Ferrets at home: the pros and cons, education and care

Most recently, people in their homes kept only cats, dogs, parrots and fish. Today, the situation has changed - the list of pets has increased markedly. Many now prefer to keep in an apartment the animal from the family of the weasel - a ferret. These are charming little animals, which immediately attract to themselves and cause affection. Ferret want to buy or give to someone of close friends. However, there is no need to hurry - you need to take into account the many features of the content of this animal.

Ferrets look very cute. They want to iron, hold in their hands. Very often people, having fallen in love with these animals at first sight, are in a hurry to get them. However, this should not be thoughtlessly done, because in this case a person may have many not very pleasant surprises. Before you start a ferret, you must weigh all the pros and cons, which will have to face with its content. First, we analyze in detail what the positive aspects of these charming animals will be.

• The main advantage of ferrets is their small size. Due to this, such an animal can be kept seamlessly even in a small-sized apartment.
• It should be noted that the ferret (or ferret) is a very clean animal. In addition, it can be quickly and easily accustomed to the tray.
• Usually ferrets easily get along with other animals in the same area. And we are talking not only about ferrets, but also about cats or dogs. By itself, a ferret is not in conflict, so problems in communicating with animal neighbors, as a rule, do not arise.
• Ferret can be transported seamlessly, if necessary, because it has a compact size.
• Ferrets adhere to the nightlife, but can easily adapt to the mode of the day of their masters. For example, while you are at work, the animal will sleep sweetly, and when it comes home it will play with you.
• Ferret hair does not usually cause allergic reactions (hypoallergenic). This is the main advantage of these animals in comparison with cats. In addition, the ferret is very attached to the host.
• This pet has a kind and playful disposition. He seldom sits still and prefers to play more.
• It’s not necessary to go for a walk with a ferret every day, which makes it more convenient and “attractive” animal compared to a dog. Excessive physical activity is also not required by this pet.
• Ferrets surprisingly quickly get used to the harness - usually from the second time.

As you can see, the ferret has quite a few good qualities. That is why these charming pets have gained wide popularity and have become so popular. But you should not hurry to buy such a small animal until you get acquainted with all the difficulties of its content.

• It is necessary to take into account that ferrets have a specific smell. If a person is prone to allergic reactions or is simply too sensitive, then such little animals will not work for him - they smell a lot.
• Distinctive features of ferrets - irrepressible temperament, high activity and rather stubborn character. It is practically useless to fight with such qualities of the animal - it is a wayward pet.
• Ferrets' favorite pastime is digging holes, so home flowers in pots will be in great danger if such an animal lives in the neighborhood.
• The body of ferrets is not adapted to food from the human table. From such food, a pet may even die.
• The ferret male will mark its territory during periods of sexual activity. Because of this, unpleasant odors in the home will become even more.
• Ferrets often get confused under their feet, and also suffer from kleptomania and can even hide food.
• These pets are great connoisseurs of cleanliness and order, so they can nibble and spoil all the things they found.
• Ferrets do not like high temperatures and exposure to direct sunlight. Moreover, the animal may die if you leave it locked in a car without the air conditioner on. Hosts often forget about this feature of pets, which has a bad ending.
• There are not so many really qualified veterinarians who know about ferret health issues. Sometimes it takes a long time to find a good doctor for a diseased animal and not always successfully.
• Shedding of these animals occurs twice in the offseason, as well as in the 20th week of pregnancy. During this period accounts for from 7 to 20 days.

To keep the ferret at home, it is necessary to consider not only its positive, but also negative qualities.

It is advisable to train a ferret at an early age, because young animals learn effectively. In addition, they like it. Without a proper upbringing, the ferret will find it very difficult to adapt to living in an apartment, because they are unfamiliar to him. It should be moderately strict owner. The animal must be punished when necessary, but we must not forget and praise the ferret for good behavior.

Be prepared for the fact that the animal will literally test your character for strength. In the natural environment, these animals usually subordinate weak individuals to themselves, therefore the ferret will certainly try to build a hierarchy in relations with the host. Such behavior is especially characteristic of animals in adolescence. In this case, you need to be as consistent and moderately strict as possible while raising the animal. If everything is done correctly, the ferret will understand who is in charge and who should be obeyed.

Many people who keep ferrets at home are interested in how to wean these animals to bite. Before you figure out how to raise the baby so that he does not bite the household, you should find out what the reason for this behavior of the pet. In most cases, ferrets bite humans because of:

• stressful situations (for example, it can be a change of environment, the appearance of another animal in the house);
• random actions in the game (these bites are not dangerous, just the animal is not a little effort);
• domination (relevant if the ferret considers itself the dominant individual over the person);
• changes in behavior (may indicate a rut period or animal disease).

If the animal bit you, playing, then you should not worry, but you should not pay attention to such events at all. Carefully take the baby by the scruff of the neck and do not shake too much, saying “fu” or “no.” In most cases, ferrets understand such signals and then try to behave more carefully when playing with a person.

If we are talking about the dominance of the animal, then you can not leave bites without attention. It is necessary to deal with this situation. It is advisable to begin to teach ferret hands gradually, starting from a very early age.

Start keeping the baby for a few minutes, and then slowly increase the time. As long as you hold the ferret in your arms, treat it to some delicacy to bring about good associations. So you can let the kid know that the superiority remains for the owner.

Try to convince your pet that for the bite of his hands he will definitely have to receive an inevitable punishment. Punish a ferret is only after the commission of the wrong act. If you punish a pet later, he simply won’t understand why you felt like that. Be sure to alternate punishments and rewards. If the baby is sitting peacefully in his arms, then he should be given a treat.

If we are talking about changes in the behavior of the ferret, then usually you need to be patient. Such changes, as a rule, are temporary and soon disappear. However, we must bear in mind that such problems may occur due to diseases of the central nervous system. If you have such suspicions, then you can not waste time in vain. You need to visit a veterinary clinic.

You should know what penalties and rewards can be applied to a ferret. First, we analyze how to praise a pet.

• Always praise the kid for the right actions, so that he was interested to behave correctly. So, if you see that the pet went to the tray, then it should be praised, stroked and give some treats.
• If you took the animal in your arms and he behaves calmly, does not bite, then you should also treat him with a treat and stroke. Let your baby's hands be associated with positive emotions.
• It is necessary to praise the baby, but it is important not to overdo it. No need to pamper the animal while educating. Give delicacies only as rewards.

Now consider the subtleties of measures to punish domestic ferrets.

• Punish the ferret right away - do not wait for time, otherwise it will not understand anything.
• Do not behave with the animal too severely when you punish. Otherwise, the ferret will perceive you as a danger and begin to hide.
• Only regular punishment will allow to achieve a good effect in raising a pet. If today you punished him for some bad deed, and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow you didn’t punish your pet for the same wrong actions, then you shouldn’t wait for the desired success in upbringing.
• The classic warning of the animal - "Fu." The same command is used for dog training. As soon as you find a pet for misdemeanor, you need to say “fu!” Several times. Unfortunately, at first, only this word will not be limited to it - you will need to resort to other punishments. But it won't take long. Very soon, the animal will begin to understand this warning, and additional measures will not have to be resorted to.
• We need to scold the ferret at the time of punishment. Of course, strict words of proper effect may not bring in themselves, but they will increase the impressions of the punishment as a whole.
• In the form of punishment baby can be removed in the cage. For many animals, it is the most severe, because ferrets themselves love freedom. As a punishment, you can hold the animal in the cage for about half an hour. But we must bear in mind that this method will be effective only if the animal usually moves freely around the apartment.
• You can click the ferret on the nose, but, as mentioned above, this should be done only in particularly "acute" situations, for example, when the animal bites the human hand. It is advisable to click on the nose of the animal not with your fingers, but with a stick or other similar object. There is no need to make extra efforts, otherwise the ferret may start to fear you. If after this punishment you see that the animal has started to avoid you, then it is better to refuse such a measure and pick up something else.
• It is permissible to combine different punishments for the ferret.So you rather wean the animal from the wrong deeds. For example, if a baby bit your hand, you can click it on the nose, shake it by the scruff of the neck, and then close it in the cage for about 20 minutes. So you show the ferret its extreme disapproval.

If you decide to start a ferret, then you need to consider that he needs to pay due attention. With such a beast you definitely need to play, while studying its habits and behavioral characteristics. To bring up a ferret is a feasible task for beginning breeders. The main thing is to consider how the animal behaves in different situations.

Many people are interested in whether it is possible to catch and tame a ferret on their own. Of course, you can catch him, but you can hardly tame him. Ferrets domesticated for many centuries. All this time, the excessive aggression of these animals gradually decreased, and confidence in the person developed. If you want to keep an animal caught in its natural environment, then you need to prepare for serious troubles. We'll have to take care that the conditions of the animal were as close to the usual for him - natural.

If you catch an adult animal, then it will most likely remain too shy. In the worst case, an adult ferret may remain aggressive. If the animal is caught small, then there may be different options, but the same kind and gentle, like domestic animals, the animal will be unlikely.

A home ferret needs to provide a good and comfortable home. It must meet a number of basic parameters. It is important to bear in mind that these animals value space most of all. Great joy for ferrets - small houses and hammocks. Dimensions of the cell should be at least 80 to 80 cm.

When the animal is good and there is enough space in the cage and it feels good, this means that the “dwelling” fits it perfectly. If you notice that the pet is crowded and can not find a place for yourself, then you need to build something better.

As a rule, in the cage with a ferret is an improvised mink (imitation). It is made to the animal could feel safe, closed from the surrounding space. Mink can be made from different materials, for example, from rags. And oblong tubes, dark boxes made of cardboard will do. In addition, in the “house” of the animal it is necessary to equip a toilet, put a bowl with food, a water bowl and place toys.

Ferret can also be kept on the balcony or loggia, and even in a separate room. If you placed a hooligan on the balcony, then he will need to create comfort there. All holes and gaps, if any, must be pre-repaired, otherwise the animal will run away. Be sure to provide the windows with reliable and sturdy nets so that the pet does not fall. From the boxes it is possible to build a house for the animal, so that there it can breathe a little from extra attention. Do not forget to warm the balcony, otherwise the baby can easily get sick. Do not forget to keep the balcony clean.

The best solution for a ferret is to keep it free, without using a cage. The pet will feel great if it is not constrained. But this decision will be convenient only for the baby, but not for his owners. In these circumstances, the baby will be active and energetic, will curl under your feet. No matter how careful the ferret is, it will still have to clean up the "traces of crime" from time to time, because not in all cases he will be able to reach the lotus.

The room in which the ferret will dwell, must be equipped according to all the rules. The animal must have its own personal corner where the boxes and boxes will be located - so the ferret will be able to play and hide. You will also need to put a tray and feeders there. Proper care will be required for the listed things, otherwise an unpleasant specific aroma will “settle down” in the room. The tray should be washed several times a day. Floors and trough must also be cleaned. Do not do without drinking bowls or a separate bowl with water.

It is very important to pay due attention to the ferret nutritional rules if you want it to be healthy and active. The diet should be based on natural food. It is also permissible to feed the animal special dry food. Make a menu of foods for your baby, considering what vitamins ferrets need. If you are an amateur in such matters, it is better to use dry food.

In the pet store there is an opportunity to purchase special food for ferrets or to choose premium food for cats - the food preferences of these animals are similar. It is advisable to pick up feed containing poultry meat, vegetables and fruits. Be sure to ensure that the animal is always open the way to clean and fresh water in unlimited quantities. If you use special dry food for feeding, then you will not need to buy vitamins and supplements - everything you need is in the feed.

If you feed the animal with natural food, then the daily menu should consist of meat by-products, vegetables and cereals, minced through a meat grinder. The following products are prohibited for ferrets:

• nuts;
• citrus;
• carrots and apples;
• onion and garlic;
• sweet and floury;
• sausages and smoked products;
• salted foods;
• a fish;
• milk products;
• dog food;
• economy class cat food;
• any food from the human table.

If you give the ferret food of natural origin, it is sometimes desirable to make it the necessary vitamins and minerals. This is especially true when it comes to feeding babies, pregnant or lactating individuals. It is advisable to discuss the optimal dosage of useful supplements with a veterinarian in order not to harm the pet, but to bring him only good.

Some owners feed ferrets with full-fledged carcasses of chickens, mice, cockroaches, and meal worms. This creates an improvised “copy” of feeding, close to the natural habitat.

When the content of ferret is required to provide her with a number of necessary hygienic procedures. Let's get acquainted with their list.

• Mainly it is cleaning the ears of the animal. This should be done no more than once a month. It will be necessary to carefully remove the brown wax-like clumps from the ears. As a rule, they do it using ordinary cotton swab dipped in vaseline beforehand.

• If black spots appear in the ferret's ears, this may indicate formation of ear mites. Treat them should be in a veterinary clinic.

• Another necessary procedure is claw clipping. It should be carried out once every 3-4 weeks. It is advisable to cut the claws from a still sleepy pet, otherwise he may begin to strongly resist and break out.

• Cut claws need special scissors or trimmers, that are used to trim the claws of other pets. Cut off only the curved end of the claw, so as not to harm the vessel that passes inside. In another situation, the pet may be hurt, bleeding will begin. Be very careful. If, however, the vessel is damaged, it is necessary to press a cotton wool soaked with iodine to the affected area.

• Bathing - not the most necessary, but incredibly pleasant procedure for the ferret. These little animals love to dive and frolic in the water. Bathing your baby in the bathroom will be most convenient. Fluid temperature should be approximately 38-40 degrees (not more). It should be poured to a level of 2-3 growth of the animal.Equip an island in the middle of the bath (you can turn the basin or bucket), for which the animal can catch on and rest on it.

• Wash baby need special means. You can float baby soap or herbal shampoo for animals. Try to wash the animal so that water does not fall into the eyes and ears.

• It is necessary to teach the baby to the tray. It can be not only his personal, but also a cat tray. You can use a simple container with an additional grid. To the animal quickly got used to the tray, it is desirable to arrange them somewhat in the room where the pet spends its time.

• In order for the ferret to understand where to go to the toilet, it is necessary to first slightly smear his tray with feces. Never put the tray in a place where the animal is accustomed to sleep or eat. In such conditions, the animal will not exactly meet the need there.

• Around the toilet should also be very clean. If the animal went to the tray, be sure to praise him for it.

• During the period of molting the animal needs to properly care for. You should regularly comb the ferret using a special soft brush, or gently pull out the fur.

Today, many people keep the ferrets home. There are a lot of reviews on the content of these pets, as well as on the general impression about them. Here are some topical opinions of the owners of these charming animals:

• a ferret itself is a very cute animal, but it is worth starting it only if a person is ready for all the difficulties associated with caring for it;
• ferrets emit a very strong and unpleasant smell, the corner where the animal lives has to be constantly washed - this is very inconvenient (castration or sterilization can save the situation, but some smell will remain anyway);
• ferrets learn quickly and are easily educated with the right approach;
• you need to be prepared for the fact that the animal will bite, grab the arms and legs and will have to be re-educated;
• in matters of care ferret costs not too cheap;
• With this animal you need to play a lot, if you rarely appear at home and you can not pay proper attention to it, then the animal will be boring;
• According to many breeders, a ferret is a real “harmful child”, so you should be prepared for its persistent behavior.

Ferret care tips, see below.