We got the kids a ferret for Christmas and need some tips - -
....the pet store said we really didn't need to wash her more then once a month..I washed her Tuesday and I would love to wash her again today!! I washed her cage out with vinegar so its not that and yes, she is descented. Any ideas?
....the store told use not to use cat litter but I could swear when my husband had one years ago, we did. I went to petco on monday and spent $40 on litter, bedding and clippers. Any ideas to make this cheaper? I'm not convinced that I have to use this bedding..I'm thinking I can give her a couple of old towels and wash them every other day?! I told the kids if I had to cut my starbucks lattes, ginger would have to give up her pink bedding!!
....any tips on training? I bought her these treats - she doesn't care for them-
thanks
M
1|1|we used to have 3........and descented or not.........they always stink.......lol|couponsnsamples|cpsnsamples@aol.com|15:25:24|01/03/2009|
its that natural musky smell they have........there is some additive u can get for their water.....that makes them smell less.........we used reg cedar bedding....and fed them dry cat food.......if you go awhile without playing with them regularly.......they tend to want to bite...at least from our experience with them 2|2|I use to have one many years ago, mine use to love cuddling up and sleeping in a sweatshirt sleeve, guess they like to sleep wrapped in something..|HONEY11|HONEY1@AMERITECH.NET|16:52:36|01/03/2009|
I just used towels as bedding or even baby receiving blankets work great. Used cat litter and fed dry cat food, but use to give him a treat several times a week of fresh fruit, watermelon he loved, grapes and diced apples..and fed him once a awhile cooked shrimp.I trained mine to walk on a leash..lol!!I use to take mine everywhere with me.
"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results." -Willie Nelson
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Linda
3|1|I had one years ago too.............|vickijo|vjdesmond@rochester.rr.com|19:11:28|01/03/2009|
I loved him so much. He loved to cuddle.
I used old towels and old shirts for his bedding. It was much easier to keep the cage clean. I washed them a couple times a week. I would bathe him once a week. I used a shampoo for sensitive skin if it was an animal shampoo but what worked best (cost wise) was to use J&J shampoo.
I used a litter box in his cage and used cat litter in it. I also had one outside the cage for when he was playing. The secret to getting them to use a litter box is to not make his play area too big.
I fed him a low ash cat food instead of the expensive ferret foods they offer. Mine also liked treats of fresh fruit, milk - although too much gave him diarehea, raw egg and raw meat. I also put some stuff on his food that was for his skin. I can't remember what it was called but it helped so that his skin wouldn't dry out.
Sometimes in the hotter months I would bathe him twice a week. They seem to tolerate cold pretty good but the heat does get to them. They don't sweat so its important they don't get too hot and have plenty of water to drink.
Thanks!
Vicki, NY 4|1|We have a ferret ...had hr for about 4 yrs now|shelly0418|michelle0418@centurytel.net|11:21:17|01/04/2009|
We adopted her from a friend that could not keep her.
Her cage is 5 feet tall. About 2 feet long. Give her room to play.
She is litter box trained.
We use reg cat litter. Just not the scoopable type.
We have been using Yesterdays News brand cat litter. It works great. I was
able to trade for free coupons a few months back for the product.
I think it runs $6.99 a bag.
We change the litter about twice a week. This product seem to help with the
smell better then the reg litter.
I bath her every two weeks. I use ferret shampoo.
They stay not to wash them to much or it drys out their skin.
We feed her dry cat food ( free with coupons normally) and ferret treat
from the pet store. We mixes her treats with her food. Never feed your ferret
treat by hand through the cage. They will tend to start biting then.
Our ferret has never bite anyone. I do home daycare. My daycare kids (toddlers) will
put their fingers in her cage and she will not bite.
Bedding...she sleeps in a tent (fleece). We bought it from the pet store. I think it run around $25.
She loves hiding in it. We put a baby blanket inside it and a small bear. She loves her teddy
bear. When that is in the washer, I just put a regular soft baby blanket in her cage to sleep in.
Michelle
5|2|Thanks so much|savbebe|savbebe@aol.com|21:15:31|01/06/2009|
She is soo totally cute; I just have to get over the stank!! 6|3|FOR THOSE THAT RESPONDED - ANY TYPE OF CAT FOOD??|savbebe|savbebe@aol.com|12:03:17|01/09/2009|
I'm starting to run low on the Merrill that we bought and wanted to grap some cat food at the grocery - any thoughts thanks
M
7|4|Ours eats...|sunriver|lithiasalt@cheerful.com|12:34:34|01/09/2009|
Friskies, Purina, honestly whatever I can afford to buy the cats. We've had her for about 4-5 years and she was a few years old. We got her from a family that decided she was too much work to take care of. She sleeps on old (but soft) towels, baby blankets, sweatshirts that get too stained for the rest of us to wear, etc. No special bedding.
They are really good at escaping, so be aware of that. Especially with kids in the house. During the spring/summer, she manages to get out about 1-2 a year and we have neighbors who know her and will catch and hang on to her if needed.
Ours has a medium sized cage. I want to get a bigger one and always watch freecycle. Almost got one about a year ago, but just missed it. She spends a good part of her time out of the cage although there are times in the year that the kids do not play with her as much as I would like them to. They get busy with school stuff and just don't have time. So, I wind up throwing her ball, or giving her extra attention.
For really special, rare treats she ADORES marshmallows. They are not good for her, but every so often we give in.
As far as scent, our is also descented but she smells. You get used to it pretty fast. It does not bother me at all anymore. We don't bathe her at all during the cold months because our apartment is pretty cool, but when it is warm she gets a bath probably every 4-6 weeks. When we first got her she had fleas, but no problems with them since.
HTH. They are a lot of fun. Ours tolerates the cats (well actually the cats tolerate her!), but can't get near the birds at all. She wants to hurt them!
Vanessa