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| Rich |
Hi I have always wanted a ferret but before I get one I want to ask other
people who already own ferrets I have seen a cage for in the house a big one
but because ferrets have had a lot of bad press the person I have asked to
look after him when we go on holaday says he dosen't mined looking after him
but he wont have him in the house so if I get a hutch will it be ok just to
keep a ferret in for at the most 2 week''s ?
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| Melissa |
In article <lCAgb.5530$m81.726@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk>,
"Rich" <thdl29740@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi I have always wanted a ferret but before I get one I want to ask other
> people who already own ferrets I have seen a cage for in the house a big one
> but because ferrets have had a lot of bad press the person I have asked to
> look after him when we go on holaday says he dosen't mined looking after him
> but he wont have him in the house so if I get a hutch will it be ok just to
> keep a ferret in for at the most 2 week''s ?
There are several potential problems. -and I'm glad you're thinking
ahead and asking questions.
While some ferrets can live quite happily outdoors, it's not quite the
same thing to take an "indoor" ferret and suddenly house it outside. It
has to gradually become accustomed to the outside temperatures and
climate (whether hot or cold). I don't remember how much time is needed
for that adjustment but it's at least a couple of weeks of gradually
spending more and more time outside. -and/or starting it during months
with optimal temperatures (not too hot or cold or wet or dry).
There could also be a lot of stress with that sudden a change in
environment and ferrets don't handle stress well. If the ferret did
become stressed it might stop eating, develop ulcers and die long before
you got home. Ferrets go downhill very quickly.
It also sounds like this friend wouldn't be letting it out for regular
exercise and interaction (and you may correct me if I'm wrong), which is
extremely important. One or two days w/o these and a ferret may stop
eating from the stress and die shortly after.
So what I'm saying is, it's not keeping the ferret in a hutch that's the
problem, it's changing its routine and environment too drastically. It
would be best for you to find someone who will be able to take care of
your ferret similarly to the way it will be living when it's with you.
See if you can find a local ferret club or ask your local veterinarian
if there are people who pet sit on the side. Many will come to your
house twice a day to check on the ferret and let it out for playtime for
a small fee (which of course adds up over two weeks!). You might also
consider a responsible teenager. Either option would be preferable to
the friend who won't let them stay in the house (assuming that's what
your ferret becomes accustomed to).
-Melissa
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| :: brian :: |
Rich wrote:
> Hi I have always wanted a ferret but before I get one I want to ask other
> people who already own ferrets I have seen a cage for in the house a big one
> but because ferrets have had a lot of bad press the person I have asked to
> look after him when we go on holaday says he dosen't mined looking after him
> but he wont have him in the house so if I get a hutch will it be ok just to
> keep a ferret in for at the most 2 week''s ?
>
>
Would it be possible to ask the friend to visit your place?
Beside your friend not wanting the ferret in his house, there is the
problem of his house most likely not being ferret-proof anyway. You
would need to ensure that his house is OK for your ferret. In addition,
I would need to question your friend's ability to properly look after
your ferret. If he is unwilling to keep the ferret in the house because
of 'a lot of bad press'… then how much does he honestly know about them?
IMHO, I think the best solution is to find someone that is willing to
come to your house while you are away.
--
Brian
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| Rich |
Ok thanks for your help I will have to to try and fined someone better to
look after him when I go away :-)thanks for the quick replys :-)
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| Poop Dogg |
"Melissa" <nospam@nospam.com.invalid> wrote in message...
> While some ferrets can live quite happily outdoors, it's not quite the
> same thing to take an "indoor" ferret and suddenly house it outside. It
> has to gradually become accustomed to the outside temperatures and
> climate (whether hot or cold). I don't remember how much time is needed
> for that adjustment but it's at least a couple of weeks of gradually
> spending more and more time outside. -and/or starting it during months
> with optimal temperatures (not too hot or cold or wet or dry).
>
> There could also be a lot of stress with that sudden a change in
> environment and ferrets don't handle stress well. If the ferret did
> become stressed it might stop eating, develop ulcers and die long before
> you got home. Ferrets go downhill very quickly.
When I got my ferret I read that they are very susceptible to heat,
anything over 95F being potentially deadly. Since I lived in the
desert I always avoided taking him out during the day in the summer.
If you live in a mild northern climate I would suppose that it would
be safe to house him outdoors, though even then you might want to
move him inside during the summer. But I think that any ferret would
probably be happiest inside where the climate is controlled at all
times.
>
> It also sounds like this friend wouldn't be letting it out for regular
> exercise and interaction (and you may correct me if I'm wrong), which is
> extremely important. One or two days w/o these and a ferret may stop
> eating from the stress and die shortly after.
>
> So what I'm saying is, it's not keeping the ferret in a hutch that's the
> problem, it's changing its routine and environment too drastically. It
> would be best for you to find someone who will be able to take care of
> your ferret similarly to the way it will be living when it's with you.
> See if you can find a local ferret club or ask your local veterinarian
> if there are people who pet sit on the side. Many will come to your
> house twice a day to check on the ferret and let it out for playtime for
> a small fee (which of course adds up over two weeks!). You might also
> consider a responsible teenager. Either option would be preferable to
> the friend who won't let them stay in the house (assuming that's what
> your ferret becomes accustomed to).
>
> -Melissa
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| Poop Dogg |
":: brian ::" <user@127.0.0.1> wrote...
> Beside your friend not wanting the ferret in his house, there is the
> problem of his house most likely not being ferret-proof anyway. You
> would need to ensure that his house is OK for your ferret. In addition,
> I would need to question your friend's ability to properly look after
> your ferret. If he is unwilling to keep the ferret in the house because
> of 'a lot of bad press'… then how much does he honestly know about them?
It is essential to ferret-proof your house. I didn't and my ferret went
absolutely wild, getting under the cabinets, furniture, etc. One day
I pried off the base at the bottom of the kitchen cabinet and found one
of his treasure troves. It was filled with junk, from toys, to trash,
to silverware.
One other thing your friend might not appreciate is that ferrets really
aren't litterbox trained. They will **** anywhere, preferably wherever
they **** before but picking a nice clean spot each time as well. My
ferret DESTROYED the carpeting, ****ting everywhere which left a stain
even after thorough cleaning. And they **** constantly, I read that it
takes 3 hours from eating to ****ting.
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| gwen |
Where do you live.
Gwen
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| Melissa |
In article <TOidnTfMW53xlx6iRTvUqA@bravo.net>,
"Poop Dogg" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
> One other thing your friend might not appreciate is that ferrets really
> aren't litterbox trained. They will **** anywhere...
That's not true. It may be true of some ferrets but not all. I had 4
ferrets, at different times, all were 100% litterbox perfect except for
when they got ill. I also had a rescue with me for 3 days who was deaf,
and almost never handled, and in 3 days she was 80% litterbox trained
both in and out of the cage. I don't doubt that would have improved to
100% if I'd had her longer. My ferrets even used litterboxes when we
were elsewhere if one was provided for them -if there was no litterbox,
then yes, they'd go wherever because when ya gotta go ya gotta go! But
if there was a litterbox put out for them they were 100% perfect
elsewhere too. I don't accept that most ferrets (and definitely not
*all* ferrets) can't be litterbox trained. I got each ferret from
different places at different ages, with different histories, and all
were fine within 2 weeks.
-Melissa
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| Ferret Fanatic |
I agree with Melissa, my ferrets have been 100% litter/paper trained.
The only accident's I have ever had has been with ill ferrets. You make
it sound like they are filthy animals, they are not.
Melissa wrote:
> In article <TOidnTfMW53xlx6iRTvUqA@bravo.net>,
> "Poop Dogg" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>
>>One other thing your friend might not appreciate is that ferrets really
>>aren't litterbox trained. They will **** anywhere...
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| Lin |
"Ferret Fanatic" <ferretfanatic@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:E8-cnUc0ip-B5B6iXTWJkQ@comcast.com...
> I agree with Melissa, my ferrets have been 100% litter/paper trained.
> The only accident's I have ever had has been with ill ferrets. You make
> it sound like they are filthy animals, they are not.
Same w/ mine. It's very unusual to have any accidents here. I had no trouble
litter training my fuzzies.
Lin, Ariel, Oberon, & Max
>
> Melissa wrote:
>
> > In article <TOidnTfMW53xlx6iRTvUqA@bravo.net>,
> > "Poop Dogg" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>One other thing your friend might not appreciate is that ferrets really
> >>aren't litterbox trained. They will **** anywhere...
>
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| Rich |
UK shropshire
"gwen" <gwenjohn@eastkent.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:blv97p$vnh$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Where do you live.
>
> Gwen
>
>
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| gwen |
Hi Rich,
I live in Kent. My ferrets live outside in a court all year round. When I
go on holiday my ferrets go back to the breeder for a holiday they have to
stay in large hutches, two to a hutch for company. The hutches are the
double decker size which is what I would recommend for 1 or 2 ferrets.
Mine come back no worse for wear but I like to think they are let out for a
daily run. My concern would be that your friend has no experience of
ferrets.
If your ever on holiday down my way, I will gladly ferret sit for you.
Gwen
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| Rich |
Thank you but I have decided the freind how I had thought could do it isn't
the rigght person but I have found a resque center in staford what will be
happy to to look after him when I go on holiday :-) so all I have to do now
is save the money for the cage and the money to have him spayed and then im
on my way to getting a little chap :-)
"gwen" <gwenjohn@eastkent.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bm8n34$48g$1@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Hi Rich,
>
> I live in Kent. My ferrets live outside in a court all year round. When
I
> go on holiday my ferrets go back to the breeder for a holiday they have to
> stay in large hutches, two to a hutch for company. The hutches are the
> double decker size which is what I would recommend for 1 or 2 ferrets.
> Mine come back no worse for wear but I like to think they are let out for
a
> daily run. My concern would be that your friend has no experience of
> ferrets.
>
> If your ever on holiday down my way, I will gladly ferret sit for you.
>
> Gwen
>
>
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