How much maintenance do ferrets require?

[GregorStocks]

I like ferrets, and may get one at some point in about 10 years.

[AGiordino]

1. Good Decision

Ferrets have unusual time clocks
They're active during the early morning and late afternoon/evening.
Maintenance - Spay/Neuter, vaccinations, take care in food selection as they have specific mineral/vitamin requirements, i.e. cat food won't cut it.
All-in-all a great retirement pet or if you're self-employed.

[Don_G]

2. They're Smelly

Need a daily cage cleaning and a bath at least once a week.

[Oreegone]

4. Lots of work and attention

I'd recommend getting them descented so they aren't so stinky. They have a really strong musky odor especially when they are excited, which happens every 15 minutes.

Most can be housebroken, but some can't and if not you will find the most potent poop in the world in little nooks and crannies or corners or under things like dressers.

If their defense they are very sweet loveable animalsand entertaining. One of the most disastrous things my ferret did was climb up above a fan and start digging all the dirt out of my hanging houseplant thus when I walked in she was still in there and there was potting soil spraying EVERYWHERE....

[jburton]

3. Not as much as their owners do

Or at least that was my experience. People I knew who had ferrets had a hard enough time cleaning their own apartment, so the cage wasn't really thought of much.

[Mom_and_Dad]

5. We've had ferrets for about 10 years

They are like perpetual kitten's and love to play. Since our recent move they have been pretty much cage bound (5 levels) as we are not "ferret proof" yet. It is amazing where ferrets can hide, get into, and escape from.

If you keep their litter clean you won't have odor problems.

They do like company both human and their own kind so unless you are going to spend significant time playing with them everyday you should get 2.

Just like any other animal they must be taught not to bite but they are smart and learn quickly so we have never had a problem.