Pros and cons of keeping ornamental ferrets

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In the wild, the ferret is known for its predatory disposition and love of ruining chicken coops. However, man managed to tame this animal 800 years ago. Ferrets as pets are good at catching rodents, in some countries they are even used instead of dachshunds in hunting rabbits.

Ferrets as pets

Nowadays, not everyone can keep such a pet at home, since caring for a ferret has its own characteristics. The curiosity of a small predator can lead to damage to furniture, and poor health can lead to high monetary costs.

Description of the species

Ferrets are often called all members of the weasel family. However, this is a misconception, since the subspecies includes weasels and ermines. The appearance of a ferret has a number of features:

1. The constitution of the body is distinguished by an elongated body and short legs, thanks to which ferrets climb well in burrows.
2. The body length usually reaches 60 m, and the weight is 0.5 kg.
3. The color of the animal varies depending on the breed, but sable, champagne and white are considered the most popular colors among domestic ferrets.

Many people get ferrets for themselves, because they are very curious and playful animals. The advantage of these predators is a high level of intelligence, thanks to which they can be trained to use the litter box and allowed to walk around the house.

However, it should be remembered that even the domestic breed of these animals are predators. For them, you need to organize the right place to sleep and carefully select the diet. Ferrets are quite costly, so before you start a pet, you should measure your budget.

Features of the content

Keeping a pet like a ferret at home has its pros and cons. First of all, you should know that ferrets are very restless animals. They can ruin furniture, things or shoes by trying to dig a hole for themselves or bury objects that they like. Also, due to the structure of the body, they are able to penetrate into many manholes and crevices, but they cannot always get out back. Therefore, it is better to keep the predators in a cage or aviary, rewarding the animal for good behavior by walking around the room. Sometimes ferrets can play and start hunting the owner. In such cases, they are also placed in a confined space so that the animal comes to its senses.

An inexperienced livestock breeder may face such disadvantages in providing pet care, such as:

• dwelling for the ferret;
• pet diet.

Cell

A branded aviary in a store can be very expensive, but you can make a house for an animal with your own hands.

The ferret cage should be large in size and preferably several stories high. Such a dwelling can take up a lot of space, so before purchasing an animal, you should first find a place for its house. The cage itself must have a pipe system and a sleeping house, otherwise the ferret will be uncomfortable living there.

Ferret cage

Also, the cage should not be in a draft or near a battery.

Ferrets do not tolerate loud sounds very well, so the house should be located away from the music center, TV or radio. Do not spray air fresheners near the cage: animals are sensitive to aggressive chemicals.

Compliance with health standards also requires separate efforts. Ferrets are very clean animals, so the tray needs to be washed several times a day, and the cage itself must be cleaned three times a week.

Daily ration

Ferrets are primarily predatory animals - even for domestic breeds, meat should take most of the diet. It is forbidden to feed wild animals with cereals or vegetables, since their stomachs are completely unsuitable for cereals and volvulus can occur. Ferrets tolerate adding cereals to the diet more calmly, but they cannot be abused either. Ferrets are ideally best fed with chickens or forage mice, but this will be too expensive. Treats like these can be used as rewards.

Ferret food

A ferret's balanced daily diet includes the following foods:

• vegetables and fruits in small quantities;
• chicken eggs, raw and boiled;
• white meat;
• veal;
• porridge mixed with meat;
• fresh and boiled fish;
• complexes of vitamins and minerals.

Ferrets are forbidden to give flour and sweets: these products can lead to the death of the animal. In no case should you feed your pet cat or dog food. These foods often include meat substitutes that are not digested by the stomachs of predators.

Rest and feeding should be followed to ensure that the ferret is stable in receiving food. Otherwise, the animal may become nervous and sick from stress. The water of the animal must be boiled: ferrets do not tolerate a large amount of bleach in the liquid.

It is imperative that the pet be given vitamins and minerals, otherwise its hair will fall out, the reproductive system will fail, and bones will begin to crumble. If, when feeding, the animal does not receive the full range of nutrients, this can lead to disability. The disadvantage of such a diet is the high cost, given that all products must be fresh and of high quality.

Before buying a ferret, you should calculate how much it will cost to feed and maintain. Animals should not be fed with soy or stale food: ferrets instantly start to get sick, their hair deteriorates, apathy sets in, as a result the animal dies.

Positive aspects of content

Small predators can delight their owners with many characteristics. Livestock breeders highlight the following advantages from the establishment in the ferret house:

1. Activity and play. Ferrets move a lot and love attention, so they enjoy playing with their owners.
2. Ferrets do not require frequent walks, but you can walk with them along the street. To do this, you need to purchase the correct harness and undergo compulsory vaccination.
3. The animal has a high level of intelligence, so it can be trained to walk in the litter box like cats.
4. Domestic ferrets are capable of adjusting to a person's daily schedule. In the wild, these predators are nocturnal animals.
5. If the animals like their cage, then after a week they will no longer notice space restrictions.
6. Ferret fur is less allergenic than dog or cat fur.
7. Sterilization of animals increases their activity, and also improves the external quality of the coat.

Positive sides

Ferrets quickly become attached to their owners and appreciate affection. These animals are distinguished by their activity, which is compensated by long sleep. Such pets are well suited for the role of a friend for middle-aged children.

Negative aspects of content

An untrained owner can face a number of serious difficulties. Disadvantages of ferrets can be as follows:

1. Unsterilized males mark territory, which can damage things and shoes.
2. A person is allergic to the wool of animals, this is especially dangerous for children.
3. When a ferret is afraid of something, it gives off an unpleasant odor. The perinatal glands, which are located under the tail of the animal, are responsible for this.
4. Non-breeding males and females should be neutered at 6 months of age. The organism of these animals is designed in such a way that a prolonged rut or estrus can end fatally for the predator.
5. While walking around the room, ferrets crawl under their feet and demand attention, so there must be a cage for the animal in the house, in which the animal can be locked up for a while.
6. An unbalanced diet leads to the death of the animal, so only high quality products should be used.
7. The animals have a habit of gnawing or hiding objects that they like.
8. There should not be too narrow passages in the house, otherwise the ferret can get stuck in them and suffocate.
9. If a rabbit or a parrot lives in the apartment, then you should carefully let the ferret out for walks: the predator can succumb to natural instincts and hunt other animals.