...Pet ferrets?

[Phlakes]

So I've been thinking of finally getting a pet for a while, but naturally I'll be gone for most of the day and I'm too broke to buy too much food or anything. I'm an extreme dog person, but obviously that won't work, and while I do like cats, I can't see myself owning one.

So I figured "screw it, how 'bout a ferret?"

AW LOOK AT HIS WIDDLE NOSE AND HIS WIDDLE FACE OH MAH GAWD

I've done a small bit of research (see: Wikipedia) and found out that they sleep most of the day, and are most active around dawn and dusk- you know, when people are home from school/work. Also that they're carnivores, but I'm pretty sure there's a type of pet food for that.

So, you guys being the hippest cats on the internet (and I'm never saying that again), do any of you have experience with ferrets, or possibly own one right now?

And if you do, what did you name it? So far I've been looking at Winston. Naturally.

 

[Dags90]

The same image from the last time I posted about ferrets here:

They're cute, I'd recommend getting more than one though. And no matter what you do, they will smell a bit. I liked playing with my cousin's ferrets when she had them, but I don't think I would ever want to own them.

 

[JET1971]

They have ferret food you can buy. Also they can eat cat food but I suggest suplement it with ferret food. Get one thats a baby and was hand fed if you can, they are much easier to bond with and more lovable. You will need to give it as much attention as a cat but as much as a dog makes them a better pet.

If you dont get its scent glands removed they can be stinky lil shits, and if it decides it hates water you will have some fun giving it a bath. Mine loved the bath when it got older hated it when it was young.

If you let it roam free you wont need to worry about bugs in the house or mice EVER but you will get used to checking the cushions before sitting down if you dont know exactly where it is as they are notorious burrowers.

As with all pets there is good and bad.

Mine was named "Spanky".


*edit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLTVzJpdAPk&feature=fvst

 

[Wadders]

They are cute, but can be vicious little buggers. But if it's being sold as a pet, it's probably fine...

For best use, take it ferreting for rabbits

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret#Ferreting

 

[intheweeds]

I've kept ferrets, they are awesome pets and are litter trainable. The males have a worse scent than the females but are usually larger and (in my experience) more sociable. Get it fixed and descented if you aren't going to breed it.

Otherwise, they are smart and easy to litter train. The reason it's so easy though is that they usually choose a spot and always go there so you just try to stick a litter box somewhere they like. They always choose a corner against a wall because they back up into things to go, so you'll want the box sides to go up the wall a bit. The only difference between it and a cat.

I'm surprised actually that they aren't more popular. They are small and litter trainable like a cat, but playful and attentive like a dog, all in a small easy to care for package. If you get one as a kit, they will love you for life.