Million Dollar Pet Pix

Ferrets make great pets, but there are some myths about them that prevent people from even considering adopting them. The information below serves to dispel many of the myths concerning ferrets. Hopefully, if you've heard and believed one of these myths, this information will help you to see that a ferret really is a

fantastic pet.

Myth #1 - Ferrets are wild animals. Ferrets actually are not wild animals. In fact, ferrets can no longer survive in the wilds as they once could because only domesticated breeds exist now, with the exception of the Black Footed ferret. If a pet ferret is set free, he won't survive for very long.

Choose Your Perfect Fuzzy Match

The big day is finally here: time to choose your pet ferret. If you visit a shelter, breeder, or pet store, you will usually be faced with many ferrets, and you can't take them all home! How can you pick out the best ferret for you? Your choice of ferret should depend on your experience level, where you are getting your ferret, the ferret himself, and your personal preferences. Here are some general guidelines...

First of all, new ferret owners should adopt older ferrets, not kits (baby ferrets). Kits are a challenging handful more suited to experienced ferret owners. A 2-year-old ferret is ideal for a first-time ferret owner. The best place to get a ferret this age is at a shelter.

Ferrets are quite fascinating animals. They move and act like cats, but with their more streamline bodies, they fidget their way into tiny cracks and crevices with the greatest ease. They have been used in numerous films and are easily trained. Their loving and affectionate nature makes them a very good pet. This fact probably explains the growing trend in America of owning household ferrets.

Ferret Friend or Ferret Foe?
  
Ferrets can get along great with some pets, and are potential disasters with others. The key is constant human supervision during the pet interactions—and knowing the personality and behaviors of all your critters. Ferrets belong to the scientific order Carnivora, which means they're meat eaters.

Wild ferret cousins (like weasels, mink, and marten) eat birds, eggs, insects, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles. Like house cats, domesticated ferrets instinctively hunt and chase anything that is potential prey. After thousands of years of domestication, this behavior often translates into playing, but ferret play is rough and could hurt other pets.

Author Jillian Williams has a house full of ferrets and lives in organized chaos. ...

I spent some time volunteering at a ferret shelter. I've owned ferrets for a number of years, and I had some time on my hands since I had just moved to the area. I volunteered to clean cages- as you can imagine with over 100 of the little guys it was quite a job, and had to be done three times a week. Anyway, during the course of changing the cages I got to handle quite a lot of the hobs and jills (male and female ferrets respectively), and it was certainly the high point of the experience.

Watch Out for That Ferret! 

First-time guests to my house must wonder: Why is she always shuffling her feet and looking at the floor? These are just two of the many behaviors that have become second nature after years of living with ferrets. To keep your ferrets safe, there are some habits you need to acquire and some precautions you need to take.

First, make sure you have ferret-proofed your home. This includes blocking holes, barricading spaces around appliances, securing electrical cords and outlets, sealing the underside of furniture (with masonite or heavy fabric), and preventing cabinet access in kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms.