Importance of Ferret Rescue Centers

Ferrets have become popular household pets due to their endearing appearance and playful nature. Ferrets can make very rewarding pets and excellent companions too. They are very inquisitive in nature and this curious nature of theirs can get them into a lot of trouble many a times. Ferret proofing your house is necessary if you decide to get a ferret as your pet. However, despite your best efforts, due to their small size, they can easily get out of the house and out into the open. Domesticated ferrets are very different from their wild cousins and do not do very well in the wild. To prevent this, they must be caged when no one is around to monitor them. Ferrets are very clever and learn to open cages too. Ferrets are notorious for “ferreting” their way out of cages. Once they are out of their cages, it doesn’t take them much time to get out of the house. Ferrets thus manage to get into trouble with amazing consistency. Hence, the increased need for ferret rescue centers.

With the increase in number of ferrets as household pets, the number of ferret rescue agencies is on the increase too. Ferret rescuers do the job of rescuing ferrets that have been lost and caring for them. They then arrange for adoptions for the rescued ferret. If you happen to find a lost ferret, then you can hand it over the nearest rescue agency. They’ll take care of the ferret for you.

As said earlier, ferret rescuing agencies allow adoption of rescued ferrets. However, adopting rescued a ferret is a lengthy procedure. The rescue team will make sure that you know the basics of handling ferrets and that you’ll be able to satisfy your pets needs. In addition, you might have to pay for the pet. However, this money is usually used to support their work and also to take care of maintenance costs. If you want to adopt a ferret, you can check up the nearest agency on either The American Ferret Association’s Shelter List or the FML Shelter List in the United States.

Sometimes, people just discard their pets out in the open. This is a very inhumane practice. A pet ferret can never survive in the wild and releasing it thus is condemning it to its death. A better option would be to hand over the pet to one of your friends. If you have exhausted all those options, then you can hand over your pet to the nearest rescue center. They’ll arrange for an adoption of your pet to a suitable person.

Ferret rescue centers are also quite helpful, in case you have lost your pet ferret. Chances are that someone found your pet ferret and handed it over to the nearest Ferret rescue center. Supply them with a picture or description of your pet. Always check with the nearest ferret rescuing center if you have lost your pet.

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Ferret Nation – How to Choose a Ferret Home


Ferrets are among the most popular uncaged animals today, after dogs and cats. However, they are very curious by nature and can get into a lot of trouble if left unsupervised. No matter how much effort you put, it is impossible to make your house totally ferret-safe. A very good idea would be to lock them up in a cage for their own safety, when no one is around to supervise. Hence, the need for a good cage for your pet ferret arises. You must have seen the pitiable condition of animals in zoos where an animal is kept in a very small cage with not much space to move around or too many animals put into one large cage. You love your pet ferret and definitely want to avoid this. There are many brands available in the market and on the internet. Ferret Nation is one of the best brands, which markets excellent quality ferret cages. There are many models available catering to a wide range of requirements.

Choosing the right cage for your pet is very important. Keeping the following in mind will help you make a right decision:

  1. Size: The size of the cage depends on the number of ferrets you intend to keep in it. For a single ferret, the cage should be minimum 1.5 feet long, 1.5 feet deep and 2.5 feet wide. You can also have multi-leveled cages, but these are preferable if you have more than one ferret. It should be roomy enough for your ferret to run around and should have separate areas for sleeping, feeding and litter.
  2. Ventilation: The cage that you choose must be very well ventilated. That is why wire-frame cages are a very good option. They are very well ventilated and sturdy to. Never house your ferret in an aquarium. It is very poorly ventilated and unhygienic too.
  3. Hygiene: Wire-frame cages are easy to clean. Make sure that the door of the cage is big enough for a litter box to fit. This makes it easy to maintain hygiene.
  4. Safety: Ferrets are notorious escape artists and are known to “ferret” out their way from cages by chewing at the wires. Make sure that the paint used on the cages is non-toxic to prevent any harm to your pet in case they chew on the cages. Also, choose a cage that has the wires closely spaced so that they don’t get themselves stuck in between the wires. Ferrets learn to open spring-latches within a few days time. Avoid cages with this.
  5. Additions: Choose a cage that has an option of adding a level. This will be helpful should you feel that your pet isn’t having enough space or should you feel like having one more pet. Also place some toys for your pet to play with to prevent boredom.

Considering all this, a Ferret Nation cage is an excellent choice for your pet as it is totally economical and safe for your pet. The wire-frame cages are well ventilated and are easy to clean too.


Angora Ferret – The Exotic Breed


The Angora ferret is an altogether different breed of ferret that was discovered by a Swedish farmer by chance. Some experts also consider this species as a sub species of the original ferret.

The Angora ferret is identified by the considerably longer hair, about two to four inches longer than the normal ferret, on their bodies especially on the hind legs and rear body. Another distinctive feature is that an Angora ferret does have any hair on their underbellies. This type of ferret is also heavier than the ordinary ferret. An Angora ferret will weigh from 5 to 7 lbs against 1 to 5 lbs in any other ferret. These animals also have a very distinctive nose that has two folds and is upturned. Their pointed noses also have a lot of nose hair. An Angora ferret has the cute little cleft nose even at the infant stage but its hair grows longer only when it is grown up. The texture of the fur in an Angora ferret is also different from that in other ferrets.

Behavior

Angora ferrets are stronger and hardier than other ferrets. An Angora ferret is less prone to adrenal diseases than other ferrets but is likely to develop problems like hairball and intestinal infections. This breed of ferrets is usually more energetic and aggressive. They are more determined and irritable and are also very inquisitive. As babies these ferrets are very voracious and short tempered. On the other hand Angoras are considered to be far more intelligent than other breeds of ferrets. They are also much easier to train and their exotic looks make this breed a much more popular choice as a pet.

History

The Angora ferret was first discovered by a Swedish farmer named Soren Thingaard. He noticed a mutated strain with marked physical differences like longer hair on the hind legs with the normal ferrets. He sold this species of ferret to a breeder in Norway. There after years of breeding with these long haired ferrets the present breed of Angora ferrets were produced. This in-breeding, using pure strains of Angora ferrets has led to some problems.

The biggest problem is that the female Angora does not produce enough milk for its litter of kits. This led some Norwegian breeders to use female polecats as substitutes. This cross breeding proved to be fruitful and the problem was solved. But the original breeder Thingaard still produces the highest number of Angora ferrets using the original strain that he had discovered. He overcomes the inherent problems of breeding this ferret by using standard ferrets for breeding too.

Angora ferrets are basically bred in Denmark and Norway but today many breeders in many other parts of the world including the United States and Canada are breeding these ferrets. Some Canadian breeders also claim to have discovered a separate strain of this breed but it was found that they were actually flaunting standard long haired ferrets as Angoras. This difficulty in procuring an Angora ferret and the high cost of breeding one makes this breed much more expensive than a standard breed of ferret.


Ferret Names: Some Interesting Ideas


Ferret names: Naming your pet ferret is easy. You can call it by any name. After all it’s your pet. But it’s not that simple. This way you could end up by giving it the name of some other pet you had earlier or you could end up changing its name from time to time. Most people try to find a name that fits the personality of the ferret for which you can look up a name in a book for human babies or some pet naming books.

Choose a name that fits your ferret

Whichever way you choose to find a name for your ferret, you should select one that comes closest to defining it. For this you have to consider its color which can give you a name like Raven, Silver, Sandy or Peaches. Then you can name it for its size; for example Tiny if it’s a small pet, Chubby if it’s a roly-poly and cuddly ferret. You should also consider its habits, behavioral patterns and favorite objects and give it a name like Rascal, Dancer or Socks. Then again you could consider your feeling towards it to choose a name like Baby or Angel. Another consideration could be its personality, which could yield names like Bear if it’s a burly fellow, Bandit if it’s very naughty, Chase if it loves chasing around things or Killer if it has a hunter’s instinct.

Other ways to select a name

Names of food items like Beans, Candy, Coco, Honey, and Peanut are also very popular names that you can use to name your pet ferret. You could also call it Silver, Gold, Ruby or Diamond after your favorite precious metal or gemstone. You could tap Nature to select a name for your pet like Butterfly, Bobcat, Thunder, Lily, Alfalfa, Daisy, Dewdrop, Flea, Mango or Sunbeam. Cartoon characters like Scooby or Casper can also be a source for a name for your ferret. You could take the help of literature by choosing a name from mythological books, classics or comic books or you can name your pet after your favorite movie or television character. You can even give it a cute name like Dodo, Mimi, Tutu, Dolly or Princess. Some people even prefer to name their ferret with an exotic sounding foreign name Chaska or Lulu.

Names to avoid

Whatever name you choose for you ferret, be careful not to select a name that is normally used to name a pedigreed dog or horse because by nature the ferret is a feisty animal and a grave name would not suit its character. Another thing you should avoid is selecting a very complicated name. A long and complex name will get shortened and could take on a different meaning. Say you name it Marshmallow which ultimately gets shortened to Marsh. Here both words have separate meanings. Moreover, ferrets are very intelligent and your pet will recognize its name after sometime but a complex name like Alexander the Great would confuse it. Alex would be a better choice. So keep it simple and select a name that you are also comfortable with.


Ferret Breeders: Three Tips for Finding a Reliable Breeder

Ferrets are wonderful pets because of their playful and active nature. If you have decided to get a ferret, the best option is to get it from a breeder. You can pick one from other places like pet stores and animal shelters. However, if you are looking for a ferret with specific qualities, a ferret breeder is your best bet. Many people prefer buying ferrets from professional ferret breeders because the ferrets raised by them are well trained. Here are a few tips for finding a reliable breeder.

Tips to Find a Reliable Ferret Breeder:

Places to Look For – You can look up for breeders in your area, on the internet or in ferret magazines or newspapers. The classifieds column of a newspaper may not regularly feature a ferret breeder but you are sure to find one because good ferret breeders usually look out for the right places to put their ferrets in. You can approach the local ferret clubs to find a breeder. The best way to find a breeder is by local contacts and word of mouth. You can also get information about breeders from ferret owners.

Visit the Breeder –After you have decided on which breeder you are interested in, schedule a visit. A good breeder will ask you more questions than you ask him. The questions will be mostly on your lifestyle, your home and the place where you going to put your ferret in. He will also be honest about the great deal of work it takes to raise a ferret. The breeder will show you the available ferrets. You can see how the ferrets are kept.

Ask the Breeder – In order to find if the breeder is reliable, you have to interview him. Ask him for references of people who have purchased ferrets from him. Be sure to check the references. Ask him about his motivation for ferret breeding just to confirm that he is not just money minded and to make sure that his ferrets are well kept. Ask him if he is ready to offer after-sales support. A good breeder will offer after-sales support and will answer your questions regarding the ferret, after purchase. Ask him if he is ready to provide a written health guarantee. Good breeders often provide written health guarantees.

Finding a reliable breeder is not an easy task. Good breeders often focus on quality and not on quantity. They will not give away their pets just to anyone who comes asking for ferrets. They will sell their pets only after checking whether the conditions will be suitable for the pet, in its new home. A responsible breeder will be ready to take back the ferret if the ferret does not work out for you. The best way to find a reliable ferret breeder is to get the opinion from the people who have purchased ferrets from him.


The Albino Ferret


Pure albino ferrets have a pure white fur coat with a pink nose and tiny red eyes. These are most pleasing aesthetically and are much preferred as pets. Albinism is not a defect. It is simply the genetic makeup of this kind of ferrets. There are some variations that show black or rarely, dark blue eyes with white coats. Some ferrets also have pale yellow or cream-colored coats and red eyes. Sometimes albino ferrets have been reported to suffer from poor eyesight and hearing problems, especially in their old age, but these are minimal. They can also adapt pretty quickly to these disadvantages.

All newborn ferrets have a white coat since birth. 4 weeks onwards they start taking on their adult coloring, while albinos remain white. Albinism gene is not dominant in ferrets, so if you breed your albino pet with a sable ferret the babies will not become albino adults. Ferrets are carnivores – meat should be a part of your ferret’s daily diet. Male ferrets are called hobs. They reach approximately 17bto 24 inches in length and normally weigh 3 to 5 pounds. Females, called jills, grow to 12 to 16 inches on an average weighing roundabout 3 pounds.

Some interesting facts about Albino ferrets

  1. Ferrets are diurnal animals – their energy is highest at the early hours of mornings and they snooze off at afternoons.
  2. Curiosity is the dominant trait in albino ferrets. If you do not ferret-proof your house before adopting one, you will soon find yourself hunting out your pet from small nooks and crannies.
  3. The domestic ferret has the scientific name Mustela putorius furo that literally means “stinky little thief”. You may often wake up in the middle of the night at the sound of suspicious noises, thinking your house is being attacked by burglars. But you will only find that it is your ferret living up to its name.
  4. Make sure to give your ferret a bath every month to keep their coat clean and shiny. Your pet will of course not like the idea too much but it is necessary to prevent excessive secretion of oil from skin glands.
  5. Ferrets have been domesticated as pets since prehistoric ages. Even Egyptian tombs show graphics of ferret-like animals on leashes. Ancient Romans used them to drive away rodents and protect granaries and “ferret out” rabbits from burrows.
  6. Historically, electrical contractors and the US armed forces have been known to employ ferrets to place underground cables – using them to drag electric and telephone wires through channel too small for usual methods.
  7. Albino ferrets are sometimes used for therapy. These fuzzy creatures are extremely agile, more than cats, and tremendously active. They make very lovable and interesting pets and are easy to domesticate. Children with autism are found to benefit from having albino ferrets as pets.

The albino ferret can be an amusing companion. If you adopt a baby ferret, called kit, it will normally live for 7 -8 years and become a part of your family. They just need the basic care and affection. Just like having a dog, you will need to be committed and have patience towards training your ferret. Friendly and eternally curious, they will give you a lot of entertainment and love.


How to Adopt a Ferret?


Ferrets are furry, cuddly creatures that make very amusing pets. These intelligent animals are extremely energetic and playful – they thrive on attention. Hence, these are not suitable pets for everyone. Before you adopt a ferret, you need to make sure that you are prepared to bring this animal into your home. If you have very small children, who have not yet learnt to handle tiny animals gently, a ferret may not be right for your home. In addition, you will need to commit a couple of hours to spend with your ferret outside its pen to give it the exercise it needs. And most important, you should first ascertain whether it is legal to own ferrets as pets in your state.

Learn what adopting a ferret will involve

  1. The first step is to ensure safety for your pet ferret – warn your kids about handling it with care and not to be afraid of it. In addition, to reduce any chances of harm from predators and other external sources, secure a place for your pet – you can think of getting a sturdy and comfortable pen.
  2. Next, make your home ferret-friendly. A baby ferret can come to harm if constantly exposed to loud noise and harsh environmental conditions. Place the cage at a place where your ferret gets enough fresh air to breathe and yet move about without any threats. It is always possible that your ferret escapes from its cage. If there are holes and small corners where it can crawl in, you will have a tough time recovering it. Use baby-proof latches on doors of cabinets and plug outlets of your home with fittings designed to keep babies protected.
  3. The best thing about these pets is that they are trainable. Invest some time and patience to teach your ferret some tricks and see it become darling of yor family and friends.
  4. You will need to be prepared to buy some supplies – and for the long term.
    • clippers to trim their nails on a regular basis,
    • litter-pan to clean up after them,
    • brush to clean its fur,
    • shampoo to wash its fur monthly,
    • containers for its food and drinking water
    • comfortable hammock for it to sleep in peace

    Hunt pet supply stores and yard sales – you can get the supplies second hand at reduced prices. Just make sure these are clean and usable.

  5. Decide on where from you will adopt your ferret. You may choose to buy one from a licensed pet shop. If you want to give a home to a ferret that has been abandoned and save it from euthanasia then the best place to go to is a ferret shelter.

    A word of caution
    Remember, adopting a ferret is a long-term commitment with its pros and cons. Your pet not only needs food and shelter but also your time and affection. Make sure you can give it the right care before you adopt a ferret.


How can a Ferret Forum Help You?

Having a ferret as pet can be very satisfying and exciting. However, to take up this habit seriously you have to take proper care of your pet. To do this, you will have to learn many things about ferrets. You need to know about how they behave, how they adapt to a confined space, the things they like or dislike, the kinds of food they eat and most importantly, you have to know about the health problems they are prone to. You might get some books that could help you to take care of your pet ferret but the best place to look for proper guidance related to ferrets will be a ferret forum. You can log on to the website of any of a number of forums dealing with problems faced by pet owners who keep ferrets as their pets. Discussed below are two main problems that warrant contacting a forum for ferrets.

Behavioral Problems

The most common behavioral problem that you could face with a ferret is biting. Ferrets bite naturally when they are playful. They do not know that biting hurts as they have very thick skins. To put a stop to this problem which could prove to be troublesome you can scold it mildly while holding it by the scruff of its neck. This usually controls a ferret but if it doesn’t then you can try putting it into a cage whenever it bites. If it still is not deterred then you should approach a forum and ask them for guidance.

Another very common issue is that the ferret is not litter trained and does not use the litter box. To solve this you could try by putting the litter box in one corner of the cage and the food and water bowls in another corner. Cover up all the empty space in the cage with the pet’s bedding. This could force the ferret to use the litter box to relieve itself. If this doesn’t work then you can consider seeking the help members on an online forum.

Health Problems

Ferrets are quite delicate and are prone to a number of diseases. Some of the diseases are of a very serious nature. ADV or Aleutian Disease Virus attacks ferrets and produces severe and rapid weight loss in the animal. There is no known cure for this affliction and any ferret which is infected by this virus does not last long. Cancer affects older ferrets. Some types of cancer can be operated upon while some cannot. You can try to prevent the occurrence of cancer in your pet by taking precautions with help from veterinarians and ferret forums.

Apart from these fatal diseases ferrets also commonly suffer from adrenal disease, diseases like Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis or Green Slime Disease which is a type of diarrhea and various ear problems. Whenever you are faced with such problems you should approach a veterinarian for the medical treatment but for all other issues related to maintenance of hygiene, and diet and taking care of your pet you can take the help of a ferret forum.