Petfinder.com forums :: View topic - 4/11 - 4/17 Ferret Adoption and Care with Sharon Bearden!! [ ]

Come celebrate Adopt-A-Shelter-Ferret month with us! This month we are excited to welcome Sharon Bearden.

Sharon has shared her heart and home with ferrets since 1980. As Fundraising Coordinator for the International Ferret Congress she is busy working on the June 2011 Phoenix Ferret Symposium. A member of the IFC since 2003, Sharon has also been a member of Support Our Shelters (S.O.S), since 2001. As a contributor to both groups and to the local ferret shelter, Ferret Business of GA, she hopes to make a difference for ferrets and to the people who love and
care for them.

So bring your ferret questions and join us April 11- 17th, see you there!

Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 3:26 pm Post subject:

Thank you for answering questions. Do ferrets make good pets for kids? I have a 10 and 12 year old, we can't have a dog in the building and I was thinking this might be a nice pet to have instead. What would need to be done to set up a room for a ferret?

Sharon's Answer:

Hello Sonia,

These are good questions. Ferrets live an average of
6-8 years and they need lots of attention and regular veterinary
checkups. If your 10 and 12 year old are willing to make a committment of time and take responsibility for proper care then one of these little companion animals could be right for your household.

Ferrets sleep alot but when they are awake they are curious and
love to explore. It is important to ferret proof any area they are
allowed in and supervise them when they are out of their cage or you
can keep them confined to a small, safe area which has been checked for easy escape routes and other dangers to prevent injury.

An idea ferret room would contain litter boxes with easy access, play tubes or tunnels, ferret safe toys and small fleece blankets or old t-shirts to sleep in. You would want a large ferret designed cage with a litter box for training. If allowed access most will return to their cage to eat and will sleep there after play time.

I would suggest if possible that you visit a local ferret shelter where you can
interact with ferrets and to learn more about them. This will help make sure you're ready for the responsibility that ferrets require. Plus you may find just the right ferret to bring home with you.

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:33 am Post subject:

My ferret daisy is usually very friendly and sweet. Sometimes when my boyfriend is over and is walking around daisy will start to chase him and even jump at him! I'm not sure why she does this she has always seemed to like him. What should I do?

Sharon's Answer:

If you are certain Daisy isn't playing a game of carpe feetum (seize the sock) or trying to initiate a game of tag you're it, then could it be something different about your boyfriend like a different smell? Perhaps, a change in cologne or clothes detergent?

If there isn't a new or strange smell causing aggression towards your boyfriend and you don't think it is a new game, then perhaps, Daisy is showing one of the signs of ferret adrenal disease.

In that case you might want to make an appointment with a ferret friendly veterinarian to have Daisy checked for ferret adrenal disease which can include symptons such as aggression and also hair loss. The adrenal gland produces a number of hormones and adrenal disease can cause over production of some of those hormones which result in clinical signs and symptoms.

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 6:20 pm Post subject:

I’m trying to find something that will keep my ferret from going to the bathroom all over my house. He has a large litter box in his cage but he’s not using it. I’ve been using shredded paper in the litter box, should I try something else?

Sharon's Answer:

You'll want to litter train your ferret in the cage at first. Keep a little of the dirty paper or litter in the pan. Don't let it get too dirty though or he may not use it. You might try using folded newspaper, puppy pads or cutting down the front of your current litter pan to allow easy access. If you think the shredded paper is the problem then you can use a dust free litter,
Feline Pine pellets, Pine Fresh pellets, or recycled newspaper pellets, etc. Avoid clumping sand and scented litters which can cause health problems for ferrets.

For off-limit corners put bedding with his smell on it or food bowls to show those areas aren't bathrooms.

Ferrets go to the bathroom shortly after waking up. Make sure he goes potty before you let him out of the cage. Give he lots of praise and a favorite treat for doing his business in the right place. Once you allow him out to play try returning him to the cage from time to time to see if he needs a bathroom break.

Clean accidents or off-limit areas to remove smell and any odor that marks a spot as a bathroom. Put pans, newspaper or pads in his favorite corners or potty areas. If you see him backing up into a corner, pick them up and put him in a box or on the paper or pad.

Keep in mind that some times health problems, especially with older ferrets, can cause them not to make it to a pan. If your ferret is young then just be patient. I'm sure with your help he will 'get it'.

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:14 am Post subject:

How can I teach my ferret not to nip when she is playing? Also how much time per day should a ferret spend outside of her cage?

Sharon's Answer:

Nip Training:

As you probably already know these little ones can get very rambunctious during play time.They play with us like they would another ferret. Also they can get excited after first being let out to play so she may need a few minutes to calm down before you interact with her.

Some things to try are:

Say "No!"
If she nips, say, No! Let her know that she is hurting you. If she is deaf, which some blazes, pandas, and dews are then, try one of the other methods.

Time Out
Give her a few minutes to settle down by placing her in her cage.

Bitter Apple, applied to your hands.
If she nips you, the bad taste will work as a deterrent. You should only have to use this method for a few days.

Provide other things to chew on:
Try ferret chews, like n-bones or cheweasels.

Scruffing is the same method that ferret moms use on kits. Mom grabs them by the loose skin at the back of their neck. Your ferret will go limp. You can scruff and say No! to let her know she is misbehaving.

Of course, it is important that you not get angry with her. Kits go through a nippy stage when teething and will grow out of it. If she is older be patient and give praise and treats for good behavior.

Out of Cage Time:

At least 4 hours out of the cage each day is recommended. A small ferret proof area for free run is best but many care givers use a cage as a safe place during works hours or when they are away and then allow supervised free run time when they are home. These little guys are curious, and playful which makes them a lot of fun so being able to interact with them as much as we can makes life better for us and for them.

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