"[We're all] still trying to figure out the ferret-proofing thing. None of us actually know what's going on. We just get a lot of duct tape and... try." I FEEL SO SEEN
Basically just block any openings in the walls, under cabinets in the kitchen & bathroom, around fridge & stove. Just think like a ferret & get down to their level. Make sure dryer hose is metallic. Some can climb, so no open windows, or objects near the windows where they could use it to climb. If you have a lazyboy chair, be careful when opening/closing it. Just be mindful of their presence.
@@DecrepitBiden oh I know all that, I've had ferrets for a while now. That part was especially funny to me because I have a smart one and he gets into everything no matter what we try lol Regarding recliners in general - not recommended that they be around ferrets period. Too dangerous.
Thank you for including the “bad” as well. It’s important to know all the ins and outs and although I’d like a ferret rn, I think I’ll wait till I’m done my undergrad
Too accurate. We have parrots and ferrets so definitely understand. Only difference is our ferrets are way more prone to diseases/illnesses than our birds :(
Thank you! I totally know how you feel haha. What would it be like to walk around the house without the pitter patter of little feet following me everywhere? My life would be so empty.
The fact that your naughty ferret will pretend to poop in the litter box, to manipulate you for a treat. But STILL half the time will poop for reals outside of it! 😂
I don't completely agree about Ferrets only smelling when they're not clean. This might lead to some people over cleaning/washing their pets or even using harmful chemicals on them. Whilst I do agree that ferrets will smell the less they're taken care of, I think there is a few things also to take into consideration here. If you're in America & some other countries, all ferrets will come snipped and descented by law. This greatly reduces their smell right off the bat. I live in England and have owned a half Polecat/half Ferret for coming up to 4 years. When he's in season, boy does he stink! People have commented how they can smell him on me if i give him a quick hug before work. He isn't snipped and is from a private breeder. He's fed a completely raw diet and is litter trained and gets plenty of exercise. His bedding is washed often and cage wiped down, he can also let out a completely foul smelling odour when scared too. I don't think it's as black and white as keep your fert clean and it wont stink. I really enjoy your videos though and i think you do a great job of explaining the ins and outs of taking care of ferrets. I've seen some really bad videos and it makes me really sad. Keep up the great work and I hope this doesn't come across as me being snide.
I agree! I think this video is really out dated and there are a lot of things i said in it that I don't agree with anymore. The thing about smell is one of them 😊
My husband and I are considering getting a ferret!! I’ve watched quite a few videos but I must say this one I like the best! Very knowledgeable and helpful! Your ferrets are absolutely adorable too!!! Thank you
I've leash walked all my 3 ferrets over 28 years, started them on a leash at 9 weeks. I could never walk any of them in the daytime, nighttime only. I even used to walk one of my ferrets on the Las Vegas strip at night after the crowds died down.
My ferret got an intestinal blockage one month into owning him (he was 5 months old). $4100!!!!!! $41OO !!! That doesn't include follow-up medications, visits, and vaccinating later. The only other option that day was euthanizing a baby ferret. My partner and I had METICULOUSLY ferret proofed our home and there was just ONE little thing that we missed, and it cost us just over four THOUSAND dollars. We also have to travel 30 minutes by car to the nearest exotic vet clinic that sees ferrets. And yes, it is more expensive for even basic exams. These are things you can't opt out of. And yes, like discussed in the video, vet visits are only going to get more frequent with time. So I can say MONEY IS A BIG FACTOR. If you are young, low income, or relying on your parents for financial support for you/your ferret(s)... They probably aren't for you, unfortunately. No matter how careful you are, it can happen. I previously worked as a veterinary technician so I have a lot of animal experience (both personal and professional) and ferrets are the most expensive and high-maintenance pet you can have (other than a horse, maybe...).
Luna lives entirely on spite LOL! My husband thinks my little girl is evil because she is obsessed with hunting him down and biting him. She never bites me.
Ah the old “if I act like I went potty in the box mommy will give me a treat” yes I am familiar with that 😂 my babies do the exact same thing. This why I always keep puppy pee pads in areas where they go. If anything I know they will always use the pads. I cut them into the right size to fit corners.
My ferret Ginny had a poultry allergy *🙄* so she was raised on Orijen Six Fish until I got her, and I kept her on the same thing. She lived until she was 9 years old, I only ever had one emergency with her and that's the night she passed. Many ferrets live on Orijen as it's easy to access, and what most pet stores feed in my area- how much risk is there to Orijen specifically? *I don't have any new ferrets since my girl passed, just curious*
Sugar is my 21/22 ferret? She’s taught me that ferrets can climb the faux brick walls on the front porch to escape over the pen. We had plastic panel over a baby gate with three pieces of duct tape to hold it on the top. With Felix, no problem, stopped him from climbing over. With Sugar, I have no less than 10 pieces of duct to hold it on to prevent her from squeezing through the duct tape and climbing over. Sugar is an albino ferret. Weighs less than two pounds wet, and is intent on world domination. Her brother Riot (think Pinky - NARF!) managed to undue the duct tape covering a hole under a cabinet, thereby forcing me to take ALL the duct tape up and redo with Gorilla extra extra extra strength duct tape. Yet he still gets stuck at the top level of the inside cage, and forces me to save him despite having successfully going down once (with help). Ferret proofing is a 24/7 job.
They are the best. Was a ferret owner from 1986 to 2018. They'll be the best buddies ever. Elderly ferrets are a true joy. They've mellowed out and just want to hang out with you. Just make sure you are prepared for big vet bills. If I could add a tip, when ferretproofing, make strategic bedding and a spot for them to stash their stuff...that way, you know where they are at all times and if stuff disappears, you will know where to find it.
I've had 8 ferrets over 28 years and I'm nonplussed as to the health issues they may have as mine didn't have any health issues, only took my ferret to a vet one time when I rolled over his foot with my desk chair. If you feed them sweets, you're asking for trouble!
After listening to the “cons” of having ferrets, the cons aren’t that bad really. You have to keep them entertained, safe, properly fed, money on hand and there you go!
It's basic awareness of outside oneself and caring about the well-being of another creature. Too often I see people get an animal thinking it's a cool toy.
so far weve had a lot of ferrets, and raised kits, never have we had an emergency with them! which is amazing. right now we have 2 polecats and i might be allowed another ferret
Mr Nibbles says ; " You can never have to many ferrets in yer ' business " , there's a lot of positions to fill . ( man I love this shower !) * Never have just one ferret , three is an ideal number , If one dies there is still a friend . Talk to local pet stores that carry ferrets . At times people will get a ferret and decide they don't want it . The first place they call is the pet store where they got it . Check for free ferrets on websites , forums etc. If you are a ferret person and know them well , you know it is never a problem with a new ferret . If there is love a ferret will thrive .
Ferrets are playful pets that get along just as well on their own as they do in groups. Keeping a single ferret isn't too different than keeping multiple ferrets. Ferrets are smart and social, though. Without any friends, they will need more interactive play time and time out of their cage to bond with you.
I’m trying to convince my parents to get me ferrets maybe if I list the pros and cons to them they will consider it more? If you guys have any ferret care tips please share with me!😊
I haven't been able to find any conclusive studies on cancer rates in European ferrets, only on North American. HOWEVER, veterinarians highly suspect a link between low genetic diversity and cancer rates. If there is a link between these, then it would make sense that European ferrets have lower cancer rates, simply because there's significantly more genetic diversity in European ferrets than their North American cousins. I wish I could give you a better answer, unfortunately there just haven't been enough studies done :(
Dook it Yourself Thank you so much for answering ! It’s really difficult to find any research on ferrets, especially when compared to cats and dogs :-( Maybe I’ll try and set up a little European ferret survey sometime to get a little bit of an idea !
Bruuh my ferret was being the cutest thing when i woke up bruuh he was sleeping under meh blanket and he was like nuzzling meh hand and idk pushing my phone out his cave and would poke his head out to mine lick my nose then poke back in his cave then he betrayed meh leg and did the scratchy burrow then stopped when i moved a inch away xD
i found a really good book on ferrets- ferrets for dummies- it's called that and it's like the Ferret Bible seriously. It has a whole chapter on ferret proofing-yay!
Yes! Ferret for dummies is great! I recently ordered the 3rd edition and it should be here any day now. I'm planning to do a book review video once I get it
My 2 girls are rescued and are about 3-4 years old they were kept in a tiny filthy cage with little to no clean water and food and they basically pooped where they stood 😢 (bad previous owners I’m finding it really hard to litter train them they won’t use pans or wood chip they use puppy pads best but sometimes they play with the pads my biggest problem is when they leave the cage they poop everywhere no matter what I do 🥺 they eat raw chicken wings twice a day and kibbles are always down as is fresh water plus I can’t get rid of there smell it’s quite bad even tho there cage is cleaned daily and all bedding is washed weekly any ideas as to what I can do to resolve my problems I’ve had them for a year 💜
First off, I'm so glad that you were willing to rescue ferrets and get them out of what sounds like an awful home. As I'm sure you've figured, a lot of their litter training issues are coming from the fact that their old owner didn't litter train them and therefore they have no idea what's going on. Lyra was actually in a similar situation when I rescued her from her previous home but she only lived that way for about a month. For that, I might recommend doing some research into clicker training! I have a video on the subject where I attempt to clicker train my girls for a week and see if there are any improvements and I really did see some change! It's a pretty easy concept that I go over in the video. Now, as far as the smell goes, I really recommend ditching the kibble and trying to switch them to raw fulltime. If they're willing to eat chicken wings, it seems like they'd be happy to go fully on raw. Just make sure that you've giving them a balanced raw diet, because only eating chicken wings is not balanced. There's a lot of information on balancing on the Holistic Ferret Forum and the youtuber pazuandfriends has lots of information on raw. Part of the stink is likely coming from the fact that they're eating both kibble and raw. Sometimes the mix of a raw and kibble diet does funky things to a ferret's digestive systems, because both go through the digestive tract differently. Not to mention that fully raw fed ferrets smell better in general, and produce smaller poops that don't smell as bad (something I noticed a lot after changing my girls to it from kibble). That's not to say that going raw fulltime will completely solve the smell issue, but I strongly believe it'll help. If you're already feeding wings twice a day you're basically already doing it, all you have to do is ditch the kibble and balance what you're feeding. Best of luck! Feel free to reach out to me on instagram if you have any other questions. Give your ferrets kisses for me
I work inconsistently because i’m part time, and i can’t afford nor would my father allow me to get two. Would it be a good idea to wait till i’m off to college next year, or would it be okay to get just one for now, and when i’m in college, get another?
Definitely wait! Ferrets that are kept apart from others can not only become depressed in that time (especially if they're kits), but it may lead to complications with introductions down the road. Ferrets kept alone may forget how to interact with other ferrets, and therefore require a much longer introduction process once they're finally introduced to ferrets again. It's the same as a reactive dog that isn't socialized with other dogs. Watch my video on ferret introductions if you want to see what it's like to introduce a ferret that's ferret aggressive to others (it's not a fun time).
That's what's known as "cage raging" it's pretty common for ferrets to do if they aren't getting enough out of cage time or environmental enrichment. Make sure your ferret is out for at least 6 hours (more if you can manage it) per day to stop this from happening. Biting on the bars is really really bad for their little teeth :(
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets Lol ik but this happened like 2 years ago we good now lol still bratty tho in different ways lol bruuh xD as im typing he walked backwards over his food wit a water bottle in his mouth cuz he wants to hide it somewhere xD i let him hide 2 in other parts of the house already lol
Could I get just one for now then after a year I plan to get another? cuz the apartment I'm moving too only allows two pets and I already have a snake so I can only have another till the lease is up after a year or I may just get another after some months but not let the apartment know cuz I really want one and this is the only place that don't sell Marshall ferrets also its a baby and I don't think I could handle 2 babies for the moment so I getting one to start out then get another later I want four all together
In my opinion, I would just wait a year until you can get two. That gives you lots of time to do research and prepare. It's always easier to get two already bonded ferrets than introducing new ferrets to each other (watch my video on ferret introductions for more info)
I REALLY want a ferret and I know that I should get two but I don’t think I can afford it...how bad is it for a ferret to be alone? Like is it really that bad for the ferret or should I just go all out and try my best to get two?
ferrets are not animals that can easily handle living alone. I go on a vent about this at 17:53 of this video - czcams.com/video/OwCVfXBV80c/video.html&ab_channel=FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets
Rocket is an only child and he seems to be doing well. He even knows his way home when we go for walks. Check my videos to see how well a "single child" ferret can be.
The fake pooping thing is actually a huge struggle :') My ferret Nyarlathotep has turned pooping into a game. If she wants attention she'll stare right at you and back up with her tail up as if she's going to poop some place she shouldn't (and will actually force a poop if you ignore her) but if we run her to the litter box she'll "fake poop" and run out of it over and over and even threaten to poop right outside of it. This little shit will run around and Dook until you basically have to block her in the litter box and she'll give in and actually poop. If you ignore her she'll poop on the floor. She's perfectly litter trained and will normally poop in her litter boxes on her own but she doesn't like to be watched pooping because if you do she'll start up this game with you and you're stuck playing poop tag for at least 20 minutes. On the other hand my other ferret Carp basically sleep poops. If he's sleeping and has to poop I'm pretty sure he doesn't even fully wake up and has a 50% chance of making it to a litter box if he's not in the cage. It's basically poop roulette and sometimes he misses by a Longshot. He also has barely any issues pooping when he's awake.
IMPORTANT! I see a blocker thing at the top of your stairs in the background. I have been looking for one exactly like that for my ferret to block off a section of my house. PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PINK PRINCESS PLEASE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP GIVE ME THE LINK TO IT!
Do you mean my baby gate? I just got it from the hardware store haha. It was years ago so I can't link you. But it's similar to something like this: www.amazon.ca/Safety-1st-Perfect-Gate-White/dp/B00AW5NL0O/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=baby+gate&qid=1627606671&sr=8-9 Honestly go to any hardware store or walmart and I almost guarantee you'll be able to find one. Most need to be reinforced with duct tape (especially if they have holes in them), and the easiest way to do that is to just entirely cover them in tape :D
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets Thanks a bunch! I couldn't find one that touched the floor, so I was starting to think I might have to DIY something myself. I just have to block off half of my apartment because my couch is a whole safety hazard along with my kitchen and the stairs to the front door. It makes me really nervous so I'd prefer to just block my ferret from there. Keeping him with the bathroom and bedrooms makes me feel more confident in his safety.
My ferrets are descented because they're rescues, but they are originally from mills. If you're buying a ferret in North America, unless they're from a private breeder they will be descented. Having said that, descenting does absolutely nothing but remove a ferret's ability to spray a puff of stink when they get spooked (similar to a skunk, but to a much MUCH smaller degree) so it's a completely unnecessary and cruel practice. You can keep any sexes of ferrets together ^-^ most say that male and female ferrets get along best, but it mostly depends on the personalities of the individual ferrets. I own 5 girls now!
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets Oh nice, I live in England and am planning to get ferrets soon but all ferret youtubers are American or something where it is actually legal to descent them but where I live its illegal. Also thanks for answering your ferrrets are so cuteee your lucky to have such beautiful souls. Great channel also. :) ♡♡♡
Uhm, ferrets are cheap if compared to a dog I'd say. I spent like 80€ a month just on food. And more than 5k on surgery and others medical things. She is 5.
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets thank you and I found one I really like but it has fur on it is that good for ferrets or no I am to scared that they might eat it
The argument I'm trying to make in the video isn't that they're bad animals, just bad for certain people. People have to pick a pet that fits into their lifestyles and whatever challenges that pet has (because every animal has challenges) they need to understand and be comfortable facing before they're ready to commit to said animal. I think ferrets especially, people purchase without weighing their pros and cons, which leads to ferrets being taken care of by owners who don't want to address their specific needs, creating neglected ferrets.
It is sad that pet stores see all animals as $$ ! I have now rescued 4 different ferrets from 3 different families. People, especially kids, think ferrets are these cute cuddlies (and they are!) but they don't always do the research required to raise a happy healthy pet child. As with 2 legged children, every ferret is different and there is always so much more to learn about our 4 legged family members ❤ I find that every day I learn something new! You have great knowledge and present in a fun teaching manner! I am happy to have found your channel! Thank you... keep teaching, learning and sharing the love! ❤
I have to oppose your idea that ferrets are expensive . I have had ferrets for my entire adult life ( sooo . . 50+ years). I have never ( touch wood ) had an experience where I have had to spend enormous amount of money on one . I've probably had nearly as many as my years of havin' em . I have seen so many people who have had a ferret for a bit and they put videos out that are not accurate . Any bag , box , shoe , jar etc., is a potential play toy . The only reason a ferret is expensive is if you are not smart enough to have one , period . Chances are the ferret is a bit wiser than the owner or the ferret would not get in trouble . If you want a ferret , remember it's a bigger weasel . * If you want accurate info on ferrets , look to people who hunt with them , or hunt with minks . These people can be found in England . With love and understanding a ferret is a wonderful friend .
That fake pooping cracked me up, that is soooo my tiny Jade including fake butt wiggle :D And then she'll find a blind corner I'm not looking at and does her shit anyway. Grrrr. Glad her 2 boyfriends are better at this.
Very very late but do you HAVE to get two ferrets? I could get 1 but me getting two has a low chance of happening. I want to get a baby ferret Edit;:The ferrets here cost 10-100 pounds so, we should have enough left for resources
In my opinion if you can't get 2, then ferrets unfortunately aren't the pet for you. There are people who disagree, but I just can't see how a human being can fill the hole that another ferret would. We don't play the same, we don't communicate the same, we don't have the same social structures. Humans are basically big friendly aliens to ferrets and as nice as we are, living a life never seeing another animal of your specie again sounds very depressing 😰
@@independentmissile200 I would disagree. I think that when you're specifically talking about socialization, it's completely reasonable to compare two social species with each other. Just like how we can also compare rats and rabbits to ferrets when we're talking about animals that need to be in pairs. Regardless of the type of animal, a social specie is a social specie, and that means they absolutely need the social interactions with the same kind of animal. Additionally, and in a different way, the fact that you can't compare a ferret to a human is another point I'm making. A human and a ferret don't speak the same language or respond to the same social cues. So it's completely impossible for a social animal, like a ferret, to get all of the social requirements they need out of interactions only with human beings.
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets You absolutely do not NEED two ferret. also what type of animal do you think ferrets are? are you implying they’re these dump creatures that can’t understand our body language and comprehend anything? i’m sorry but you would be wrong.
I know you said it's best to get at least two ferrets' but...are ferrets like...unhappy when they're alone aka if I'd get only one ferret? Because right now I'm trying to convince my mom to get me a ferret and if she would actually allow it, she definitely wouldn't let me get more than one ferret...so I just wanna know if it wouldn't be somehow bad...? I really hope the ferret wouldn't mind being alone-
"[We're all] still trying to figure out the ferret-proofing thing. None of us actually know what's going on. We just get a lot of duct tape and... try."
I FEEL SO SEEN
Basically just block any openings in the walls, under cabinets in the kitchen & bathroom, around fridge & stove. Just think like a ferret & get down to their level. Make sure dryer hose is metallic. Some can climb, so no open windows, or objects near the windows where they could use it to climb. If you have a lazyboy chair, be careful when opening/closing it. Just be mindful of their presence.
@@DecrepitBiden oh I know all that, I've had ferrets for a while now. That part was especially funny to me because I have a smart one and he gets into everything no matter what we try lol
Regarding recliners in general - not recommended that they be around ferrets period. Too dangerous.
Thank you for including the “bad” as well. It’s important to know all the ins and outs and although I’d like a ferret rn, I think I’ll wait till I’m done my undergrad
"Ferrets are expensive."
Me: *laughs in exotic birds*
Too accurate. We have parrots and ferrets so definitely understand. Only difference is our ferrets are way more prone to diseases/illnesses than our birds :(
😂 I am getting a hamster soon so it’s my first small fuzzy pet
@@chloekatsexotics3541 Hamsters are so great!
Omg your ferrets are so stinking cute.. I love my babies I couldn't picture life without my 4 carpet sharks 💜
Thank you! I totally know how you feel haha. What would it be like to walk around the house without the pitter patter of little feet following me everywhere? My life would be so empty.
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets your welcome and I agree they bring so much joy into your life.. Yes can be expensive but there so worth it..
Omg carpet sharks I love it
And floof noodles xD
Carpet sharks. Do they bite lots ehhh
I was originally going to get pet ferrets, but my mom convinced me into getting rats instead. I'm sorry I betrayed you
Nothing wrong with that!
I was originally going to get rats, but they're illegal where I moved so I got ferrets instead 😆
My aunts family said I should get rats instead but I want a ferret
MY MUM WOULD NEVER 💀💀 I think she’d rather get me get 30 ferrets instead of 1 rat 😭
ITS THE OPPOSITE FOR ME I WANTED A RAT ( I never knew about ferrets) AND THEN MY DAD SAW FERRET HAMMOCKS AND WANTED ONE 😀
I have rats as well as ferrets they are amazing. I love them all!!
I love it. I rate this video 15/10 ferrets
The fact that your naughty ferret will pretend to poop in the litter box, to manipulate you for a treat. But STILL half the time will poop for reals outside of it! 😂
I don't completely agree about Ferrets only smelling when they're not clean. This might lead to some people over cleaning/washing their pets or even using harmful chemicals on them.
Whilst I do agree that ferrets will smell the less they're taken care of, I think there is a few things also to take into consideration here.
If you're in America & some other countries, all ferrets will come snipped and descented by law. This greatly reduces their smell right off the bat.
I live in England and have owned a half Polecat/half Ferret for coming up to 4 years. When he's in season, boy does he stink! People have commented how they can smell him on me if i give him a quick hug before work.
He isn't snipped and is from a private breeder. He's fed a completely raw diet and is litter trained and gets plenty of exercise. His bedding is washed often and cage wiped down, he can also let out a completely foul smelling odour when scared too.
I don't think it's as black and white as keep your fert clean and it wont stink. I really enjoy your videos though and i think you do a great job of explaining the ins and outs of taking care of ferrets. I've seen some really bad videos and it makes me really sad.
Keep up the great work and I hope this doesn't come across as me being snide.
I agree! I think this video is really out dated and there are a lot of things i said in it that I don't agree with anymore. The thing about smell is one of them 😊
All ferret videos are good videos :-)
And happy birthday!!
My husband and I are considering getting a ferret!! I’ve watched quite a few videos but I must say this one I like the best! Very knowledgeable and helpful! Your ferrets are absolutely adorable too!!! Thank you
The rescue I’m planning to get my ferrets from next month feeds raw
Oof that's gonna be expensive.
I love ferrets and had them when I was a teen. Now I know it was cage raging.. however I wanted to get them again, so I'm doing some research
I've leash walked all my 3 ferrets over 28 years, started them on a leash at 9 weeks. I could never walk any of them in the daytime, nighttime only. I even used to walk one of my ferrets on the Las Vegas strip at night after the crowds died down.
ur ferrets are so cute i wuv them
If you've yelled at your pet for being "too F'n cute!"...you MIGHT have a ferret lol
*laughs in chinchilla*
I wish I had someone to talk to / mentor me on pet ferret keeping as its not very common in my country/ state. Your videos are so helpful x
If you have discord there's a really awesome server that I'm in: discord.gg/AvzzUT
My ferret got an intestinal blockage one month into owning him (he was 5 months old). $4100!!!!!! $41OO !!! That doesn't include follow-up medications, visits, and vaccinating later. The only other option that day was euthanizing a baby ferret. My partner and I had METICULOUSLY ferret proofed our home and there was just ONE little thing that we missed, and it cost us just over four THOUSAND dollars.
We also have to travel 30 minutes by car to the nearest exotic vet clinic that sees ferrets. And yes, it is more expensive for even basic exams. These are things you can't opt out of. And yes, like discussed in the video, vet visits are only going to get more frequent with time.
So I can say MONEY IS A BIG FACTOR. If you are young, low income, or relying on your parents for financial support for you/your ferret(s)... They probably aren't for you, unfortunately. No matter how careful you are, it can happen. I previously worked as a veterinary technician so I have a lot of animal experience (both personal and professional) and ferrets are the most expensive and high-maintenance pet you can have (other than a horse, maybe...).
Luna lives entirely on spite LOL! My husband thinks my little girl is evil because she is obsessed with hunting him down and biting him. She never bites me.
Ah the old “if I act like I went potty in the box mommy will give me a treat” yes I am familiar with that 😂 my babies do the exact same thing. This why I always keep puppy pee pads in areas where they go. If anything I know they will always use the pads. I cut them into the right size to fit corners.
Thinking of buying a ferret in the future
Me too
It took me almost a year to switch my ferret from the kibble he was on when I got him to a raw diet
These reasons are so true, especially the last one - thought you knew my two carpet sharks! Love them but they can be sooo much trouble
My ferret Ginny had a poultry allergy *🙄* so she was raised on Orijen Six Fish until I got her, and I kept her on the same thing. She lived until she was 9 years old, I only ever had one emergency with her and that's the night she passed. Many ferrets live on Orijen as it's easy to access, and what most pet stores feed in my area- how much risk is there to Orijen specifically? *I don't have any new ferrets since my girl passed, just curious*
Sugar is my 21/22 ferret? She’s taught me that ferrets can climb the faux brick walls on the front porch to escape over the pen. We had plastic panel over a baby gate with three pieces of duct tape to hold it on the top. With Felix, no problem, stopped him from climbing over. With Sugar, I have no less than 10 pieces of duct to hold it on to prevent her from squeezing through the duct tape and climbing over. Sugar is an albino ferret. Weighs less than two pounds wet, and is intent on world domination. Her brother Riot (think Pinky - NARF!) managed to undue the duct tape covering a hole under a cabinet, thereby forcing me to take ALL the duct tape up and redo with Gorilla extra extra extra strength duct tape. Yet he still gets stuck at the top level of the inside cage, and forces me to save him despite having successfully going down once (with help). Ferret proofing is a 24/7 job.
They are the best. Was a ferret owner from 1986 to 2018. They'll be the best buddies ever. Elderly ferrets are a true joy. They've mellowed out and just want to hang out with you. Just make sure you are prepared for big vet bills. If I could add a tip, when ferretproofing, make strategic bedding and a spot for them to stash their stuff...that way, you know where they are at all times and if stuff disappears, you will know where to find it.
I've had 8 ferrets over 28 years and I'm nonplussed as to the health issues they may have as mine didn't have any health issues, only took my ferret to a vet one time when I rolled over his foot with my desk chair. If you feed them sweets, you're asking for trouble!
After listening to the “cons” of having ferrets, the cons aren’t that bad really. You have to keep them entertained, safe, properly fed, money on hand and there you go!
It's basic awareness of outside oneself and caring about the well-being of another creature. Too often I see people get an animal thinking it's a cool toy.
I love how when I did have ferrets people would stop and ask what breed of dog they were XD
so far weve had a lot of ferrets, and raised kits, never have we had an emergency with them! which is amazing. right now we have 2 polecats and i might be allowed another ferret
This is a really good video!! Thank you
totally agree with the money thing. I think all exotic pet owners need a "vet kitty".
You deserve more subscribers
And ferrets
@@alinafodorean5107 😼😼that too
Mr Nibbles says ; " You can never have to many ferrets in yer ' business " , there's a lot of positions to fill . ( man I love this shower !)
* Never have just one ferret , three is an ideal number , If one dies there is still a friend . Talk to local pet stores
that carry ferrets . At times people will get a ferret and decide they don't want it . The first place they call is the pet store where they got it . Check for free ferrets on websites , forums etc. If you are a ferret person and know them well , you know it is never a problem with a new ferret . If there is love a ferret will thrive .
Thank you for all the great info.
Ferrets are playful pets that get along just as well on their own as they do in groups. Keeping a single ferret isn't too different than keeping multiple ferrets. Ferrets are smart and social, though. Without any friends, they will need more interactive play time and time out of their cage to bond with you.
I’m trying to convince my parents to get me ferrets maybe if I list the pros and cons to them they will consider it more? If you guys have any ferret care tips please share with me!😊
I LOVE THE IT SHIRT IM A HUGE FAN AND PLEASE TELL ME YOUR OPINION ON REDDIE
Hoping to be a ferret owner curious as to what you feed them regularly ?💗
I have a video all about that! czcams.com/video/D0pvDH6JFxQ/video.html
Also do you know if European ferrets have the same rate of cancers?
I haven't been able to find any conclusive studies on cancer rates in European ferrets, only on North American. HOWEVER, veterinarians highly suspect a link between low genetic diversity and cancer rates. If there is a link between these, then it would make sense that European ferrets have lower cancer rates, simply because there's significantly more genetic diversity in European ferrets than their North American cousins. I wish I could give you a better answer, unfortunately there just haven't been enough studies done :(
Dook it Yourself Thank you so much for answering ! It’s really difficult to find any research on ferrets, especially when compared to cats and dogs :-( Maybe I’ll try and set up a little European ferret survey sometime to get a little bit of an idea !
Bruuh my ferret was being the cutest thing when i woke up bruuh he was sleeping under meh blanket and he was like nuzzling meh hand and idk pushing my phone out his cave and would poke his head out to mine lick my nose then poke back in his cave then he betrayed meh leg and did the scratchy burrow then stopped when i moved a inch away xD
All 3 of mine stay on our feet and trip us 😄
I wan to get a ferret but i am SO WORRIED about it getting sick from a disease/illness and the different type of vet bills :((
Sudden vet bills are really common if you own ferrets, which is why it's important to have savings set aside just in case.
Always research any animal you plan on getting
I can not get two ferrets my parentes said only one will a cat do?
I think with lots of attention, your ferret will be okay
I know this is a older video . But luna cracks me up ! Sigh . I Miss seeing her in vids
My skinny raccoons are into everything. I ferret proofed my whole my apartment, looks goofy but my babies are safe.
3rd I guess :/
it's okay you're still first in my heart
I ship it :3 jk lol
You're thinking "quartet"
Ferret proof tour next video??
Barefoot ? My FERRETS loves toes . Ouch
4 would be a quartet (thanks music education)
Quadruple is ok tooo
i found a really good book on ferrets- ferrets for dummies- it's called that and it's like the Ferret Bible seriously. It has a whole chapter on ferret proofing-yay!
Yes! Ferret for dummies is great! I recently ordered the 3rd edition and it should be here any day now. I'm planning to do a book review video once I get it
I have 2 of them the oldest is 1 and youngest is 10 months and they both are bad lol but I love them
Got one ferret (Blossom) shes 3 months old!
My 2 girls are rescued and are about 3-4 years old they were kept in a tiny filthy cage with little to no clean water and food and they basically pooped where they stood 😢 (bad previous owners
I’m finding it really hard to litter train them they won’t use pans or wood chip they use puppy pads best but sometimes they play with the pads my biggest problem is when they leave the cage they poop everywhere no matter what I do 🥺 they eat raw chicken wings twice a day and kibbles are always down as is fresh water plus I can’t get rid of there smell it’s quite bad even tho there cage is cleaned daily and all bedding is washed weekly any ideas as to what I can do to resolve my problems I’ve had them for a year 💜
First off, I'm so glad that you were willing to rescue ferrets and get them out of what sounds like an awful home. As I'm sure you've figured, a lot of their litter training issues are coming from the fact that their old owner didn't litter train them and therefore they have no idea what's going on. Lyra was actually in a similar situation when I rescued her from her previous home but she only lived that way for about a month. For that, I might recommend doing some research into clicker training! I have a video on the subject where I attempt to clicker train my girls for a week and see if there are any improvements and I really did see some change! It's a pretty easy concept that I go over in the video.
Now, as far as the smell goes, I really recommend ditching the kibble and trying to switch them to raw fulltime. If they're willing to eat chicken wings, it seems like they'd be happy to go fully on raw. Just make sure that you've giving them a balanced raw diet, because only eating chicken wings is not balanced. There's a lot of information on balancing on the Holistic Ferret Forum and the youtuber pazuandfriends has lots of information on raw. Part of the stink is likely coming from the fact that they're eating both kibble and raw. Sometimes the mix of a raw and kibble diet does funky things to a ferret's digestive systems, because both go through the digestive tract differently. Not to mention that fully raw fed ferrets smell better in general, and produce smaller poops that don't smell as bad (something I noticed a lot after changing my girls to it from kibble). That's not to say that going raw fulltime will completely solve the smell issue, but I strongly believe it'll help. If you're already feeding wings twice a day you're basically already doing it, all you have to do is ditch the kibble and balance what you're feeding.
Best of luck! Feel free to reach out to me on instagram if you have any other questions. Give your ferrets kisses for me
😊
Aww this makes me sad my ferret just passed away 😫
Tips to help them catch onto their names ?
Is it a good thing to get one ferret and then when your used to them then get a nother one along the way
Love my carpet sharks
I work inconsistently because i’m part time, and i can’t afford nor would my father allow me to get two. Would it be a good idea to wait till i’m off to college next year, or would it be okay to get just one for now, and when i’m in college, get another?
Definitely wait! Ferrets that are kept apart from others can not only become depressed in that time (especially if they're kits), but it may lead to complications with introductions down the road. Ferrets kept alone may forget how to interact with other ferrets, and therefore require a much longer introduction process once they're finally introduced to ferrets again. It's the same as a reactive dog that isn't socialized with other dogs. Watch my video on ferret introductions if you want to see what it's like to introduce a ferret that's ferret aggressive to others (it's not a fun time).
8:45 they are quite the first 2 times i put him in his cage bite bite bite metal noises xD lol he stopped being so bratty tho he is quite
That's what's known as "cage raging" it's pretty common for ferrets to do if they aren't getting enough out of cage time or environmental enrichment. Make sure your ferret is out for at least 6 hours (more if you can manage it) per day to stop this from happening. Biting on the bars is really really bad for their little teeth :(
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets Lol ik but this happened like 2 years ago we good now lol still bratty tho in different ways lol bruuh xD as im typing he walked backwards over his food wit a water bottle in his mouth cuz he wants to hide it somewhere xD i let him hide 2 in other parts of the house already lol
Could I get just one for now then after a year I plan to get another? cuz the apartment I'm moving too only allows two pets and I already have a snake so I can only have another till the lease is up after a year or I may just get another after some months but not let the apartment know cuz I really want one and this is the only place that don't sell Marshall ferrets also its a baby and I don't think I could handle 2 babies for the moment so I getting one to start out then get another later I want four all together
In my opinion, I would just wait a year until you can get two. That gives you lots of time to do research and prepare. It's always easier to get two already bonded ferrets than introducing new ferrets to each other (watch my video on ferret introductions for more info)
I REALLY want a ferret and I know that I should get two but I don’t think I can afford it...how bad is it for a ferret to be alone? Like is it really that bad for the ferret or should I just go all out and try my best to get two?
ferrets are not animals that can easily handle living alone. I go on a vent about this at 17:53 of this video - czcams.com/video/OwCVfXBV80c/video.html&ab_channel=FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets
Rocket is an only child and he seems to be doing well. He even knows his way home when we go for walks. Check my videos to see how well a "single child" ferret can be.
so do i get ziwi peak dog food or cat food for my ferret
What about the illnesses in Uk?
Is it okay to have 1 farret
Nope, you need at least two. I'm going to be making a video about this soon.
you don’t NEED two. some recommend it some don’t. no big deal if you only get one
Ferret proof house is nirvana. You won't reach it no matter the effort.
The fake pooping thing is actually a huge struggle :')
My ferret Nyarlathotep has turned pooping into a game. If she wants attention she'll stare right at you and back up with her tail up as if she's going to poop some place she shouldn't (and will actually force a poop if you ignore her) but if we run her to the litter box she'll "fake poop" and run out of it over and over and even threaten to poop right outside of it. This little shit will run around and Dook until you basically have to block her in the litter box and she'll give in and actually poop. If you ignore her she'll poop on the floor.
She's perfectly litter trained and will normally poop in her litter boxes on her own but she doesn't like to be watched pooping because if you do she'll start up this game with you and you're stuck playing poop tag for at least 20 minutes.
On the other hand my other ferret Carp basically sleep poops. If he's sleeping and has to poop I'm pretty sure he doesn't even fully wake up and has a 50% chance of making it to a litter box if he's not in the cage. It's basically poop roulette and sometimes he misses by a Longshot. He also has barely any issues pooping when he's awake.
I'm sorry you have to deal with that but it's absolutely hilarious 😂😂
IMPORTANT! I see a blocker thing at the top of your stairs in the background. I have been looking for one exactly like that for my ferret to block off a section of my house. PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PINK PRINCESS PLEASE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP GIVE ME THE LINK TO IT!
Do you mean my baby gate? I just got it from the hardware store haha. It was years ago so I can't link you. But it's similar to something like this: www.amazon.ca/Safety-1st-Perfect-Gate-White/dp/B00AW5NL0O/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=baby+gate&qid=1627606671&sr=8-9
Honestly go to any hardware store or walmart and I almost guarantee you'll be able to find one. Most need to be reinforced with duct tape (especially if they have holes in them), and the easiest way to do that is to just entirely cover them in tape :D
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets Thanks a bunch! I couldn't find one that touched the floor, so I was starting to think I might have to DIY something myself. I just have to block off half of my apartment because my couch is a whole safety hazard along with my kitchen and the stairs to the front door. It makes me really nervous so I'd prefer to just block my ferret from there. Keeping him with the bathroom and bedrooms makes me feel more confident in his safety.
i really want a ferret but my dad hates them btw this is my dads youtube acc
idk if you reply but can i only ferret proof my room since would stay in my room
Out of all 5,771 views only 38 people commented
Are your ferrets descented? and what genders do you recommend to keep together?
My ferrets are descented because they're rescues, but they are originally from mills. If you're buying a ferret in North America, unless they're from a private breeder they will be descented. Having said that, descenting does absolutely nothing but remove a ferret's ability to spray a puff of stink when they get spooked (similar to a skunk, but to a much MUCH smaller degree) so it's a completely unnecessary and cruel practice.
You can keep any sexes of ferrets together ^-^ most say that male and female ferrets get along best, but it mostly depends on the personalities of the individual ferrets. I own 5 girls now!
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets Oh nice, I live in England and am planning to get ferrets soon but all ferret youtubers are American or something where it is actually legal to descent them but where I live its illegal. Also thanks for answering your ferrrets are so cuteee your lucky to have such beautiful souls. Great channel also. :) ♡♡♡
Checkout the channel Dook Souls! She's from Scotland, but that gives her a less North American perspective to ferret ownership ^-^
your c ferrets are so cute
Uhm, ferrets are cheap if compared to a dog I'd say. I spent like 80€ a month just on food. And more than 5k on surgery and others medical things. She is 5.
But can you just get one or do you have to get two
You need at least two ferrets. They are highly social and need a buddy :)
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets ok yeah I go two
Do you know any affordable ferret hammocks?
etsy is a great place to find hammocks! And you're supporting small businesses 😄
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets thank you and I found one I really like but it has fur on it is that good for ferrets or no I am to scared that they might eat it
just go to a shelter. my shelter gave me all my things for free
No such thing as bad pet ferrets!! Only bad ferret owners
The argument I'm trying to make in the video isn't that they're bad animals, just bad for certain people. People have to pick a pet that fits into their lifestyles and whatever challenges that pet has (because every animal has challenges) they need to understand and be comfortable facing before they're ready to commit to said animal. I think ferrets especially, people purchase without weighing their pros and cons, which leads to ferrets being taken care of by owners who don't want to address their specific needs, creating neglected ferrets.
It is sad that pet stores see all animals as $$ ! I have now rescued 4 different ferrets from 3 different families. People, especially kids, think ferrets are these cute cuddlies (and they are!) but they don't always do the research required to raise a happy healthy pet child. As with 2 legged children, every ferret is different and there is always so much more to learn about our 4 legged family members ❤ I find that every day I learn something new! You have great knowledge and present in a fun teaching manner! I am happy to have found your channel! Thank you... keep teaching, learning and sharing the love! ❤
i already have a ferret, so why am i watching this u might ask? idk:)
I saw a video where u haft to bathe them at least 3 times a month
yikes! That would be SUPER bad for their skin. The poor ferrets :(
I have to oppose your idea that ferrets are expensive .
I have had ferrets for my entire adult life ( sooo . . 50+ years). I have never ( touch wood ) had an experience where I have had to spend enormous amount of money on one . I've probably had nearly as many as my years of havin' em .
I have seen so many people who have had a ferret for a bit and they put videos out that are not accurate . Any bag , box , shoe , jar etc., is a potential play toy .
The only reason a ferret is expensive is if you are not smart enough to have one , period . Chances are the ferret is a bit wiser than the owner or the ferret would not get in trouble . If you want a ferret , remember it's a bigger weasel .
* If you want accurate info on ferrets , look to people who hunt with them , or hunt with minks . These people can be found in England . With love and understanding a ferret is a wonderful friend .
FIRST! :)
Lol nvm
i lovee you
That fake pooping cracked me up, that is soooo my tiny Jade including fake butt wiggle :D
And then she'll find a blind corner I'm not looking at and does her shit anyway. Grrrr.
Glad her 2 boyfriends are better at this.
I have that same shirt 😂😂
HELL YEAH I LOVE IT!
u low key look like madilain petch from riverdale and that leggings add
(BTW I am a kidoooo 0K!!!!)
Very very late but do you HAVE to get two ferrets? I could get 1 but me getting two has a low chance of happening. I want to get a baby ferret
Edit;:The ferrets here cost 10-100 pounds so, we should have enough left for resources
In my opinion if you can't get 2, then ferrets unfortunately aren't the pet for you. There are people who disagree, but I just can't see how a human being can fill the hole that another ferret would. We don't play the same, we don't communicate the same, we don't have the same social structures. Humans are basically big friendly aliens to ferrets and as nice as we are, living a life never seeing another animal of your specie again sounds very depressing 😰
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets Oh okay! Thanks for telling me! I'll see if I can do extra to get two because I am very desperate!
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets i disagree. some ferrets are fine being alone. you can’t compare a human to a ferret
@@independentmissile200 I would disagree. I think that when you're specifically talking about socialization, it's completely reasonable to compare two social species with each other. Just like how we can also compare rats and rabbits to ferrets when we're talking about animals that need to be in pairs. Regardless of the type of animal, a social specie is a social specie, and that means they absolutely need the social interactions with the same kind of animal.
Additionally, and in a different way, the fact that you can't compare a ferret to a human is another point I'm making. A human and a ferret don't speak the same language or respond to the same social cues. So it's completely impossible for a social animal, like a ferret, to get all of the social requirements they need out of interactions only with human beings.
@@FriendlyNeighborhoodFerrets You absolutely do not NEED two ferret. also what type of animal do you think ferrets are? are you implying they’re these dump creatures that can’t understand our body language and comprehend anything? i’m sorry but you would be wrong.
QWERTY
fact ferret in laiturn is little thief
I know you said it's best to get at least two ferrets' but...are ferrets like...unhappy when they're alone aka if I'd get only one ferret? Because right now I'm trying to convince my mom to get me a ferret and if she would actually allow it, she definitely wouldn't let me get more than one ferret...so I just wanna know if it wouldn't be somehow bad...? I really hope the ferret wouldn't mind being alone-
): I don’t have a ferret I REALLY WANT ONE!!!!!): (I’m sad because I begg my mom but she say they stinkyyy):)
They are stinky but if you clean their cage and get them on a good diet, their smell is very manageable. That’s how I convinced my boyfriend 😂
U are single