Ferrets

**kimlovescats** · 01-11-2007, 10:31 AM

I appreciate all of the nice comments and helpful information! It does sound like they require quite a bit of maintenance and close attention. Having no prior experience with ferrets, that is exactly why I asked about them, and I am glad I did!

I will keep them in mind for later down the road when I feel that I have more free time to devote to their needs. Also, I will consider getting two at one time to be sure they have a playmate.

Kim

**catnapper** · 01-11-2007, 11:00 AM

Hi Kim,
My kids were having this very same conversation last night with their friend - he also wants a ferret.

I think you're being very smart about asking these questions. I know nothing about the care and maintainence of ferrets, but I have heard lots about them from people who don't like them, "Oooo... they're smelly!" Ah, but you're more than capable of taking care of household smells! You handled nearly 30 cats without cirsis!

All kidding aside, doing research is very smart. I know there's a very active ferret rescue around here because people get one and don't realize the time and money involved. I know you are capable to put in the time and care, and without a doubt you'd come up with the financial aspect of his/her care. Have you thought of perhaps conacting your local ferret rescue to see if you could foster one first just to see if they're a good critter for you?

**kimlovescats** · 01-11-2007, 11:40 AM

Thanks Catnapper! I don't know that we have a local ferret rescue per say, but I could certainly check in to that! I do know one thing though, I refuse to start ferret-rescuing now that I've retired from cat rescue!

**Queen of Poop** · 01-11-2007, 12:08 PM

Kim, if you decide to foster or get a ferret or two (or 4), cause like cats, you can never have too many ferrets, please know that I will be here to be a resource to you for whatever help you might need.

**kimlovescats** · 01-11-2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Queen of Poop

Kim, if you decide to foster or get a ferret or two (or 4), cause like cats, you can never have too many ferrets, please know that I will be here to be a resource to you for whatever help you might need.

I appreciate your offer! I'll most likely give it more time and more serious thought before doing anything. Right now I will continue to enjoy learning more about them!

**luckies4me** · 01-11-2007, 12:59 PM

I have owned ferrets off and on for all my life. My first one lived until 7, died of old age.

It was many many years until I decided to get another. I adopted Napster from a local lady who didn't want to deal with him anymore. When I got him he was malnourished and very very thin. She had been keeping him outdoors in the backyard, and fed him canned Friskies cat food. He got no attention but somehow still managed to stay a sweet well adjusted boy. He had great health up until he developed a blood clot which claimed his life in a matter of about an hour. It was in his heart and he passed away in my arms on the vet to the hospital. Necropsy confirmed it. I was greatful I was able to be by his side while he passed. I can't imagine him being alone for something like that. He was such a sweet laid back boy and loved to play with everyone, especially my rats.

Then came Rusty and Bear. They were adopted by my old roomate and he just decided he didn't want to deal with them anymore. Their old owners didn't take very good care of them and my old roomate took even worse care of them. When they came to me they were in a small cage full of feces! I kid you not, there was at least 2 inches of feces in the cage. Rusty was healthy but Bear was not. He was very very thin and you could see all his ribs. He had major diarrhea and would not eat. He was hypoglycemic and also had a huge cyst at the end of his tail. I took him to work the next day where he was given some syrup, iv fluids and started on antibiotics. They both had ear mites and ended up spreading it to Napster and all my cats. It cost me $550 dollars to treat all my animals for the mites. He also had giardia. He got a little better but would relapse every so often. Despite blood work sent out to Antech about one a month we never could find the exactly cause of his illness. Unfortunately, only after having him a few months I made the decision to end his suffering. He was only 4 years old.

Then it was only Napster and Rusty. Poor poor Rusty. Napster passed away shortly after Bear died, and he was never the same since. He was so sad all the time. He would just look up at me and stare for minutes. He no longer wanted to play. He was depressed.

I decided to re-home him with a girl I work with who had a female ferret who was going through the same thing. It was a match made in heaven! They couldn't have been happier. Unfortunately only a month after I gave him away to her she brought him into work because he mad a mass in his abdomen and bloody urine. He had a uti and upon inspection of his x-rays we discovered his whole belly was full of tumors.

He was euthanized one month lady due to his masses growing larger. He just wasn't comfortable anymore and there was no cure, even with surgery. He was only 2 years old.

Owning ferrets has been a very depressing experience for me, but even having to deal with all the bad I would get another again. These ferrets gave so much back to me. They were the sweetest, more gentle creatures and I miss them all terribly.