Last minute advice before I pick them up!

[marylouise235]

My name is Mary
Im from Texas
Currently living in New York with 2 goldens.

... and I am getting 4 new family members Saturday! After much thought and research, I made a decision to adopt 2 ferrets in need of a home. Instead I found 4 that need a home fast because their owner is moving to a no pet apartment. 3 males, 1 female all over a year old

The owner is giving me everything and I have an FN double (was for my rats). My plan is to keep the extra cage at my BF's house since we go back and forth often.

Im not sure what to start off feeding them. They are currently on cat food Eventually Id like to have them on raw or whole prey because natural is best.

Another concern of mine is how much stronger is their smell when there's 4. My plan is to clean the litter box 2x/day and switch bedding 1x/week. Any tips like wall plug ins, baking soda, etc?

Water bottle vs water bowl?

Any other tidbits for a first time ferret owner?

[sherrylynne]

First- let me say "congratulations" on the new family members!!! As for food- bring some along of what they are eating now, simply for the comfort level. And after all- if you'd truly prefer to have them on a more natural diet, why not simply switch them from what they are eating now, instead of going through the slow steady switch to get them first to a better kibble, THEN over to raw. Just do it all in one
For water- go get yourself a couple of croc-locs. They are bowls that attach to the side of the cage firmly. With water bottles, not only can they hurt their teeth trying to get water from them, but they cannot get enough water from them, keeping them on the edge of dehydration.
For smell, yes there will be some. Especially while they are on the kibble. Even on raw, with 9 here, I have to really stay on top of everything.
I also use Febreeze plug-ins(no essential oils, I checked), and baking soda for the carpet. I just shake a bunch in, let it sit for 10 minutes or so, then vaccuum.
Ok, what else?....largish rectangular litter boxes, they won't use corner ones, since they can't fit their whole body in. Also, lots of blankets/towels, etc. for bedding out of cage. A good number of litter boxes for out of cage time. Ferret proofing!!! Highly important!
Get down on your belly on the floor, and look around. Any space larger than about 1" square should be blocked off. Otherwise, they'll get in there, and possibly get stuck!
Pick up the book "Ferrets for Dummies" 2nd edition. Extremely valuable book! Read it from cover to cover. Literally!
Last thing offhand? A good camera- because we want decent pics of the new babies

[marylouise235]

I definitely got the camera part covered

Places to go tomorrow: Wal-mart, Borders, Pet Supplies Plus

Thanks for the input and pictures will be up hopefully by monday!

And they are all getting new names. Right now their all silly like Girlie girl, Fat boy and such. Where's the effort? Although apparently they come when their name is called. I don't want to confuse them if that's true.

[Heather]

Every little furbaby that comes into my house gets a new name. It doesn't seem to confuse them. I look at it as a new life, a new home .... a new name
Congratulations on your new furfamily and welcome to the forum. As sherrylynne has covered all the bases I will just welcome you and your little ones. Read threads, ask questions...everyone here is friendly and even what may seem like the silliest question may indeed be pertinent so ask away. The only silly question is the one that is never asked. Prowl the site, have fun, participate and learn. I hope that I will be seeing you and your little ones (photos are always appreciated and enjoyed)
ciao

[katt]

Hi and welcome! Congrats on the new babies! As for smell, there are several threads around the forum with more tips, but here are a few. Keep in mind though, switching to a raw/whole prey diet is going to be THE best way to cut smell. The difference when you do will amaze you. People constantly ask me if I sprayed Koda with perfume!!!! hahaha This of course, always sends me into a rant about raw diet, at which point their eyes typically glaze over...
First thing other than diet I would do to control smell is to find a high quality litter. I highly recommend Swheat Scoop or World's Best cat litters (the Multicat ones if you can find them). These are the ONLY clumping/scoopable litters that are safe for ferrets. (Though I hear there is an Arm and Hammer natural corn based litter that is out now too). NEVER use a clay based litter as it is terrible for their sensitive respiratory tracts, and can stick to their bums when they wipe - and they will wipe. Once you get a good litter, you can them mix in some baking soda and even some activated charcoal to help cut the smell even more. I have used both WB and SC litters and personally Swheat Scoop is my preferred choice. WB clumps much better, but SC controls smell better. SC now has a multicat which clumps really well (still not as good as WB multicat) and the odor control is great. If you are concerned about the expense of these litters here is a thought...I spend a LOT less $ on these litters overall. I originally had a pellet, non-clumping litter and there was SO much waste that I was going to the store for more litter once every week or two. With WB/SC I spend more in one trip, but I don't have to get new litter for months, even when I buy a smaller bag. Also, some people recommend mixing WB and SC for the best results.

Change bedding weekly and throw a little vinegar OR baking soda into the wash when you clean them. Wipe the cage down thoroughly - bars, pans, and all - with a 50/50 solution of diluted (with water of course) vinegar, or with baking soda and water. Baking soda is good for scrubbing. And do NOT bathe them often. The smell comes from the litter box, and the oils secreted by their skin. The secrete a musky oil to attract a mate, and while altered ferrets don't have as much of an odor, and raw fed even less, there is still an odor to the oils. If you bathe them a lot it dries out their skin and actually causes them to produce more oils and smell worse! When you do bathe, use baby shampoo, or human grade conditioner. This will dry their skin out much less, and make their coats soft and delicious smelling. Being dehydrated causes dry skin and you run into the same problem...which is why a water bowl is better than a bottle.
Bowls are messier as they will want to "free" the "poor, imprisoned water" but they will have fun and it is better for them. Water bottles work, but ferrets can't get out as much water as they need, and they are not patient creatures so they usually will not stay long enough to get the water they need, and thus can be dehydrated (raw diet improves hydration ), a water dish is easier for them to drink out of. If you don't want them to tip the entire dish over, I recommend getting a lock crock.

As far as tidbits for a new ferret owner....oh we could be here all day! haha I have not had ferret (I just have one lol) long, but my little boy has forced me to learn it all and learn it FAST. From diet to ferret proofing to discipline to health issues....he's a grand old man at the age of one and already has been through almsot the whole gambit of stuff! haha Keep in mind that most ferrets will need one major surgery - at least - during their lifetime, and have many many health issues so try to set aside some savings to be prepared for that and any emergencies if you can. Another BIG BIG thing is ferret proofing! The are super intelligent and can and will get into E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. Think you have it ferret proofed? Think again! There is always one tiny teeny itty bitty thing you miss...and they WILL find it! haha There is a lot of info on things to look for on ferret proofing in this thread I made about only ferrets. A lot of it is applicable to any number of ferrets, but particularly only ferts...
holisticferret.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talking&action=display&thread=5903

Please read around the forum and post any questions. No one cares if you are the 1000th person to ask, you will get an answer! And check out the feeding and nutrition section for more on raw diets. Also, one last thing - we have a great mentor program for switching to a raw diet when you are ready. Check it out.

[rarnold18]

Congrats on the new furbabies! Don't ever be afraid to ask a question here, no matter how silly you may think it sounds, the people here are incredibly supportive and will almost always come up with an answer and will help reasearch to find the answer if they don't know it! It's awesome here...and yes....PICTURES!!!

[marylouise235]

Thank you everyone! Ya'll are all so welcoming here

I have a couple updates: First off, the P.A. trip did not work out. My car has had a couple issues and even after the prepping I did before the trip, I just could not trust it on an 11 hour ride. I apologized to the lady that I wouldn't be able to make it I am a little worried that 4 bonded ferrets (she didn't want to split them) are going to have a tough time finding a willing new owner as easy going as me ("oh 2, 4? What's the difference") So I did offer to help her out.

After that I went on craigslist and remarkably found 2 baby boys that needed a home because their owner was being deployed. Guess where they were. In my neighboring community! If my car couldn't make it there, a for sale sign would be in the window. One is a blondie (slightly tan) and the other Im not sure. Silver/grey with a white chest and and face. He is going to be a huge boy! His paws are monsterous which makes him a little clumsy The guy said they weren't litter trained yet but they have had No accidents! *crosses fingers* So far the best name I have for them is Tom (bigger, silver one) and Jerry (smaller blondie). But my boyfriend being a drag racer wants a car theme. I gave him til the end of the week but I think he likes them as is cause he said, "where's Jerry?"

There is a smell but it doesn't stink, if anyone knows what I'm saying. It doesn't smell like brownies in the oven, but it doesn't smell bad either. It's just a smell. Keeping a ceiling fan on helps and every now and then a cracked window for new, fresh air. I got the febreeze plug-ins too. And I couldn't find the SC or WB litter but I did find the arm and hammer corn based. The guy bathed them 2 days before I picked them up so that may have something to do with it. And as far as money goes, I'd rather spend the extra buck to have quality. What do you do with the clumps. Do ya'll have a specific container for litter trash or what? I know you shouldn't flush it.

The lock crocks are great! And they down the water like camels! I keep a large cup next to the cage incase I walk by and it needs a quick refill. And they were on the 8 in 1 ferret food. So I got a bag of that for the comfort and while I get a foot on where to start as far as raw/whole prey diet.

Tom is a bit of a biter. I read on one of the forums that someone uses a timeout. Put them back in the cage, ending playtime. Then they will eventually learn no biting = more play. Also, a ferret owner/employee at Pet Supplies plus showed me a way to calm them down. You hold them by the scruff and they yawn (in submission?) and I did that with Jerry and after he was done playing yesterday he fell asleep on my stomach

And yes ferret proofing is difficult. I have wooden floors so carpet isn't an issue. But I also have base board heaters. I can't tell you how many times gerbils (I used to keep) would escape and climb into these (because the warmth). Im not sure if a ferret could fit in, actually Im 95% sure they can't but I don't want to risk it, especially since winter's around the corner and those will be constantly running. So I have to keep them away from an entire wall in each room! Oh and they love getting down and dirty! I had a dust pile behind a broom they got into. Had to brush them after that haha!

That's all for now. Pictures will be up by tonight, promise!

[Heather]

Congratulations on your newest.
Smell....they're freshly bathed they're busy putting on their stink. Clean ferrets smell worse than wet dogs Secondly, what are you feeding? Food is a huge contributing factor.....lastly ferrets have an odour. It's just a ferret, there's a reason why they're called stinkminks All kidding aside, the one will settle on its own, the other...the food, you have control over. The more natural the diet the less of a stink. Open a bag of kibbles and take a deep breath....that's what your ferret will smell like. It comes out in their coat....it's what makes dogs and cats stink tool.
Litter...that's a personal thing. I didn't like the corn based ones, it's just a personal thing. I hate walking on it. What to do with it....I use recycled paper, so it goes in a garbage bag in the garage and goes to the dump once a week. I can't help you with the heaters....they would indeed be a concern. Ferrets can get in some very tight places.
Good luck, I hope that you will be posting some pics
ciao

[rarnold18]

I would watch out when using "scruffing" as a way to calm them or punishment, it can often make the problem behavior worse... The best way to calm them down is to tire them out! Lots of play time and ferret safe toys.... I got a bunch of weeping tile (those big black drainage tubes found on construction sites for landscaping and foundation work) for free and it has become a ferret race track I have peices going up on furniture, under furniture, on top of other peices.... everywhere! Dig boxes with bows, marbles, shredded paper, even fall leaves, are a great enrichment toy lets them dig with out making a big mess. toys that make noise, rattle, crinkle, bells they loves, I have a bunch of easter eggs (I have three kids) that have a few bells in them and super glued shut, they are great, also old empty medicine bottles with the child proof lids filled with rice, pennys, or anything else that makes noise... they will be little tornados of fur when you first let them out of their cage but after awhile they'll go off exploring or digging or get themselves into trouble! They need atleast 2 hours of out of cage play time a day, but the more the better! I would definitely read some of the posts about ferret proofing, these little monster will get into everything and that's not always good! I recently figured out that my Sophie Ann and Velama had figured out how to get to my room with out going down the hallway....apparently there is a gap in the kitchen cabinets next to the dishwasher, they were going in there, and into a hole in the wall that is covered by the cabinets (we remodeled a few years ago and it's an interior wall so no drafts comming in from an exterior wall) they were going through that hole into the wall between the bathroom and kitchen coming out behind the 50+ year old cast iron tub, and into the wall into my bathroom comming out an access panel! holy crapola, their little path had them out of reach for almost 30 feet! Luckily they didn't get shocked or tangled in wires or the metal lath in the walls!

[sherrylynne]

Congratulations of the new babies Can't wait to see pics of them. For the litter, I just bag it up with the dirty cat litter, and trash it. With the biting, time outs in a carrier with no toys, blanket, nothing, for the one biting only. Don't put them in together. One, they'll just play, and two- the one who DIDN'T bite might wonder what he did wrong!
Scruffing, I only use now with treats, so they don't think it's a bad thing. Someone on here(can't remember who, but think it was Heather) had mentioned that their mother stops disciplining them by scruffing when they are around 4 months old, and just uses an "ignore" for punishment after that. I've found both the time outs(being ignored!), or just gently pushing them away makes a world of difference.
As for the smell, like everyone else has mentioned, the diet makes the difference. Once your guys are full time raw, the next time you smell a kibble fed ferret, you'll really notice the difference

[marylouise235]

So photos are uploading to photobucket- didn't realize I had to make an account and was too lazy the past couple nights. Plus I've been enjoying my baby boys I'll be posting Tom and Jerry (subject to change) in the photo section within the hour so check them hotties out