11/11/2020
Caring for your pet ferret
Ferrets are a small domesticated carnivore and a member of the Mustelid family, which includes otters, stoats & weasels.
Female ferrets need to be de-sexed (or brought out of season by one of the other available methods) once they come into
season.
Ferrets have thick fur and cannot sweat or pant, so do not cope well with temperatures above the mid 20s their living area needs to be kept cool over the warmer months. Heatstroke kills ferrets every summer in Australia. Air-conditioning is the easiest and most reliable way to keep them cool and prevent heatstroke, but access to cool areas of the house, such as the tiled laundry.
Ferret-proofing. Any area your ferret has access to – whether it is for 5 minutes or 24 hours a day – needs to be ferret proofed. This means blocking any means of escapes (holes in the wall/floor, inside cupboards, open doors/windows).
Toilet Training:
Ferrets go to the toilet in corners by instinct and can be trained to use a litter tray just like a cat. Unlike a cat they usually need a
tray in each area/room they have access to. If you see them about to go to the toilet outside a tray, quickly pick them up and place
them in the tray.
Grooming:
Ferrets will groom themselves like a cat. They don’t need to be washed unless for a specific reason (such as being covered in
mud!), and washing too often can actually cause the skin to overproduce oil and make them smell more. Ferrets don’t need to be
brushed, but can be if they enjoy it.