How do you tame a pet ferret? A detailed guide to ferret taming methods

The domestication of the modern pet ferret began more than 200 years ago, but as early as 3000 BC, ferrets were already being kept as household animals in Egypt. They were raised together with European Persian cats. Later, during the Crusades in the 11th century, ferrets were brought to Europe as a species of practical value. In the 16th century, ferrets were shipped from Europe to America to curb the growth of rodents. People let them out of their cages to chase down hidden field mice.

1. Feed your pet ferret a top-quality ferret food, and only use cat food as a substitute when ferret food is unavailable. Make sure the food you choose contains more than 34% protein and less than 2% fiber. Make sure meat is the first ingredient on the ingredient list on the back of the bag. Avoid foods containing dried fruit and vegetables for your ferret. Remember, ferrets are picky carnivores! Recommended food brand: Marshall Premium Ferret Diet

2. Give your pet ferret extra meat or fatty acids. Feed your ferret cooked chicken, chick or young turkey food, chicken liver, cooked eggs, and chicken-flavored cat food or ferret food. Do not feed your ferret fruit or raw vegetables. Once a day will not harm your ferret, but it provides no nutrition for your ferret (they contain sugar). Raw vegetables can cause intestinal blockage in ferrets. Remember, ferrets have no cecum and cannot digest vegetable foods.

3. During non-shedding season, give your pet ferret a half-inch hairball treatment several times a week, and during shedding season, give one inch every day. Make sure the ferret eats the hairball treatment one hour after a meal. Do not give him/her the hairball treatment before a meal. Remember, hairballs can cause digestive blockage in ferrets. Ferrets cannot cough up hairballs like cats do.

4. Give your pet ferret at least 3 hours of supervised out-of-cage playtime every day. Invent creative games to play with your ferret, and provide him/her with plenty of interactive toys. Remember, ferrets are very intelligent animals. If kept in a cage for long periods, they can become depressed. This can lead to illnesses such as ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems (and it is not good either). Hug your ferret often to show your love for him/her. Ferrets are social animals (like dogs) and need interaction with people, which benefits their physical and mental health.

5. Buy the largest cage possible for your pet ferret. A single ferret needs a cage at least 3 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 3 feet high. If you have more than one ferret, you need a larger cage. Choose a multi-level ferret cage. Inside the cage, place tubes, tunnels, hammocks, sleep sacks, hanging toys, a litter box, a food dish, a water bottle, and plenty of soft cloth bedding. Never use a fish tank as a ferret's home.

6. Line your ferret's litter box with recycled paper pellets. Do not use cedar or pine shavings to line the litter box or the ferret cage. These products can cause respiratory disease in ferrets.

7. Check your home! Keep your ferret away from shoes, soft rubber items, foam rubber, plastic, erasers, rubber bands, nuts, candy, chocolate, soda, chips, gum, cleaning supplies, soap, and so on. Note that ferrets love these things, and they will do anything to get them. However, all of these things can be fatal to ferrets. Seal off gaps around dishwashers and stoves and under cabinets. Keep your ferret away from the laundry room. Note that ferrets can climb onto recliners, sofas, and beds to sleep. Ferrets are often injured by chewing up furniture. You need to always know where your ferret is. Do not let your ferret run around the house unsupervised. Ferrets can open cabinets and crawl into bathtubs, washing machines, dryers, and drawers. Try to let your ferret play in a safe room.

8. Clean your ferret. Make sure your ferret's nails are neatly trimmed. Clean your ferret's ears whenever you see earwax. Keep your ferret free of fleas. Bathe your ferret no more than once a month (unless he or she falls into something). Groom your ferret regularly, especially during shedding season (spring and autumn). Brush your ferret's teeth with cat toothpaste at least once a month.

9. Have money set aside for emergencies. Be sure to reserve enough money for surgical emergencies and veterinary visits. Try to set aside a certain amount each month for your ferret's health care costs. The cost of a single surgery alone can be more than 800.00 USD. In a medical emergency, your ferret depends on your care. Always have at least 1000.00 USD available for health care costs. Ferrets can develop illnesses requiring surgery at any time.

10. Make sure your pet ferret receives up-to-date vaccinations and heartworm medication injections. Ferrets must receive a rabies vaccine and a canine distemper vaccine injection once a year. Both diseases are fatal to ferrets. If mosquitoes are present in your area, your ferret needs a monthly heartworm preventive. Take your ferret for a physical exam and vaccinations every year.