Adopt a ferret and discover the magic
Ferrets have become so popular as family pets that they have risen to number three on the list of favorite pets in the US. They are very friendly little creatures that make great 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’re considering a new pet, it might be time to adopt a ferret.
If you are considering such a possibility, you need to familiarize yourself with some of its features. First and foremost is your diet. They are confirmed meat eaters and do not tolerate plant foods because their digestive systems cannot process plant foods properly. Your food should be rich in protein and fat. Whenever buying ferret food, it’s important to make sure it has both.
Ferret food is available in dry and canned assortments. The ferret would prefer canned food because it’s moist and easier to eat, but it’s messier and has a limited shelf life. Dry food is preferable for a pet owner because it is cleaner and easier to use. Whichever type you choose, make sure it’s low in carbohydrates and fiber and high in fat and animal protein.
Ferrets are very active and burn calories rapidly during the four hours a day that they are awake. They are not big eaters, but they do like food several times during their waking hours. This is one reason for the preference of dry foods. It can be placed to eat for a whole day without worrying about contamination. If dry food is to be used, it is important to have enough water available for the ferret. Water bottles are best because they help keep the cage clean, although ferrets prefer to drink water from a dish.
Because ferrets are very active and eat little, you generally don’t have to worry about fat ferrets. If you have a ferret that is gaining weight, it is probably a symptom of some type of health problem, so it is an indication that the small pet needs attention from the veterinarian.
Once the diet is mastered, the next consideration is housing. Although they are friendly, fun-loving little animals, they should be kept in cages and allowed out only for supervised periods. To accommodate his active lifestyle, the cage should be as large as possible. It should be well ventilated, easy to clean, and constructed so as not to present any danger to the ferret of its head or feet getting stuck in openings.
The floor of the cage should be covered with some type of hard plastic sheeting and should be changed whenever it begins to wear out. Loose materials, such as cedar or pine chips, are prohibited. That could cause all kinds of health problems for the ferret. The key to a ferret’s health and long life will depend on keeping its cage clean.
Another help to keep the cage clean is a litter box. Ferrets can be trained to use a litter box similar to cats. Litter material should be made of paper or plant materials and changed regularly.
There are other things you need to know about these wonderful animals, but now you know the basics of feeding and housing, so now you can go out and adopt your own ferret and have a friendly little companion for years to come.