Separation Anxiety

[Josie]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

I had several hamsters when growing up.

One called Melanie was the grumpiest thing and she bit me so hard once she drew blood.

Then we had brambles who ended up escaping and living under or floor boards. We had to leave food and water out for her to try and lure her out.

Finally we had patty (the fatty) who my mum rescued. She was the loveliest hamster ever. She was so friendly and she used to climb to the top of her cage and hang there, then would let go and fall all the way to the bottom (it was a 3 level cage)

I also rescued a rat from my friend. My mum was not impressed when I turned up with her on the doorstep!

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

I have had ferrets over the last 8years, all rescues and all have lived indoors. I currently have 2 polecat/ferrets. They make amazing pets and so long as they are out and about at least twice a day for play time they are an animal that seems quite happy in a suitably large cage so long as they have comfy beds/hammocks to sleep in and a litter tray!(and of course food and water..) I clean mine out twice a day and change their bedding as often as needs, so I don't think they are that smelly, especially as they are neutered. They do let off a stink occasionally, which is pretty bad, you can actually feel it and taste it in the air but it does pass. They do take care and commitment like any other animal you adopt, but they are a lot of fun! You do need to ferret proof your rooms though as you'd be amazed at how small a gap they can get through, under or around etc.

Yes, planning to keep them out of the cage (in my room) at all times except when I'm not there, which means school and bedtime.

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

Yes, planning to keep them out of the cage (in my room) at all times except when I'm not there, which means school and bedtime.

This'll probably be around 6 hours on weekdays and almost the whole day on weekends.

 

[Flobo]

Great, but they will hole up somewhere and sleep if out for too long. Mine are squeaker trained so if I can't find them in their usual sleeping places I squeak a toy(so long as Sid hasn't stolen it and stashed it)and they generally come running. I trained them with a ferret tonic reward that they love. They also come to their names. They do need plenty of stimulation and interaction, they can have fun with anything from playing tag under a rug, to crinkly bags, tubes, a box of packing peanuts, pretty much anything for them to investigate.
They only eat meat, all types,chicks,pinkies, chicken wings etc, they need the bones aswell, or you can get the frozen 100% minced meat with bone from good pet stores, you can always supplement with a small amount of good quality ferret complete kibble.I wouldn't recommend kitten food though.

 

[JoanneF]

The more I hear about ferrets, the more appealing they become.

 

[Flobo]

Meet Sid and Winnie!

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

Meet Sid and Winnie!

The more I hear about ferrets, the more appealing they become.

Yes, was looking for an alternative to a dog/cat that was fine alone for a while and BOOM there's the ferret.

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

Meet Sid and Winnie!

Those are some nice looking ferrets. Raised from kits?

 

[Flobo]

No, both rescues, found as strays (or escapees!).All mine have had the same background, we had 2 albino's 1st, Sandy and Flo. We adopted Winnie when Sandy passed away and then Sid aswell when Flo was getting a bit too old to keep up with Winnie. And now it's just Winnie and Sid, who are around 4or5years and around 2years, they can live 8-10 years all being well. I had 7 female rats before, adopted as a group, loved them all but it broke my heart losing them all one by one over the just about 3years I had them...

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

My mom really wants an albino ferret so I guess we're getting an albino kit and a regular kit.

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

Welp, guess Im getting ferrets.

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

Alright, my final decision has been made so I'll probably become a lurker.. goodbye.

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

No, both rescues, found as strays (or escapees!).All mine have had the same background, we had 2 albino's 1st, Sandy and Flo. We adopted Winnie when Sandy passed away and then Sid aswell when Flo was getting a bit too old to keep up with Winnie. And now it's just Winnie and Sid, who are around 4or5years and around 2years, they can live 8-10 years all being well. I had 7 female rats before, adopted as a group, loved them all but it broke my heart losing them all one by one over the just about 3years I had them...

Hey. Since you know a lot about ferrets do they need cage toys? Except hammocks. I will be getting two ferrets so they should keep each other entertained as well as a roller toy and a cat teaser when out of the cage

 

[leashedForLife]

.

hanging tunnels or a maze to play in / chase one another thru, are nice -
if they use the litter-tray more often than the floor, a small sturdy ball is nice. // Things they can kill & drag, that squeak, can be fun, too. Don't leave toys with them that have strings or cords - use flirt-poles or fishing-pole toys only when they are out of the cage, & U are actively playing with them. Put string-type toys away where they cannot get to them. [that can be harder than U think.]

Don't forget to get a FERRET litter-tray, they're triangular with a high corner! - ferrets like to pee / poop in corners, & they mark vertically, so a tray that's level on all 4 sides [the design generally used for kitties] will result in poop going over the tray's edge, & often clear out of the cage.

I, too, would not recommend "kitten food" for ferrets - I fed mine a complete ferret diet, breaking it up with raw chicken wings, turkey necks, occasional offal [kidney, liver], etc. // The raw meats were frozen thoroughly, then thawed B4 feeding, to reduce the bacteria count. Also, be sure to sanitize their dishes several times a week [run them in the dishwasher, or soak in warm water, then wash very well with a dishbrush or a scrubby-pad [a flat green plastic rectangle, or a S/S coarse steel-wool].
Plz don't use "Brillo" or other fine steel-wool with soap inside it - they are environmentally-nasty products.

- terry

.

 

[JudyN]

Alright, my final decision has been made so I'll probably become a lurker.. goodbye.

Oh, but we'll need photos!!!

My advice would be to get the very biggest cage you have room for - many cages sold for small furries are woefully small. If you google 'ferret toys' you'll see lots of awesome ideas.

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

.

hanging tunnels or a maze to play in / chase one another thru, are nice -
if they use the litter-tray more often than the floor, a small sturdy ball is nice. // Things they can kill & drag, that squeak, can be fun, too. Don't leave toys with them that have strings or cords - use flirt-poles or fishing-pole toys only when they are out of the cage, & U are actively playing with them. Put string-type toys away where they cannot get to them. [that can be harder than U think.]

Don't forget to get a FERRET litter-tray, they're triangular with a high corner! - ferrets like to pee / poop in corners, & they mark vertically, so a tray that's level on all 4 sides [the design generally used for kitties] will result in poop going over the tray's edge, & often clear out of the cage.

I, too, would not recommend "kitten food" for ferrets - I fed mine a complete ferret diet, breaking it up with raw chicken wings, turkey necks, occasional offal [kidney, liver], etc. // The raw meats were frozen thoroughly, then thawed B4 feeding, to reduce the bacteria count. Also, be sure to sanitize their dishes several times a week [run them in the dishwasher, or soak in warm water, then wash very well with a dishbrush or a scrubby-pad [a flat green plastic rectangle, or a S/S coarse steel-wool].
Plz don't use "Brillo" or other fine steel-wool with soap inside it - they are environmentally-nasty products.

- terry

.

Ok, what about food marketed towards ferrets? Something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpha-Ferr...F8&qid=1523223130&sr=1-2&keywords=ferret+food

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

[QUOTE="JudyN, post: 1169531, member: 90634"

My advice would be to get the very biggest cage you have room for - many cages sold for small furries are woefully small. If you google 'ferret toys' you'll see lots of awesome ideas.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I will order a 3 level cage that I have already picked out. It has 5 star reviews on amazon and a removable bottom tray. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Fri...F8&qid=1523222458&sr=8-1&keywords=ferret+cage

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

Oh, but we'll need photos!!!

My advice would be to get the very biggest cage you have room for - many cages sold for small furries are woefully small. If you google 'ferret toys' you'll see lots of awesome ideas.

Yes, of course there will be photos

 

[arealhuman]

I am also planning to feed it kitten that is meat based and high in protein.

Typo?

 

[BrianLovesAkitas]

Typo?