Do ferrets make good pets?
Yes! As pets, ferrets are social, sweet-natured, very playful and energetic, and trainable, but easily distracted. They are clever and more determined than most cats and dogs to explore all of their surroundings.
Despite the maintenance they require, there is nothing more rewarding than owning a ferret. They will make you laugh all the time: when they steal little “treasures” like tin foil, pens, or socks and run them to their hiding spots; when they do the “weasel war dance” and jump around like they’ve lost control of their bodies; when they give you kisses; and when they make the giggling sound we call “dooking.”
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Myths
Ferret odors
Ferrets do smell. The oils in their skin give ferrets a musky odor that most ferret owners don’t mind, but some folks find unbearable. And since most ferrets are caged, their skin oils build up in their bedding and increase their smell. We don’t recommend judging ferret odors by what you smell in a ferret owner’s house, since that person may not be as good about washing the bedding as you would be. Rather, put a ferret up to your nose and sniff them. Could you get used to that smell? If not, a ferret may not be for you. Like dogs, cats, and other animals, a ferret will change the way your house smells, but you can mitigate the stinkiness by cleaning their bedding weekly and changing their litter boxes daily.