Ferret shelter
If you are looking for a ferret that is matched to your personality, lifestyle, and home, then you should consider getting your ferret at a ferret shelter. Ferret shelter owners get to know every ferret that comes through their door and they want to match their ferrets with the best possible forever homes. They will spend time with their ferrets, assessing their personality, seeing how they interact with other ferrets, and socializing the new ferrets.
Shelter owners will also take new ferrets to a vet to determine if the ferret has any diseases or conditions that you’ll need to know about when adopting. The vet will, if appropriate, desex the ferret and treat any curable issues the newcomer has, like fleas and ear mites, saving you some time and money at the vet yourself.
Ferret shelter owners are also some of the most experienced and knowledgeable people when it comes to proper ferret care. They can usually answer all your ferret care questions and help set you up for success with your new ferret.
This is our number one recommendation for anyone looking to add a ferret to their family. To find a ferret shelter near you, go to xxxxx
- Shelter goals
Rescue ferrets and help them find forever homes. Shelters are concerned with the long-term wellbeing of each ferret. - Shelter prices
Adoption fees range from $80-$150 USD - What you get for that price
Typically, shelter ferrets are:- Desexed
- Vaccinated
- Checked by a vet
- Matched to your particular living situation
- Socialized and litter trained
In addition, ferret shelter staff can give you good advice on how to care for your ferret.
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Reputable ferret breeder
Ferrets are susceptible to certain diseases, mainly due to poor breeding practices. A reputable breeder will trace the lineage of their ferrets and ensure that their bred ferrets are not predisposed to those diseases.
Unfortunately, there aren’t that many reputable ferret breeders around the world, as most ferrets generally come from large commercial breeders or backyard breeders. It is best to ask your local ferret shelter if there are any reputable ferret breeders in your area.
- Reputable breeder goals
Reputable breeders are driven by the desire to create healthy, well-behaved ferrets. - Reputable breeder prices
Fees range from $80-$350 USD - What you get for that price
Typically, reputably bred ferrets are:- Vaccinated
- Checked by a vet
- Genetically healthy
- Socialized and litter trained
- They will be able to show you their breeding ferrets’ family lineage
In addition, reputable breeders can give you good advice on how to care for your ferret.
Pet shop
One of the most common places to find ferrets for sale is pet shops. Pet shop ferrets generally come from large commercial ferret breeding farms. (You can ask the pet shop where their ferrets are bred and do your own research.) While commercial breeders do tend to create docile, friendly ferrets, they are also the most likely to develop certain deadly diseases.
Many pet shops are misinformed about proper ferret care, merely passing on the information given to them by the commercial breeder. Commercial breeders are motivated by profit, so they will usually tell you that the breeder’s food and other products are the best for ferrets. This may not be true.
- Pet shop goals
Pet shops want to sell ferrets for a profit, meaning they will usually try to sell you their food, cages, and other ferret accessories - Pet shop prices
Prices range from $80-$150 USD - What you get for that price
Typically, pet shop ferrets are:- Desexed
- Descented, if found in the United States (most other countries outlaw medically unnecessary descenting)
- Predisposed to common ferret diseases
Backyard ferret breeder
These breeders are generally some of the worst people to buy ferrets from because they typically do not understand ferret genetics or good breeding practices. Their ferrets may be unhealthy and unfriendly.
How do you tell a backyard breeder from a reputable breeder? Backyard breeders typically:
- Advertise in free or cheap online markets like Gumtree or Craigslist
- Do not show prospective buyers the living conditions of their ferrets
- Cannot show documentation of the breeding ferrets’ lineage
- Do not require you to return the ferret to them if the ferret is, for whatever reason, eventually not a good fit for you
- Backyard breeder goals
Backyard breeders are either engaging in a hobby or driven by profit - Backyard breeder prices
Prices range from $80-$350 USD - What you get for that price
Typically, backyard bred ferrets are:- Predisposed to common ferret diseases
- Not vaccinated
- Not checked by a vet