Whilst often still viewed as a working animal in the UK, the ferret is becoming increasingly popular as a pet in the USA. On September 13th 2017, I adopted two ferrets of my own. Since doing so, I have had many different reactions. Some have told me ‘they aren’t pets they are wild animals’, others that ‘they are like weird cat snakes’, and the most popular misconception ‘they stink!’. Before adopting ferrets I had only ever had two guinea pigs (creatively named by 6 year old me as Cocopop and Pinkerbell), and it was my boyfriend who had more experience with animals, owning both cats and a dog. Before I get into what it’s like to own ferrets, as well as why I chose to get them and some handy tips, I thought I’d clear up some common misconceptions about the fuzzbutts so many people love.

Ferrets are working animals and NOT pets- right?

Domesticated for some 2,500 years, ferrets and humans have a long history together. Greek authors wrote of them being used to catch and kill rabbits, something which still occurs today. Despite their associations with the working-class, in 1390 a law was introduced into England which prevented any man who’s land was not worthy forty shillings from using ferrets to hunt, meaning they could only be afforded by the rich. The lively critters were not just used in the fields either- tales of ferrets being used to keep rat populations down on ships also exist. Yet despite their reputation as a compact vermin killer, ferrets have been companion animals for hundreds of years too. With their bold personalities, intelligence, hilarious war-dances, and not to mention their cute faces, ferrets make great pets- if you’re clued up about them, that is.

2. Ferrets are rodents

No! Ferrets are certainly not rodents, and don’t mix well with rodents- unless you want them to kill and eat them, that is. Coming from the Mustelidae family, ferrets are related to weasels, badgers, otters and wolverines to name a few. This also means they are by no means herbivores. Like cats, ferrets are obligate carnivores, meaning they cannot survive without meat in their diet. There is debate among ferret owners about which diet is best, but a combination of high quality ferret kibble and raw meat (such as chicken, chicks, ‘pinkies’ or baby mice) is popular.

3. Ferrets are smelly.

Like all animals, ferrets do have a smell to them. The only way I can describe it without handing you a ferret to sniff is a slight musky scent, however this can be much stronger if they are unneutered, especially in male ferrets. It is common in America to have ferrets (particularly ones bought from pet-shops) descented. This means they have the scent glands around their anus removed, which prevents them from releasing a strong smelling musk if frightened, much like a skunk but not as extreme. As I own ferrets which are not descented, there is still a risk of this occurring, however, I have only experienced this once, and with a few open windows the smell soon went. If you are thinking of buying a ferret and are concerned about the smell, the worst thing you can do is to wash them too much. This strips the oils from their skin, which their glands then compensate for after a bath, meaning if they are washed too often, you’re going to end up with smelly ferrets. Instead, a good diet and washing bedding and keeping their home clean is a much better way to control ferret funk.

The two fuzzbutts I adopted are called Moro and Yuki, a bonded pair of spayed female ferrets (see more of them on Instagram @moro_and_yuki ).After doing research for my dissertation on working class relationships with animals, I was in love with them and convinced my boyfriend to let me get one. However, upon arriving to the adoption centre (it’s rare for UK pet shops to sell ferrets, plus we wanted to give an abandoned animal a better life), we discovered nearly all ferrets came in pairs. Ferrets are social animals, and love to play, and risk becoming depressed if left alone.

One week later, we went to pick our girls up, bringing them from a small outdoor hutch into an indoor room of their own. Then we fell in love and the rest was history, right? Not quite. Like dogs, ferrets bite to communicate with one another, which means they were more than happy to bite us, humans who they had no bond with. Yuki went so far as to draw blood, which at the time was a little scary, but when adopting any animal, it is important to understand they are scared and doing what comes naturally. Bite training ferrets takes patience and persistence, (and bearphar ferret paste also helps!) but is so worth it in the end. A few months later, they were happy to be around us. Now they still play bite, but know how far they can push it, and more often than not give out kisses rather than bite marks.

Another thing to consider before adopting a ferret is whether or not you can afford vets bills. Ferrets are prone to a variety of diseases, including adrenal disease, insulinoma, and cancer. Also classed as exotic animals, finding a local vet who is clued up about ferrets can also be a challenge, as well as buying insurance. I found out the cost of ferret illness within the first two months of adopting. When taking them for their first check up, the vet discovered that Moro had come to us with an infected tooth. Two courses of antibiotics, pain killers, 3 tooth extractions and £250+ later, she was well again. Yet whilst they can be expensive, they happiness they bring is worth it. However, buying pet insurance (I go with Exotics Direct) and having money saved for emergencies is a must if you are going to welcome the pitter patter of ferrets into your life.

Top tips if you do decide to join the crazy ferret club:

Research! The best book I ever read was Ferrets for Dummies by Kim Schilling. I am by no means a ferret expert, and am constantly learning new things about ferrets. Learning that ferrets sleep for up to 20 hours a day and sometimes do a frankly terrifying thing called dead sleeping was something worth learning about (it is harmless but they fall in to such a deep sleep they appear to be dead)!

Invest in a BIG cage. Ferrets need a lot of room to run, dook, and perform their crazy war dances. If you can’t let them free roam all day, a large cage is a must (I use Little Friends Blenheim Extra Tall cage which is 3 stories high and very secure).

Clean often. Ferrets poop- a LOT. They prefer to poop in corners, and whilst they can be litter box trained, be prepared to change litter daily, if not twice daily. As mentioned previously, if you want to reduce odour, cleaning all bedding and blankets is crucial. Additionally, as they can sleep for up to 18-20 hours a day, their beds will see a lot of use, and need to be clean.

Be prepared for hoards. Ferrets love to steal things (their name in Latin comes from the name thief!), whether it is their toys, food, underwear, or your favourite pair of shoes. My ferrets dug a hole in the bottom of the old sofa in their room, and promptly dragged all their toys and favourite blankets in with them. Keep an eye on what they are doing, and ferret proof your rooms- this means you are less likely to have things stolen, and that your ferrets are less likely to steal things that could potentially harm them.

Finally, if you do welcome ferrets into your life, be prepared to love something more than you thought was possible. I love all animals, but ferrets will forever have a special place in my heart. Their ridiculous war dances, adorable dooking, and games of chase never fail to bring a smile on the saddest of days.