Ferret out the facts

By Robin Tierney
Special to The Examiner
Published: Friday, November 25, 2005 11:15 PM EST

Many ferret lovers are praying that the latest "Harry Potter" film doesn't morph from fantasy to horror.

"I'm watching the movie trailer, and suddenly the wizard turns one kid into an albino ferret who looks just like Humphrey!" says David Gaines, referring to his 6-year-old pet. The Fairfax resident shudders at the thought of parents giving ferrets to Potter-loving kids on impulse, recalling the ferret-buying frenzy sparked by the 2004 blockbuster "Along Came Polly," starring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston.

"Six months later," sighs Robin Hochgertel, an Annandale animal welfare volunteer, "ferret rescues were bursting at the seams" as fair-weather fans lost interest in caring for their pets.

"Too many people get ferrets without knowing what they're getting into," says Gaines, who recommends volunteering with a shelter before getting a ferret.

A rat or hamster might emerge as a better choice after people discover that ferrets are like kittens who never grow up. Prospective owners need a sense of humor and accepting attitudes, warns Gaines: "They're lunatics, so if you like endless insanity in your house, a ferret is for you."

Hochgertel, who has four ferrets, says that ferrets are now America's third-most popular pet. Centuries ago in Europe, ferrets were domesticated from wild polecats and bred for rodenting.

During the last 20 years, people began choosing them as pets for their intelligence, companionship and, yes, novelty.

They're not as needy as dogs but are less independent than cats.

"The biggest misconception is that ferrets are rodents you can leave in a cage," Hochgertel says.

In fact, they're members of the weasel family and labor-intensive, requiring playtime every day. They're more interactive and inquisitive than cats. While bathing is not recommended, owners must scoop litter pans daily, wash bedding, frequently clean ears and clip nails, deal with shedding and administer hair ball laxative or petroleum jelly.

Ferrets also have musk glands, and those who haven't been descented "poof," though the output is more oil than skunk funk. The crafty imps may decimate dog toys, open cabinets that aren't baby-latched and make hidey-holes for treasures beneath chairs. Often, the treasures will include your socks and car keys.

Ferrets require a high-protein diet.

"Get the best ferret food you can," Gaines says. "With cheap food they'll feel lousy ... and you'll be taking them to the vet more."

They cannot absorb nutrients from vegetables and fruits, though banana bits make appealing treats.

Gaines, who fosters elderly and terminally ill ferrets, notes they are prone to medical conditions from fur loss to adrenal gland disease to cancer.

There are advantages to adopting a ferret from shelters and rescue groups because they provide essential vaccinations and test for deadly Aleutians disease, says Hochgertel, who runs the nonprofit Ferrets First rescue. Shelters and rescues also assess temperament. Those who purchase from pet dealers are often caught off guard when biting behavior develops as the babies mature.

The latest "Harry Potter" film is not the only news in the ferret world. There's a push on for federal government regulations that would prohibit the sale and shipment of ferrets under 12 weeks of age.

Explains Hochgertel, "Breeders try to sell tiny babies, since for many people the appeal is gone when ferret grow to full size and become extremely inquisitive."

Yet inquisitive is what this charming but challenging species is all about.