Adopt a Ferret and Discover the Magic
Ferrets have become so popular as family pets that they have moved up to number three on the list of favorite pets in the USA. They are very friendly little creatures that make excellent pets and present wonderful alternatives to traditional pets such as dogs and cats. They can be trained and are suitable for litter training. If you are considering a new pet it might be time to adopt a ferret.
If you are thinking about that possibility a familiarization of a few of their characteristics is in order. First and most important is their diet. They are confirmed meat eaters and they do not tolerate plant-based foods because their digestive systems cannot properly process the latter. Their food should be high in protein and fat content. Whenever ferret food is purchased it is important to insure that it has both those features.
Ferret food is available in both dry and canned assortments. The ferret would prefer the canned food because it is moist and easier to eat but it is messier and has a limited plate life. Dry food is preferable for a pet owner because it is cleaner and easier to use. Whichever type you choose be sure that it is low in carbohydrates and fiber and high in fat content and animal protein.
Ferrets are very active and burn calories fast during the four hours per day they are awake. They are not big eaters but they like food several times during their waking hours. This is a reason for the preference of dry food. It can be placed out for eating for an entire day without concerns of it becoming tainted. If dry food is to be used then it is important to have plenty of water available for the ferret. Water bottles are best because they aid in keeping the cage clean even though the ferrets prefer to drink water from a dish.
Because ferrets are highly active and light eaters you generally don’t have to worry about fat ferrets. It you do have a ferret that puts on weight it is probably a symptom of some sort of health problem so it is an indication that the little pet need some attention from the veterinarian.
Once the diet is mastered the next consideration is housing. Even though they are fun loving and friendly little animals they should be kept in cages and allowed out only for supervised periods. To accommodate their active lifestyles the cage should be as larger as possible. It should be well ventilated, easy to clean and constructed so as not to present any hazards to the ferret of getting its head or paws stuck in any openings.
The cage floor should be covered with some sort of hard plastic sheeting and it should be changed whenever it begins to wear. Loose material such as cedar or pine chips are a no-no. That could cause all sorts of health problems for the ferret. The key to the health and long life of the ferret will depend on keeping its cage clean.
Another assistance to keeping the cage clean is a litter box. Ferrets can be trained to use a litter box similar to cats. The litter material should be made from paper or plant materials and changed regularly.
There are other things to know about these wonderful animals but you now know the basics of food and housing so now you can go out and adopt your own ferret and have a friendly little companion for years to come.