Things You Must Know About Your Baby Ferret

At first glance it’s hard to see that the ball of fur sleeping soundly in the corner of its cage is a baby ferret. As it sleeps curled up tightly in a ball oblivious to what’s going on around it you smile and creep away not wanting to disturb it. As cute as this might seem, some ferret owners forget that a baby ferret spends more time asleep than awake. However it makes up for all that slumber the moment it’s awake.

A baby ferret might seem like an innocent harmless creature now, but as it grows up you will realize that that once cuddly ball of fluff is a very energetic carnivore that is playful, inquisitive and very mischievous too.

Weaning Process

Like all domesticated pets baby ferrets, or kits as they are commonly called, should be with their mothers until they are at least 6 weeks old. If you buy a ferret younger than this, it may have weaning problems or other issues.

Neutered or Spayed

Around 6 to 7 weeks a baby ferret will usually be spayed or neutered. Most people don’t want to breed their ferrets, so having them spayed or neutered will take care of this issue. Leaving an adult ferret un-desexed can sometimes cause behavioral complications in both the male and female ferret when they get to breeding age.

Vaccinations

By the time you have chosen your baby ferret it should have had its first vaccination against distemper. Distemper vaccinations are a series of 3 injections with the first between 6 and 7 weeks then the next 3 weeks and the last 3 weeks after that. It is important to have your kit vaccinated as distemper affects ferrets just as much as other pets.

Meat Eaters

Once your baby ferret has been weaned you should feed it meat as ferrets are carnivores. If you must feed it anything else, then make sure it’s meat based otherwise your ferret will have complications later in life.

Remember in the wild ferrets eat rabbits and mice, amongst other things, but a domestic ferret will happily eat high-quality, high-protein kitten food. Ask a breeder for the best form of food for your baby ferret and they will help and advise you.

Energetic, Playful and Mischievous

Ferrets are unlike any other pet you may have had before in that they are very energetic animals and will want plenty of exercise. Couple that with the fact they are playful and mischievous creatures and you have an animal that will require a lot of time and effort on your part to fulfill its demands.

Getting your baby ferret toys to play with is an added bonus for your new pet but bear in mind that toys suitable for dogs and cats will not be suitable for your ferret as they will chew them and eat the plastic or latex causing injuries or worse. Always look for specific ferret toys designed to appeal to their inquisitive nature.

A baby ferret, just like all small furry pets look lovely, cuddly and playful when they are young but those stages soon go except the playful streak which stays with a ferret for their entire long life. They will require lots of attention throughout their long lives but they will reward you with fun and laughter every day.