Ferrets are domestic animals, cousins of weasels, skunks and otters. They are not rodents--it is easiest to think of them as somewhere between cats and dogs in personality, but much smaller. They are friendly and make excellent pets! They are fun, playful (especially with each other), very inquisitive and very friendly. They can be trained to use a litter box and do tricks, and most of them love to go places with their owners. Ferrets sleep a lot and are most active at dawn and dusk. Barring accidents, ferrets typically live between 6 and 10 years.
There are some negatives however, in that they require a lot of care and training at first. They have their own distinct scent, which bothers some people, and may not be as good at the litter box as cats. Although most get along reasonably well with dogs and cats, it is not guaranteed; you should keep that in mind if you own large or aggressive pets.
The importance of "ferretproofing" cannot be stressed enough; ferrets LOVE to get into everything! They love to steal objects and hide them under chairs and other furniture, and also like to chew on spongy, springy things that must be kept out of their reach to prevent swallowing. Ferrets may scratch or dig at the carpet, and they love to crawl into small spaces. Keep all these things in mind when considering a ferret--if you are not willing to take the time to protect both your property and pet, a ferret may not be the pet for you. Remember too that there are places known as FFZ's (Ferret-Free Zones) where ferrets are illegal or banned, so be sure to check with your state/county.
For more information and answers to common ferret questions, visit www.ferretcentral.org/faq . Feel free to stop by Best Friends and meet Miss Trinity too! :-)
