Some things to know about ferrets:

Despite what seems to be a rather common misconception, ferrets are not rodents, nor anything even vaguely close to it. They are obligatory carnivores, needing a diet high in proteins and low in carbs/etc. Obviously, finding a good brand of ferret food will take care of this, heh. Know also, however, that if an instance arises when you simply cannot get a ferret food (bad weather, money, transportation issues, whatever), quality, poultry-based (NO fish!) Kitten formula cat foods are the next best thing. For treats, also be sure to use premade ferret treats, or perhaps a rare small bit of cooked plain chicken (not fried or seasoned or anything, obviously, lol); not 'people food', heh. Ferrets, just like dogs, can react badly or even have fatal results from certain types of foods, including chocolate like dogs.

Being carnivorous, ferrets have sharp teeth like any cat or dog, and as such they can and WILL bite. This is NOT always destructive, as- just like most cats and some dogs- they very often play-bite when they wrestle. If the play-biting is too hard, it is easy enough to train ferrets to lighten up. :3 The 2009 (o.o' Or was that one 2008?) edition of Ferrets U.S.A. has a great article about this, for one, and should be easy to find in any fair-sized pet store. :3 As to fixing destructive biting, be it biting you, the cage, chewing things it shouldn't, etc, products like Bitter Apple can help deter the behavior, and various articles and even books can be found all over on this subject.

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O.o I'm actually extremely surprised so many people have been talking about the need to spay/neuter ferrets, as most states- at least those I've read on- actually require general pet stores to have them fixed BEFORE they are sold. Still, if you find yourself with an in-tact ferret, yes, it is very important you get it fixed, as it will result in a much happier healthier- and easier to take care of!- ferret. ^^

On that note, laws and regulations about ferrets DO differ all over. Please ensure it is legal to OWN a ferret in the city, state, and country where you live. In the US for instance, parts of New York City for instance ban ferrets, while the entire state of California bans them.

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Possibly the most important thing you need to know is this:
Ferrets have BOUNDLESS energy, and are very social! They need your daily attention. Please, don't get a ferret if you won't have the time to take care of it like it deserves to be. They are recommended to have a minimum of four hours daily exercise and people play time. This doesn't mean if you have to miss a day it's going to hurt them, really, but for BEST results they need your time and attention. Note that you will likely never have to spend four consecutive hours, of course, as ferrets do get worn out and need to rest. x3 It's really an adorable little quirk. They can be going, running, playing, 5 billion miles an hour, and out of nowhere they'll just stop and flatten. xD When my husband and I first saw our first ferret doing this, we joked she was narcoleptic, haha. They just get so overloaded, and they need to stop and rest and think, hehehe. That's another thing to be aware of, though. ^^ 'Flat ferret' can concern many new owners, but it's extremely normal. :3

^^ Know also that while they are EXTREMELY energetic while awake, ferrets actually sleep for MOST of the day. :3 So they're easy in that respect at least.

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A very close second, possibly even first, for importance is FERRETPROOFING.
To quote one article on the subject, "There is actually no such thing as ferretproofing, only the ability to make things highly ferret-resistant." Haha. Ferrets can get through ANY space as big as their head, and it isn't at all rare for them to dig at an area slightly too small to MAKE it as big as their head. Ferrets actually don't need to walk to move, by the way. They can slither like a snake. xD It's adorable. But also opens up even more possibilities as to where they can go.

Get those little plastic plugs for all your outlets. Seal any cracks or small holes, including under doors. Keep chords out of ferret reach, and/or buy chord-protectors. (When I used to work at PetSmart we had some; it was a long roll of thin tubing to fit around wires, both thick and chew-resistant itself and citrus flavored/scented to deter even trying.) Do this for your WHOLE house if you're able. Don't allow any oppurtunity to get to windows, or be sure to ALWAYS keep any the COULD get to closed. (A screen is no match for the might of ferret claws!) Block off behind the fridge/stove/etc, even if you don't THINK your ferret will ever be there. You'd be amazed how many stories I've heard- my own included- about ferrets that learn to open their cage or find a corner weak enough they can push their way through. (Fortunately, our cage doors 'double' close, and they've only managed to open if we forgot and only did one. :P So they're safe now.) In the event they ever escape, better safe than sorry!

Try to make sure there's nowhere they can climb that could prove potentially dangerous. (I.E.- falling behind a bookshelf.) Ferrets are NOT like dogs. If a dog sees something above him he can't reach, he'll jump for it. When he finds out he can't reach it, he'll jump again and again and again until he get's tired. If a ferret sees something above him he can't reach, he'll stand up, jump for it. Maybe jump for it again. Then he'll look around and go "Okay, if I use the cushion to climb up on the table, I can jump over to the chair, and climb up the back to get to the couch, and then-" Yeah. xD They are EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT, to a point it's not always healthy for them even. 'xD Haha.

Another thing to watch out for is RUBBER. Ferrets LOVE rubber, especially younger ones. They're completely mesmorized by it for seemingly no reason. If you supervise them well with it, you might actually be able to keep them entertained with a very large and round rubber toy. Heh. My jill stole a rubber whale (like a rubber duck, but.. a whale, lol) from my nephew and adored it. Or hated it. I'm actually fairly convinced it was both, haha. Because she'd try for a good thirty minutes straight easily, and any time she'd manage to almost just barely get a grip on it, it would slip out. Occasionally she'd get ahold of its tail and be able to move it a tiny bit, but even then it was so rounded and slick it only lasted about two more seconds. She'd get so frustrated, but it was SO much fun to watch. xD If you can find a toy like this (or maybe a sturdy ball), and supervise them with it any time they have it, it can prove great fun; also be sure to take it permanantly if they start wearing it down, leaving chew marks, etc. But you'll need to really watch out for OTHER rubber things. One notorious culprit is TV remote buttons. Ferrets have been too-often known to chew these off and eat them. Any small bits of rubber that they can manage to chew off and ingest will usually cause intestinal blockage, almost always leaving you with the only options of "lose a ferret" or "buy an outrageous surgery". Because ferrets are so small, the chances of them getting a piece small enough to pass on their own are slim to none.

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Do NOT keep ferrets outside. It can work, but it's far from the best place for them. Ferrets are extremely sensitive to humidity and temperature changes, as well as the light to darkness ratio they receive, and the best way to control these factors is to keep them indoors. Temperatures above 80 degrees are extremely dangerous to ferrets, so it's best to keep your house in the high 60's to low 70s range. Radical temperatures/humidities and overexposure to light (like, it being bright almost all the time with little to no darkness) have been linked to higher risk for adrenal disease.

Ferrets should be kept in one of three settings:

1) A ferret cage, preferably the biggest your budget can afford, filled with multiple levels, lots of prime lounging spots, and a variety of toys. (Just a few switched out regularly to 'mix it up' is great. ^^) This is without doubt the SAFEST place for a ferret to be kept, though it does put limit on just how much exercise they can achieve on their own, and is often a bit boring, meaning more will be expected of you as far as play-time goes.

2) A ferret-proofed room of their own, complete with hammocks set up if you can manage them and/or other bed areas, and lots of toys. This can be argued as the "best" arrangement, really, as it is small enough to manage just what they can and can't get into fairly easily, but large enough they can run around and play more on their own, etc. ^^ Just be very careful about the door(s) of such a room.

3) The whole house, just like a cat or dog. This means extreme ferret-proofing, closely watching EVERY time outside doors are opened (they're fast!), etc. This is definitely the hardest to manage, but many people do find it extremely rewarding, being able to share every aspect of their lives with their ferrets. Know, though, that as a curteosy gesture, you should probably still confine ferrets to a room or cage when guests come over, as many are not used to ferrets. Many people think of ferrets as 'just like rats' (going back to that horrible rodent misconception mentioned earlier; not that rats aren't also great but misunderstood pets ) and even 'dirty'. If your ferret is one to go for the feet to get attention, it can EASILY be perceived as "meanness", and often leads to ferrets getting a bad rep. For best results, introduce ferrets to guests formally and slowly. :3

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(HAHA! My post is too long! Continued if it'll let me double post in a second.. if not I'll reply with the rest after someone else replies.)

(continued)

Yes, ferrets CAN be taken for walks, as well as trained to do a great variety of other cool stuff! ^^ The 2009 Ferrets U.S.A. I mentioned earlier (and I'm sure THIS one is 9, haha) also has a wonderful article about clicker-training ferrets to do some really cool tricks, like jumping through hoops and rolling over on command. ^^ On that note of guest-introduction a second ago, if you can train your ferret to do something like this, it both helps build a powerful bond between you and your ferret, AND is sure to impress those silly people who think ferrets are "dumb"! :3 Even if they aren't convinced for the species, they're sure to be more apt to warm up to YOUR fuzzy. ^^

As far as the walking goes, not all ferrets will take a harness, and while you can work with them, those who just won't are best left at home. After all, if they're miserable the whole time, who is the walk really benefiting? Those who will take it though can be super fun to take out! (And get you some GREAT attention in random parks! Haha! It's amazing how many people have never really seen a ferret. Our first trip (the only to the park we've been able to make =() we had about 5 different groups stop and go "...Is that a Chihuahua?" xD A few other guesses were "squirrel", and one great old man who exclaimed "Is THAT a WEEAASEL!?" xP And then there were of course several who guessed ferret, but seemed very skeptic doing so. ^^ Hehe..) Just be sure the harness is on TIGHT; I've seen my jill wiggle out of hers at least a few times at home, and I was just thankful we were still inside. And be sure you've got a good grip on the lead. Dogs and any other furry friends you approach may or may not be ferret-friendly, and you may even encounter an avid hunter! Be in a position where you can scoop up your fuzzy friend quickly if it looks like trouble is coming. Ferrets are surprisingly fierce when need be, but all it would take is one bite from a big enough dog. (On the bright side, ferrets are light enough that if you NEED to, jerking the leash can jerk up the whole ferret. 'xD This is NOT reccommended, but a preferable alternative to it getting mauled, right?) Know that I've never seen a dog first-hand that was at all hostile toward ferrets (though on that note, I haven't seen MANY that chase cats), but it CAN happen. Parks are SO much fun, just be sure to keep a wary eye out just in case. ^^

Also, be aware of the weather conditions whenever you'd like to take them out. As mentioned, they are very susceptible to radical temperatures and humidity. Overly hot days are a big no. Also, MOSQUITO season is a no! If there is ANY risk for mosquite bites at that time of year where you live, keep your ferret indoors. Heartworms (mosquito larvae) are far more dangerous to ferrets than even cats or dogs. This is because a ferret's heart is so small that ONE heartworm can be FATAL, and even if you can kill it, the body still has a high chance of clogging something and killing your fuzzy anyway. This is just one of the many reasons ferrets should be primarily kept INdoors. :3

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Ferrets stink.

Or rather, they smell. And if you keep their litter box clean, they just smell like MUSK. This does not guarantee they smell "bad". :3 To be honest, I rather enjoy their body odor, as do many ferret owners. If it's a little strong, though, a great product to help is Bi-Odor, a solution you can mix with their water daily to help tone down the smell of both their body odor AND their waste! ^^

Want to know what grapes, lilacs, and corn chips have in common though? =P They're all among the many scents that can be duplicated by ferret's TAILS! Many places on their body, especially their tail and ears, exude very strong scents, which actually often smell great. ^^ Keeping the litter box clean and your ferret well-groomed is a great way to help these odors shine through more.

One thing you do NOT- repeat NOT- want to do to "control" the smell is BATHE your ferret! Two to three times a year is plenty often for bath time. When you bathe your ferret, ESPECIALLY if you do it too often, the skin gets dried out, and works that much harder to replace all the oils the bath took out. In other words, if you try to bathe your ferret regularly, it will smell WORSE. 'xD

:3 Something that CAN help, though (somewhat surprisingly), is a box of clean dirt. ^^ (Like, go buy a bag to ensure there are no chemicals/bugs/etc.) Ferrets love love LOVE to dig- it's an instinct!- so they'll very much appreciate the gesture anyway. :3 But the dirt helps absorb some of that excess oil without drying out your ferret the way a bath will, which will help keep the smell more mild. ^^ To clean your dirty ferret, just brush him out. :3

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Finally, as far as numbers, I have to disagree with most people.

A good number of ferrets to keep is either one or three, NOT two. Ferrets are fine by themselves, and a select few even prefer it. (xD My first jill HATED all my other ferrets for MONTHS after we got them. Then all of a sudden one day, she and my other young jill were best friends, and she didn't mind my hob anymore. xD It was quite random, but I was glad, heh. ^^) Like everyone has been saying, though, they usually WILL do better in groups- this just doesn't mean "two" is the best number for that group.

If you get only two ferrets, you take a severe risk. This is because ferrets bond so strongly, and with only the one other to bond to, if one ferret dies before the other, the remaining is VERY likely to suffer from severe depression. Don't underestimate this at all- ferrets can get depression as severely as people can, and even die from heartbreak.

For this reason, it's better to keep at least three ferrets if you keep multiples. If one dies- even if one or both survivors were bonded more closely to it than each other- they aren't left completely alone, and will face a better recovery from their loss. :3

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Oh, and my sources have generally said an average ferret's life-span is 6-8 years, and generally the high end of that, though naturally if well taken care of they can live even longer. :3

they are not smelly if you keep them clean

=P That's what I said, lol.

To be honest, I have three ferrets- two jills and a hob- and one puppy. That puppy smells a THOUSAND times worse than all three of my little fuzzies! Worst I've ever felt about the ferrets was right after I got the extras (after having just one), and I wasn't used to needing to clean their box so often yet. The first time I smelled that much- and first time the hob was contributing too- was pretty bad. But it was just like "Wow, that stinks. O.o *cleanclean*" The smell of the dog literally made me throw up once. I mean, I'm pregnant and was having some pretty bad morning sickness (I was really nauseous) anyway, so it wasn't JUST him, but the fact remains it was the smell of stinkydog that triggered it. '^^; Hehe.

Any pet can be kept smelling great if you have the time (and sometimes maybe a bit of money, either to buy grooming supplies getting started or maybe some kind of smell-good product to help) though. Personally, I wanna try keeping a SKUNK<3 someday! They're fricking ADORABLE, and I've lived in rural areas most of my life so even their spray smell doesn't bother me, and I think a descented one would be awesome. Lol. xP

i agree so much ..... ferrets are great animals.

I'll second that. I love my 4 ferts

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Tell that to my Hob, Joey! For some wierd reason he actually likes the taste of it!

In the UK ferrets aren't neutered before being sold (although some rescues will do this before rehoming). As far as I'm aware, I have never seen a pet store in this country that sells ferrets.

In addition, I'm pretty sure I have heard that the likes of Marshalls Ferrets in the US are spayed far too young which puts them at a further increased risk of Adrenal Tumours. No Ferret knowledgable vet here will spay a Ferret younger than 6 to 8 months.

Ferrets are legal to own in the UK.

I like the musky smell of ferrets, but I cannot stand the smell of Hobs in season! I'm so glad my boys don't smell like that anymore but I do miss the musky smell. Although it's much better that I no longer come to work with that smell on me anymore. Since I made the mistake of cuddling them in my work clothes.

I have unfortunately seen a uk pet shop sell ferrets
Like u I have developed a liking for ferret musk as long as its not too overpowering!

hello!

I love ferrets they are the best pets ever!
They are like a puppy & kitten all rolled into 1!
They are really mischivous!
You need to get the right ferret 4 u.
For your first i'd recomend getting an older ferret what had been kept as a pet untill u get expiriance which u pick up from looking after your ferret. You learn for yourself what works & what dosn't.
It's just like being a parent for the first time.
Heat stroke is really dangerous for ferrets so they need to be kept hydrated in the summer & don't let them is the sun 4 2 long as they can't sweat. This is the reason why ferrets have the musky oder ( I don't meen the scent glan, which they let off when they get scared & skunk)
They loose heat by panting like a dog.
When ferrets first wake up u may notice them shivering, they do this to get their body temp up.
Good diet, love & exercise is the key for a happy healthy ferret.
Good luck wiv your ferret if u get sum