Ferrets fun but often handful for inexperienced owners

For more information on Heaven Scent Ferret Rescue, see http://fuzzyslave.tripod.com.

Sandi Robinson was worried. Rascal had been missing for six days after the plumber accidentally let him out.

A psychic pinpointed Rascal’s location, Robinson tells her guests. His left leg is hurt, according to the psychic, and he’s in a bird cage at the bottom of a closet with a cat staring at him. He’s scared, and whoever has him is feeding him apples and berries.

But ferrets are carnivores, Robinson told the psychic.

“Ferrets are the world’s third most popular pet; they’re the second most misunderstood,” she said. They come in third after cats and dogs in popularity and second to the pig for misconceptions about them.

Robinson should know — she has 35 ferrets in her living room.

Her life with ferrets began when someone gave her a ferret. She researched how to take care of them and what to feed them. Before she knew it, she was taking in ferrets from other people who were in over their heads. One day over coffee with her mother, she realized something.

“I’m a shelter; I have 13 ferrets,” Robinson told her mother.

She soon came up with a name — Heaven Scent Ferret Rescue. That was in 1995.

Ferrets can make good pets, but they’re not good pets for everybody. They’re prone to illness, especially types of cancer (several of Robinson’s ferrets have cancer). They tend to have very dry skin. And, yes, they can produce same unpleasant odors. They are, after all, a member of the same animal family that includes skunks. Owners will sometimes have them descented taking away that natural defense, and only two of Robinson’s 35 shelter ferrets still have their “butt guns.”

Ferrets can be litter-box trained but require ferret food rather than cat food, which some owners mistakenly give them. Veterinary care is typically more expensive.

The small weasel-like creatures are mischievous. Ferret actually means “little thief” in Latin, and they will take anything they can and hide it. They sleep most of the day, occasionally waking to eat and potty. They enjoy raucous play time just before sunrise and sunset.

But even at other times, they’re very social animals who love to run and play and hide. They climb in Robinson’s cabinets and sleep in her pots. They love to curl up in her nightgowns and run off with dirty socks as soon as someone takes them off their feet.

People often don’t do enough research on ferrets before getting them as pets. The new owners quickly learn their ferrets are not like cats and dogs. Robinson has at least five ferrets less than a year old whose owners decided not to keep them.

“There is a need here, otherwise I wouldn’t have this many,” Robinson said.

To ensure potential ferret owners know what they’re getting into, Robinson insists on those adopting from her to do research. She even quizzes them on ferret-related care and illnesses. To cut down on the number of inexperienced owners, she does no adoptions between Thanksgiving and the middle of January.

“They’re not going to be Christmas gifts or birthday gifts,” she said. “I screen very carefully.”

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Did you know?
• Ferrets are domestic animals and are cousins of the mink, weasel, otter, skunk, badger and European polecat.
• Ferrets normally live from seven to nine years.
• Ferrets are very inquisitive and determined, which add to their charm for some owners.
• Ferrets can get along with cats and dogs, but no guarantees. Small children and ferrets may not be a good combination.
• Ferrets love to steal and hide items such as remote controls or even keys.
• Ferrets prefer to crawl into things and curl up in blankets.
• Ferrets tend to have a musky odor and can produce bad smells if frightened similar to how a skunk scents. Descenting a ferret does not get rid of their normal musky odor. Bathing too often worsens the natural musky smell.
• Ferrets require vaccinations such as rabies and canine distemper.
• Female ferrets that are not spayed are called jills; un-neutered males are called hobs. Spayed females are known as sprites, and neutered males are called gibs. Babies are kits.
• Female ferrets are induced ovulators. When they go into heat, they do not produce eggs until they mate. Their heat cycle will continue until they mate. If they don’t mate or get spayed, they can develop aplastic anemia, estrogen toxicity and even die.
Sources: www.ferretuniverse.com; www.ferretcentral.org