Introducing Lucy: the ferret. (IMG)

My classmate asked me if I wanted her 600 dollar ferret, and I said sure! Now I'm the proud owner of a 2 month old female ferret. She's whitish and grayish, beautiful for her kind. She has such a wonderful personality too.

Here's some pics, she's very difficult to get to hold still.

600 dollar??? wow!
I think ferrets are pretty cool animals..
But I'm sure they would knock over plenty things too they are so hyper and active!

Yeah....crazy, I'd never EVER pay that much for a rodent...but she has alot of money to blow around *shrugs* she ended up giving it away for free and buying a months worth of dietary food and this weird pearl litter stuff. Shoo, once it runs out I'm buying it normal food and cheap Kroger kitty litter..heh.

I do like her alot though, she's very active. But sleeps very well at night so far, thank goodness.

What a cutie! Thanks for sharing. Have you ever had a ferret before?

No...I have no idea how to take care of it to be honest...suggestions from experienced ferret owners would be appreciated

Oh, she's so cute! I used to really want a ferret. Now I just enjoy other people's.

Cyran0

I want a ferret so bad but my mom won't let me get one.

Probably because they endlessly crap

She is beautiful.

Ferrets are obligate carnivores (must eat meat and only meat) so... No dog food for them as dog food often contains grains or vegetable to help fill it out. They are related to polecats but their gastrointestinal tract is much shorter than typical cats - which means they need to eat a higher quality food as they have less time to absorb the nutrients from it. Ideally... They eat whole chickens, frogs, mice, rats, etc. Kinda like... Having a pet snake. They are an exotic pet and it sounds like they can be a bit tricky to care for:

http://www.exotichobbyist.com/NaturalFerret.html

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...&S=0&C=0&A=467

(Though it can be hard to know from these kinds of sites what 'optimal' vs 'adequate' care is supposed to be... Enthusiests do tend to get enthused...)

ah...I kind of assumed they eat grains and fruits...like my dalmation hamsters. So....no relationship between Lucy and the hamsters aye?...she'd probably eat them.

yeah. hamster would probably be the ideal food for lucy ;-)

more seriously, though, a lot of pet owners have difficulty with the idea of feeding a pet things that resemble... their other pets. so while some people would buy hamsters or frogs or chickens or whatever fresh to feed their ferret the majority of owners would have trouble with that.

apparently some pet shops will sell those kindsa things already turned into mince. crucially... mince that includes the bones and fat and kidneys and heart etc. the whole animal is what provides the nutrition, you see. if that doesn't turn you on then apparently you can feed raw meat (of the sort humans eat) where the bones and most of the fat etc have been discarded... But then you will need to provide suppliments.

There is some cat food that is ok... But sounded like that was the expensive high quality stuff - because ferret food needs to be very nutrient rich to be absorbed in such a short time since their tract is short. um... sounds like fruits and grains are positively BAD for them (produces health problems). i wasn't sure what to make of the second website complaining about kitty litter (there is such a thing as going a little too far)... but that being said, the majority of supermarket sold catfood isn't really good for cats and the majority of supermarket sold dogfood isn't really good for dogs and the majroity of supermarket sold human food isn't really good for humans...

but obligatory carnivore, yeah.

Good point!

I'm basically learning as I go, this morning I saw Lucy as an innocent herbivore and now I see her as a meat eater...it's weird. I think I'll just be safe and continue feeding her the food my friend bought, it's ferret food...those strange looking pellet things. Since she's so young I put a dab of water on the top and let it soak, then drain.

So when I'm cuttin up a chicken I can throw little pieces of raw skin and organs into her food bowl? I'm definitely not feeding her another living animal, I don't have the heart for that.

The article in the link listed above it said that animals like weasels can be tamed in the beginning if they are cared for by humans since birth but revert back to their wild instinct. It never did mention if ferrets reverted too. You think so?

Hey.

To the best of my knowledge ferets are known as TERRIFIC pets precisely because they remain tame and don't revert. So weasels grow out of their attachment and revert (which makes them unsuitable pets) but ferets (and polecats - I think that was the suggestion) do not (which is what makes ferets anyway quite suitable pets). Don't know if people keep polecats as pets... That was the way I read that anyhow.

It is weird... I didn't know about ferets until I read your query and thought I'd do a little research... I was thinking they would be more like rats than like cats (so eating grains rather than meat). I was a little suspicious, though, of why someone would give away a $600 pet with a months worth of food and special litter unless food and special litter were necessary and fairly expensive... They seem to have quite high exercise requirements, too...

It sounded like that would be right about the chicken. I guess the only thing I'd worry about would be the ratio's of different things. So while a whole chicken might be good, only skin and organs might contain too much of x and too little of y for that to be a good thing. Like how a little bit of fat is essential but too much is bad. I'm not sure.... I guess I'd check out the online websites about feret care a little more... If you find the same thing said on a few different sites and those sites seem to be fairly well informed and professional... Then that thing is fairly likely to be true (to the best of our knowledge).

> To use numbers, a dry ferret diet should contain at least 30 – 40 % crude protein and 15 –20% fat. The protein should be of animal origin and highly digestible.

(I would guess that 'highly digestible' means raw - but i'm not terribly sure).

That was from following a link on the second site.

It mentioned that raw egg was suitable as a treat...

If they get too much fat they get chubby so then I guess you adjust the ratio. So yeah, the chicken idea sounds good.

wow...I didn't realize how complex her diet would be. Kind of scary. I need to realize that she is an exotic animal...

The reason my classmate gave her to me was because she was trapped in a cage all the time, she could never be free. She had 5 dogs and they would have harmed Lucy. She felt it wasn't fair, so she offered her to me when she found out I had no pets other then the hamsters.

i so miss having a pet. she sounds like a very cool pet to have :-)

do you know if she is neutered and / or descented??

and whether she has had any shots (e.g., canine distemper, rabies)?

yes she's been fixed and descented

cool :-)

Des, heres what I was able to find on ferret nutrition:

Ferret Nutritional Needs

Feeding your ferret a proper diet is extremely important. Ferrets are strict carnivores and should be fed a high protein (at least 34%), high fat (at least 20%) high quality chicken or lamb based dry ferret diet. Totally Ferret, Zupreem for Ferrets, and Ultimate 8 and 1 are good choices. Chicken or lamb should be listed in some form (poultry, lamb or poultry meal) as the number one ingredient in the list of ingredients on the back of the bag. You should also look for food that is naturally preserved with vitamin E and has no artificial colors.

Ferrets have very short digestive tracts, so they need a food that contains easily digestible meat protein. Foods that list grain or corn as the first ingredient should not be used. Grocery store kitten or cat foods are not adequate. If you are feeding your ferret grocery store kitten or cat food, please switch to ferret food or kitten food brands like Iams or Eukanuba if ferret food is not available (and give your ferret a fatty acid supplement like Ferretone daily). Your ferret is not getting the proper nutrients with grocery store cat or kitten food. Grocery store foods contain too much fiber and not enough quality animal protein. This food can also contribute to stones in the kidneys and bladder, malnutrition, dull coats and other health problems for your ferret. It's never too late to make the switch (especially if your ferret has been diagnosed with insulinomas).

Many now feel that supplementing your ferret's regular chow diet with natural meat is the best way to provide proper nutrition. You can do this by either giving your ferret some cooked chicken ( this can include skin, fat, chicken livers, chicken hearts), or some raw chicken that has been frozen and thawed (the freezing process can kill some bacteria and parasites). Some people even recommend allowing ferrets to chew on the soft ends of bones as well. Bone marrow contains a lot of nutrients (including calcium) ferrets need. Chicken baby food can also be a form of meat supplement (but not for regular diet).

For a natural, high protein, high calorie recipe for ferrets called "Bob's Chicken Gravy," visit the link below. This meal supplement or replacement has worked very well for sick ferrets and ferrets with insulinomas. It can also be used as a supplement or "treat" for ferrets to ensure over all good health.
http://www.trifl.org

Note: Please be aware that a raw meat diet could introduce your ferret to internal parasites or disease. If you do want to feed your ferret raw meat, please check with your veterinarian for advice. It is very difficult to feed your ferret a balanced "all natural" diet. I would recommend feeding your ferret a balanced ferret food in addition to the real meat.
Also, never give your ferret small bones to chew on (especially chicken or turkey bones). These bones could splinter and get lodged in your ferret's digestive system (requiring surgery). Your ferret can eat the soft cartilage at the end of large bones or the bone marrow . Ferrets can chew on larger bones that have been softened by boiling.

Ferrets need to be provided with fresh food and water twenty-four hours a day. Ferrets will not normally overeat. Rather, they require several small meals throughout the day (up to ten in a twenty-four hour period) due to their fast metabolism. Water should be supplied in a heavy bowl that cannot be tipped over, as well as a cage hanging water bottle. The water and food should be changed out at least twice a day (more if the ferret tampers with the food and floods it with water!). Ferret food can spoil quickly, so keep an eye out for "stashes" of food the ferret may place around the house and under furniture. Eating this food could make them sick if it is more than a few days old.

It is important to note that you should NEVER feed your ferret dog or puppy food. Dog food does not contain taurine, a nutrient that is vital for a ferret's eye and cardiovascular health. Dog food contains more vegetable protein and less animal protein. Because of their short digestive tract, ferrets cannot properly digest vegetable protein. Ferrets also don't have a cecum, the part of the digestive tract used to break down vegetable matter. Vegetable protein is not toxic to your ferret, however a diet rich in vegetable protein and low in animal protein will eventually lead to malnutrition, illness and possibly death. Keep vegetable and fruit treats to a minimum (preferably not at all). Meat based treats are a better alternative.

Thanks Raindowzz!

Hopefully I can do the right thing here....this is harder then feeding my kids!..haha

Oh I forgot, another question.


Lucy has very sharp claws....can I file them down a little?

She's tearing up my hands...unintentionally, but still....ouch.

the sites said you are meant to clip them when needed. as often as every two weeks. be careful not to cut through the nerve... you might want a vet to show you how the first time (sounds a little like clipping dogs nails).

Ferrets are wonderful pets..I use to have one. They are really good with kids and full energy. Watch where you but things they love to hoard anything they can get their claws on. Mine would take everything and anything and shove it under the entertainment cabinet. You can get ferret food and such at Petco. Congrats on your new furry friend...they are wonderful, intelligent, and affectionate pets.

cool, I already have mini clippers for a very small dog. I just want the very tip off, it's like razor sharp. I'm experienced with clipping dogs nails, I know the skin grows under them and can be cut very easily. I'll just be cautious while she is so young.

Very cool youO!
I was dating a guy once... we were watching a movie and cuddling under a blanket. I felt some movement down by my ankles and then a few short moments later up near my chest, out popped a ferret! It was a bit surprising, I was like Oh! you have a ferret. He was lucky I was a good sport some other people might have smacked it across the room out of shock.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is if you don't plan on keeping her caged, you might want to mention it to guests to avoid awkward/surprising situations.