Do Ferrets Make Good Pets?

Written by Lee Wyatt (last updated February 17, 2009)

The other day, I was sitting down with my wife discussing how the kids kept asking us whether or not they could get a pet. There were two reasons that we were discussing this, is that for one, we always do our best to make decisions like this together, and two simply because the kids won't stop asking us this question, no matter how many times we answer it. Anyway, I digress, back to the topic at hand. As we were going over the many different types of pets, my wife asked me the simple question of do ferrets make good pets?

There are many things that can qualify something as a good pet or not, and almost all of them are subjective. There are however some things that a person can do to help them decide whether or not this particular animal would make them a good pet. To help you decide, I have provide the short list of pro's and con's for this issue. In the end, the answer to this question is only something that you can decide.

Pros:

  1. Cute. There is just something about ferrets. Even if you don't particularly like ferrets (for whatever reason) it is hard to argue that they are NOT cute. After all, there is just something about their faces that seems to make a person think that they are always smiling or giggling, almost like a real life Disney character.
  2. Playful. Ferrets, as a whole, love to play. Since they are happy to play with toys by themselves, or with others they are fairly easy to get along with. If nothing else, it can be extremely enjoyable to simply sit and watch the ferret play.
  3. Smart. Of all the smaller pets, there are none that are quite as intelligent as a ferret. A person can just about literally watch a ferret learn. In fact if you set up a maze of different little tunnels (which you can quite often see in most pet stores) ferrets are quite often willing to spend hours simply exploring.
  4. Personality. Ferrets typically have a unique and pronounced personality, most of the time they like to play and cuddle with their owners.
  5. Clean. These cuddly creatures are easily trained to use a single location for relieving themselves. Litter boxes are perfect for this job.

Cons:

  1. Cute. As with anything, cuteness can fade over time. Don't base your decision simply off of looks.
  2. Playful. Ferrets are playful true, but there is a downside to this as well. Ferrets must have some type of interaction every day, or they are going to find their own entertainment.
  3. Smart. The ferret is almost too smart. If you are not careful about locking their cage (using an actual lock) then they are going to eventually be able to figure out a way to get out of their cage. This may not sound bad, but if the ferret is bored, it could be.
  4. Personality. There is no guarantee that a ferret is going to be nice, just like there are no guarantees that people are going to be nice. You could just as easily end up with a mean or nasty one as you are a nice and playful one.
  5. Clean. While the ferret is easy to clean, you are going to have to do it a lot! The absolute minimum would be once a week, but it would be much better to do this chore two, maybe three times a week. Also, be prepared for a smell, as ferrets do have a distinct odor to them.

Author Bio

Lee Wyatt

Contributor of numerous Tips.Net articles, Lee Wyatt is quickly becoming a regular "Jack of all trades." He is currently an independent contractor specializing in writing and editing. Contact him today for all of your writing and editing needs! Click here to contact. ...

MORE FROM LEE

Home Interior Decorating

There are many misconceptions about home interior decorating, in fact there are almost as many misconceptions as there ...

Discover More

Organizing Storage Closets

Storage closets are a great and wonderful thing, when they are actually organized. When they are not though, they can be ...

Discover More

Cleaning Silver Jewelry

When taken care of properly, silver jewelry can easily become an heirloom that is passed on from generation to ...

Discover More
More Pet Tips

Basic Ferret Care

Ferrets require a lot more of your attention than a cat or dog would. There are many things to do to make sure you keep ...

Discover More

Washing Your Ferret

Washing your ferret can be a fun and entertaining event, as long as you know what it is that you are doing. If you ...

Discover More

Ferret Supplies

Any new pet owner is going to need to visit the store to get a few items. Use this simple list of ferret supplies to help ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 6 - 0?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)