FERRET PROOFING

Which can sometimes mean getting down on your hands and knees and looking around as a ferret? They are curious creatures and will get into anything that looks interesting and fun to them. This is why we stress keeping things fun and interesting for them.

The Checklist

• Stove, Refrigerator, Freezer, Dishwasher. Use Liquid Nails to glue blocks of wood under cabinets or on wall around pipes
• No Styrofoam, rubber bands, etc. Close off water heater closet, washer and dryer
• Contour chairs, recliners- NEVER use while ferrets are out. BE SURE!
• Keep doors, windows shut when the ferret is out. Make sure screens are tight. Double hung windows if braced open could drop on to ferret.
• Check to make sure there are no holes around plumbing, there have been stories of ferrets getting inside walls. Check inside cabinets; make sure there are no holes in there.
• Make sure your bathroom sink is safe and drain is covered, the same for the tub and shower. Keep toilet lid closed also. If unsure, keep ferret out of bathroom.
• Because of cleaners and dangerous chemicals, keep ferrets out from under kitchen sink or certain cabinets.
• Floor ducts. Make sure they are screwed down and spaces too small for ferrets.
• Use caution around other pets. If you are unsure if one of your pets is ferret friendly, don't take a chance, keep them apart, if this is going to be a problem for you, then I suggest you do not get a ferret.
• Some houseplants are deadly to a ferret. Also they love to dig in the soil of plants. Most ferret owners give up owning houseplants. If you still want houseplants, then definitely ferret proof them. Putting them up out of reach, or devising a way to keep the ferret away from them.

Items Needed

• Ferret books- Ferrets for Dummies, the Ferret Handbook, etc.
• A good sized cage. We have many cages available for purchase. Contact us for prices and sizes
• Litter boxes, several for the corners of the floor
• Litter scoop
• Litter, recycled paper such as Yesterdays News, wood pellets, Feline Pine, or SwheatScoop.
• DO NOT USE CAT LITTER, OR CEDAR SHAVINGS FOR FERRETS!!! This can cause serious health problems.
• Mat or heavy cloth for bottom of cage and shelves
• Heavy food bowl
• A good quality ferret food or high quality kitten food. No dry fruits or vegetables in food. Food should have 34-36% protein and 20-24% fat. FERRETS ARE CARNIVORES
• Heavy water dish and/or water bottle and bottle brush.
• Ferrets love to burrow we recommend baby receiving blankets, fleece jackets, sweatshirts. Anything snuggly for them. Hammocks for them sleep in and cube to crawl inside. Towels not recommended- nails can snag. Any cage floor wire should be covered.
• Plain shower rings for hanging hammocks and other bedding
• Lots of 2"spring clamps (Home Depot) to secure blankets, bedding, cage covers, ramp covers, etc.
• Ferret veterinarian (including 2 backups and emergency)
• Veterinary health check

Things to do Routinely

• Clean ears
• Trim nails every two weeks as needed.
• Clean litter box at least once a day.
• Fresh food and water daily.
• Wash food dish daily.
• Water bottle can go a couple days. Wash with brush. Give dishes and bottle the smell test. Clorox Clean Up is a good dish cleaner. Rinse thoroughly.
• Trim loose threads from bedding and blankets.
• Bathing ferret not needed if bedding is routinely changed. The more a ferret is bathed, the more oils they try to produce, actually makes for a stinky ferret. If you need to bathe your ferret use ferret shampoo or baby shampoo. In nice warm water. Rinse them thoroughly.

Illness Symptoms to Watch For

• Gagging
• Garbage smelling breath
• Body wasting away
• Vomiting or diarrhea (projectile vomiting= emergency)
• Listlessness
• Failure to eat
• No bowel movement or bloody or black feces
• Failure to urinate
• Coughing, sneezing or choking
• Bleeding, cuts, lumps
• Discharge from eyes, nose, ears, vulva or sheath
• Excessive scratching of fur
• Excessive scratching, shaking or rubbing of ears
• Unusual scabs or bumps on body