pet ferret into my home?

You have to ferret-proof your house before you can bring new ferret! This is really important because they can swallow every little thing, they can get into every little hole. You have to think as ferret would think, crawl around your house and look for anything unsafe!

As for the cage. Well I have no cage but I still would recommend you getting one. Keep in mind that many ferrets hate cages but if you are away a lot it is for they own safety. You'll have to play with your ferret at least for 3-4 hours though because they love human company and they can get really upset or even aggressive if all they do are just sit in the cage.