Small Animal Talk: Ferret Fuzzies

I am a full blown animal addict. I love anything with fur. Cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, hedgehogs even, I have owned them all. Ferrets have been my favorite so far with their curious, friendly and hilarious approach on life.

Ferrets are playful

Admit it, when you buy an animal you may think of all the fun you can have. When you buy that hamster, it runs in its wheel and doesn't want much to do with you. You have to give them your ever-loving attention and hope he will come to realize you won't eat him for dinner.

Ferrets are different. They will play endlessly, like it is their goal in life. If they aren't having fun they are sleeping. It's as simple as that. Give them toys and stimulation and they will have you entertained for hours. Not to mention that they will definitely lift your spirits on a bad day. Oh, and be light-hearted as these guys will steal anything of interest and hide it. Anyone up for a game of hide-and-seek?

Ferrets are social

Most of the time, small animals cannot be kept in the same cage. They will fight to the death. This isn't to say that all ferrets will get along, but they are social creatures. Most ferrets will happily get along with another. If you are buying two ferrets at the same time, they are already living together and should get along fine. However, having one ferret then adding an additional ferret may cause a problem. Follow these steps for introducing a new ferret to your home.

1. Make sure you have a cage for every additional ferret.

2. Before introducing the ferrets make sure that you take it to the veterinarian for shots, and to be certain the ferret doesn't bring in unwanted disease.

3. Slowly introduce your ferrets, and don't pay more attention to the new one. Ferrets can get depressed!

4. Know the difference between fighting and playing. Ferrets can get rough because they have tough skin. If you see unwanted behavior, scruff them on the neck and tell them "No".

5. You will know when your ferrets have bonded with one another. A key indication of bonding is if they snuggle up and sleep with one another. That's a bond for life!