New Guide To Increasingly Popular Ferrets

Wednesday 06 February 2008
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UKPets

The BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) has launched a new practical guide to caring for pet ferrets. The guide is produced in association with the Ferret Education & Research Trust (FERT). The BVA AWF says the move reflects the growing popularity of these intelligent and curious animals as household pets.

Covering the basics such as housing, feeding, health care and toilet training, the guide also offers advice on ferret-proofing your home and garden, and breeding and neutering as well as vaccination against Canine Distemper.

Carl Padgett, Chair, BVA AWF Trustees explained:

"While ferrets can sleep for a large period of the day, when they are awake they are very active and need a lot of stimulation to occupy their time. They live an average of eight to ten years so a high level of commitment and care is needed but our new guide should ensure that even the novice owner has all the information necessary to ensure their pet's health and welfare.

"Ferrets are no more complicated or costly than keeping a rabbit or guinea pig and while, like every animal, they have the ability to bite, as long as they are well cared for and handled properly, they have no reason to bite. By following the advice in our leaflet, owners can ensure that this remains the case!"

Speaking on behalf of the Trustees of FERT Ian Kearns said:

"FERT is always keen to work alongside vets to promote the ongoing care of ferrets. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have been able to work alongside the BVA AWF on this document and would welcome the opportunity in the future to work on other projects designed to encourage a high standard of welfare for these animals."

The "Caring for your ferret" guide is available to download from the BVA AWF website at here.