The name ferret is derived from the latin furonem, which means "thief." Ferret owners can attest that this is a well deserved name.  Ferrets will happily steal anything they can get their cute little paws on and hide it.

Ferrets come from the same family "Mustelidae" as polecats, badgers,
wolverines, sea otters, minks, weasels, and black footed ferrets.

Ferrets are curious, playful, and often very mischevious. They are never ordinary and are by no means the pet for everyone!

Ferrets are intelligent, good-natured, playful, non-aggressive, non-territorial, and require a fair amount of attention. They are very active animals that enjoy company. They need a minimum of 3-4 hours daily outside the cage to play with their human! They should be caged when unsupervised. (They are like two year olds!) Homes with ferrets need to be ferret-proofed. These animals are extremely inquisitive, agile, and get into everything. Recliners are dangerous. Dryer vents and ductwork are dangerous. Toilets with the lid open are dangerous, as are washers and dryers! Poisons under the sink are deadly (and ferrets DO learn to open cabinet doors!)

Lifespan is 6-8 years on average. Ferrets maintain their playfulness throughout their lives. It is especially enjoyable to watch a ferret doing the "Dookie Dance" or "Dance of Joy" when it sashays from side to side with its mouth open bouncing all around the room!

They are very quiet. The only vocalizations they make are "giggles" a "honking" sound or "chuckles" during playtime. They may "mutter" or cry if in terrible pain. They sleep about 16 hours a day and are most active at dawn and dusk.

Ferrets can be litterbox trained but do not have the 100% "hit rate" that a cat does. We usually tell people to expect 50%-60% out of the cage. If they miss the box, their accidents are usually in a corner. Yesterday`s News or hardwood pelleted stove fuel are excellent choices for litter-- Please avoid clumping cat litter!

We do not recommend ferrets to households with small children. Ferrets nip, just like puppies and kittens, and young human skin is tender. Ferrets must not be hit to disciplined or the nipping may become worse. Lots of love and patience is the answer. With children, there is also the possibility of the pet being injured, let outside by accident, or ingesting foreign bodies that kids leave lying around, i.e. rubber bands, erasers, latex toys, etc. A ferret`s intestines are about the same diameter as the inside tube in a ballpoint pen. Intestinal blockages must be $urgically removed or the ferret will die a painful death.

Average lifespan of a ferret who escapes outside is three days.

Ferrets need a high quality, low fiber, meat-based diet, usually kibble with 34-50% protein, 18-22% fat, and 3% or less fiber. They need clean, fresh food and water available 24-7! (It is about 3-4 hours from "in" to "out") We do not recommend ferret foods with pieces of dried fruit which can swell up after ingested and cause life-threatening blockages. Hairballs can cause blockages as well. Because ferrets rarely "cough up" hairballs like cats do, they must get laxatone, vaseline, or another hairball remedy weekly as a treat.

Ferrets need yearly vet visits with a vet experienced in exotics. All vets are not created equal! Ferrets can develop health problems. This can be expensive. Cancer is very common in the ferrets. Insulinoma (opposite of diabetes) is common--also adrenal gland disease. The dark-eyed white ones and the ones with a blaze going up the face are often deaf. (No, they`re not ignoring you--and they do learn to respond well to sign language!)

They require lots of attention and TLC as they age. Potential owners should come tour our sanctuary and see ferrets in all walks of life--maybe even volunteer for a while to determine if this is truly the pet for them.