It's important to take a few steps of preparation and consideration before you bring your ferret home.
For instance, your home is not his home, so you'll want to think about what you'll keep the little guy in.
There are other aspects of ferret care too, such how large the given cage might be.
True enough, they'll spend a lot of time sleeping.
However, when awake, it's nice if they have some room to play when you're not letting them rule the roost.
Assuming you've opted to purchase a pretty good size cage, there are yet additional considerations that can help you make a good decision you won't later regret.
For one, bear in mind that metal cages can sometimes cause problems.
Aside from the fact that they can rust over time, even a plastic coating on your wire cage may introduce a new problem.
See, ferrets like to chew on the painted and plastic-coated metal cages.
Thus, an ideal solution to the metal and metal-coated cage material is simply to go with plastic.
It cleans easily and is safer all-around for your ferret.
However, even choosing plastic isn't the final consideration.
You can actually select from single or multi-level models.
Regardless of which you prefer, think about getting one with a large door.
This will help both with getting your ferret out and also with feeding, watering, and cleaning.
Add some quality bedding and you have more than a ferret home, you have a ferret palace! Once you have a nice ferret home ready, what about entertainment? Ferrets are quite playful and they will really enjoy something to toss around and nibble on.
You just want to use discretion picking out ferret toys, since some can be dangerous.
Cat toys are generally good, but you don't want anything with foam or plastic that can be torn apart by their sharp teeth and ultimately get lodged in their throat.
Surgery to have a blockage cleared from your ferret's windpipe can be ridiculously expensive.
And, of course, just keeping an eye on your ferret when it is running loose and playing is a good idea.
If you keep toys out of the cage, you'll fool-proof their play time.
Before you bring your ferret home, also go ahead and identify a vet.
They are in the mustelid family, so they will have a bit of a smell at times.
It's not overbearing or obnoxious, but most people have them descented.
In fact, just go ahead and get them "fixed" at the same time, unless you want to breed with them.
Then follow the docs recommendation when you bring your ferret home, such as having routine vaccinations done.
Typically, they will only receive one shot per year.
Okay, next on the list before you bring your ferret home is to think about what you will feed him or her.
A lot of people will use cat food, just like they use cat toys.
This is fine, but it's best if you use a real high-quality food.
In actual fact, it's best that you just use real ferret food, and there's a good reason why.
These days, manufacturers specifically produce a ferret diet aimed at meeting their precise fat content requirements and digestive capabilities.
Here are a few final tips about diet.
If it is an older ferret, it might be best to continue the same type of food.
If it is young, you can gradually wean them off the old food and transition to better food by mixing the two for a while.
Also, resist the temptation to give unhealthy snacks.
Sugar is bad for ferrets.
However, they like cooked eggs and meat, just avoid meat that's been frozen.
Follow these few tips and, when you bring your ferret home, it will be a piece of cake!
For instance, your home is not his home, so you'll want to think about what you'll keep the little guy in.
There are other aspects of ferret care too, such how large the given cage might be.
True enough, they'll spend a lot of time sleeping.
However, when awake, it's nice if they have some room to play when you're not letting them rule the roost.
Assuming you've opted to purchase a pretty good size cage, there are yet additional considerations that can help you make a good decision you won't later regret.
For one, bear in mind that metal cages can sometimes cause problems.
Aside from the fact that they can rust over time, even a plastic coating on your wire cage may introduce a new problem.
See, ferrets like to chew on the painted and plastic-coated metal cages.
Thus, an ideal solution to the metal and metal-coated cage material is simply to go with plastic.
It cleans easily and is safer all-around for your ferret.
However, even choosing plastic isn't the final consideration.
You can actually select from single or multi-level models.
Regardless of which you prefer, think about getting one with a large door.
This will help both with getting your ferret out and also with feeding, watering, and cleaning.
Add some quality bedding and you have more than a ferret home, you have a ferret palace! Once you have a nice ferret home ready, what about entertainment? Ferrets are quite playful and they will really enjoy something to toss around and nibble on.
You just want to use discretion picking out ferret toys, since some can be dangerous.
Cat toys are generally good, but you don't want anything with foam or plastic that can be torn apart by their sharp teeth and ultimately get lodged in their throat.
Surgery to have a blockage cleared from your ferret's windpipe can be ridiculously expensive.
And, of course, just keeping an eye on your ferret when it is running loose and playing is a good idea.
If you keep toys out of the cage, you'll fool-proof their play time.
Before you bring your ferret home, also go ahead and identify a vet.
They are in the mustelid family, so they will have a bit of a smell at times.
It's not overbearing or obnoxious, but most people have them descented.
In fact, just go ahead and get them "fixed" at the same time, unless you want to breed with them.
Then follow the docs recommendation when you bring your ferret home, such as having routine vaccinations done.
Typically, they will only receive one shot per year.
Okay, next on the list before you bring your ferret home is to think about what you will feed him or her.
A lot of people will use cat food, just like they use cat toys.
This is fine, but it's best if you use a real high-quality food.
In actual fact, it's best that you just use real ferret food, and there's a good reason why.
These days, manufacturers specifically produce a ferret diet aimed at meeting their precise fat content requirements and digestive capabilities.
Here are a few final tips about diet.
If it is an older ferret, it might be best to continue the same type of food.
If it is young, you can gradually wean them off the old food and transition to better food by mixing the two for a while.
Also, resist the temptation to give unhealthy snacks.
Sugar is bad for ferrets.
However, they like cooked eggs and meat, just avoid meat that's been frozen.
Follow these few tips and, when you bring your ferret home, it will be a piece of cake!
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