Ferrets are small domesticated predators. They are related to the mink, the polecat, the ermine and the weasel. The ferret is the only member of the Mustelidae family that is domesticated. The domesticated ferret is not found in the wild, because it simply couldn't survive. For centuries, ferrets have been used to hunt rabbits and other small rodents. This practice continues, but more usually ferrets are kept as pets.
The decision to purchase a ferret should not be made lightly. First you need to borrow a couple of books at the library, read up on things, look up information on the internet, etc. You should try to decide if you are able to provide a good home to a ferret. Only when you think you know everything there is to know can you make the decision to welcome a ferret into your home. Then you can start organizing the proper accommodation for your future pet while you wait for your ferret to be born. A few weeks after the birth, it’s yours! When you bring it home all those helpful stories and good advice do not appear to relate to your ferret(s): all the little nippers seem to do is run around, and they appear to have never heard of a litter tray!
Before the purchase
Try to obtain as much information as you can, and make comparisons: sometimes opinions contradict each other. A good source of Information is (the Dutch) Ferret Union "Frettig gestoord", or in the U.S., The American Ferret Association. The members of these organizations are more than happy to answer your questions. Don't let funny and enthusiastic stories lead you astray. Ferrets are a lot of work, and they need a lot of attention. They are not like hamsters where an extra handful of straw and some extra food will help the animals through a long weekend. Ferrets will not appreciate this. Certainly young animals (and who does not want a young animal?) require a lot of extra attention.
The Purchase
Now were do you obtain a ferret? At the pet shop? But all the books, the people of the Union and I, here on this site, warn you, DON'T do that! The alternative, put your name on a waiting list and hope you will get a kit this year, while in the pet store around the corner there are two beautiful ferrets?
According to the salesmen they are only 5 weeks old. They are young and cute, and you have decided that you have enough time for a ferret. So you buy them from a store anyway. That was my thought, too. As a novice who read a couple of books and looked up some tidbits on the internet, you still have no idea what is involved in caring for a ferret. The Ferret who was 5 weeks old according to the salesperson, (I, of course, did not read the book too well! Ferrets are ready to leave their mother at 6 weeks old at the earliest; 8 weeks is preferred however) was not so sweet after all. Biting, droppings everywhere but in the litter box, and not at all cuddly. Fortunately I received help from The Ferret Union, who advised me to go to a Veterinarian immediately. At the vet, the ferret was judged to be 3 moths old instead of 5 weeks! Oh well, how was I to know what size a young or an adult ferret is, and how fast young ferrets grow up?
Grietje was not litter trained; sometimes she used her box, but then only for a short period. After being put to bed, the next morning the entire cage would be full of droppings, everywhere but in the litterbins, and she also bit a lot. After solving a lot of bad habits, she has also become better at using her litter tray, although she still makes mistakes every now and then. She turned out to be a loving animal after all.
Our second ferret also came from a pet store. However, this ferret was 8 weeks old and came from a private breeder (the saleswoman) and she was well raised. Sandy was a lot smaller then Grietje was; now I can differentiate between 8 a week old and a 3 month old. Sandy was litter trained, she sometimes made little mistakes, but, oh well, she was still young. But then she started to poop next to the litter pan more and more often, exactly the way Grietje did. Of course Sandy thought that was the way it was done. Sandy’s behavior has also much improved now, but training did not happen overnight. Now, they are lovely animals who need a lot of attention, but give so much joy and fun in return.
It is certainly not wise to purchase ferrets in a pet store, so don't do it. Of course you could ignore this advice and find out yourself the hard way. Who knows, you may even get lucky . . . maybe. But why, as a beginner, should you not wait a little bit longer for a well-raised kit or even a somewhat older ferret to start with. At the Ferret Union "frettig gestoord" shelter there are always ferrets looking for a home, so you won’t have to wait too long.
