Essential Ferret Supplies

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Grooming Essentials

Food
This may seem like a silly place to mention food, but it is the most important factor in your ferrets health and proper grooming.  Ferrets are carnivores and require a diet that is very high in animal protein and fat.  Most pet stores carry brands of food formulated specifically for ferrets.  If you find your ferret does not like this type of food, try one of the kitten or nursing cat foods that is also high in protein and fat.  Those foods with high vegetable protein contents will not work.  Protein in ferret food must be animal or meat protein.

Ferret Shampoo
Pet stores generally stock at least one brand of shampoo made specifically for ferrets.  In a pinch simple baby shampoo will work.  Do not bathe ferrets more than once every two weeks.  Frequent baths will dry out their skin.  Remember that a ferrets body temperature is normally 102, and water that feels cool to you will be cold to them.  Be sure to dry them thoroughly after the bath and allow them to run and dry off somewhere that is not too breezy.

Conditioner
Some pet stores will stock conditioner for ferrets.  It's not necessary, but it does help to avoid drying out their skin after a bath.

Cat or Kitten Brush
If they will tolerate it, a good brushing after a bath will help to remove some of their loose fur.  This is especially important while they are shedding and helps to avoid forming hair balls and causing intestinal obstructions.

Cat Nail Clippers
Keeping your ferrets nail clipped properly is very important.  Nails that become too long can shatter or become snagged on carpeting or bedding.  Nail clipping should be done every two weeks or each time a bath is given.  Be very careful when clipping your ferrets nails.  Clip about 1/8 in. beyond the ‘quick’ or blood vein. If you do happen to nick the vein, a mixture of cornstarch and water will stop the bleeding.  In order to distract your ferret while clipping their nails, try putting a few drops of Linatone on their belly.  If you don't have a cat nail clippers, a human nail clippers will work.

Ear Cleaning Solution
Proper ear hygiene is also important.  Just like baths and nails, ears should be cleaned every two weeks.  Using a cotton swab or Q-tip and a small amount of cleaning solution available from your pet store, gently clean the small folds inside the ear.  DO NOT put the swab into the ear canal!  Ears need to be kept clean to stop wax build-up and ear mites.  Ear mites will cause the ear wax to be very dark in color and once they are found, they are very hard to get rid of without help from a veterinarian.

Cotton Swabs
Cotton swabs or Q-tips will be used for cleaning ears or applying a mixture of cornstarch and water to stop nails from bleeding if clipped too closely.

Ferretone/Linatone
Ferretone/Linatone is an essential that no ferret owner should be without.  Linatone is an oil with amino and fatty acids that help to keep your ferrets coat shiny and healthy.  It also works very well as a treat as most ferrets just LOVE the stuff.  It's often used to distract your ferret while cutting his nails or administering vaccinations.  Only 2-3 drops should be given each day as a treat or as a reward for using the litterbox or performing a trick that you are teaching them.

Cat Hairball Remedy
There are several different hairball medicines on the market.  Most are made for cats but work equally well for ferrets.  During the seasons that they shed, a bit should be given to them every day to help them pass any hair that they clean from themselves.  During the seasons when they are not shedding, some should be given about once a week.  This medicine generally comes in a tube and smells a bit like Tootsie-Rolls.
 

Housing Requirements

Cage
The larger the cage, the better! Wire mesh no more than 1x2 inches.  Cover floors with something washable like linoleum.  We've found that this is the best floor covering as it's relatively inexpensive and easy to clean with a mild water and bleach solution.  Cages should be secure in that there is no way for your ferret to sneak out.  If your ferret has free run of a room or portion of your home, it is still important to have a cage for those times when you are away from home or have company over.  Ferrets tend to prefer cages with lots of levels, shelves, toys and other things for them to play with.

Scrap Linoleum
Ferrets have very sensitive feet and should not be walking on wire cage floors without some sort of protection.  Sheets or blankets can be used but they can quickly become soiled or smelly.  We've found that linoleum works the best.   It's inexpensive, easy to cut and cleans up with a little soap and water.  Scrap carpeting can also be used, but again you have to deal with an odor problem and potential problems with their nails becoming caught in the knap.  Any type of wood should NOT be used because it retains fluids and could become a health hazard.

Bedding
Old blankets or towels can be used.  Some ferrets seem to prefer the store bought hammocks or sleep sacks that are hung from the top of the cage. Others prefer a small box where they can hide in the dark and catch their 18-20 of hours of shut-eye.  Any bedding should be washed at least once a week especially during the months that they are shedding their coats.

Litter Box
There are many different types of litter boxes available.  We've found in our experience that the smaller the box, the less likely they are to use it.  Instead of purchasing the corner type or ferret litter pans from the pet stores, we've begun using larger Tupperware type containers.  These containers are about 2 feet long, 1 1/2 ft high and 1 1/2ft deep.  We then use a sharp knife or small saw to cut a square hole in one side about 3-4 inches from the floor.  The hole should be large enough for the ferret to move in and out of easily.  This type of box helps to keep litter from being scattered all about as they like to dig each time it is changed.  These boxes are easy to find at most Target or K-mart store and are not very expensive.

Litter
Most cat litters of the non-clumping, non-scented clay gravel type can be used.  If possible, the dust-free kind is best.  Another very good choice is the recycled newspaper type that comes in pellet form.  Ferrets are very finicky about where they do their 'business'.  Be sure to clean the litter box every day or at least remove any large amounts of feces.  Litter should be replaced entirely at a minimum of every 3 days.  The litter box should be washed and disinfected with a solution of water and bleach at least once a month to avoid infections or contamination.

Water Bottle
It's very important that your ferrets have fresh clean water at all times.  We have tried many methods and products and have found that the water bottles made to hang from the outside of the cage work best.  Water left in bowls is quickly played with, spilled or can become stagnant.  Water bottles come in a variety of sizes.  The 8oz. or 16oz. bottles work just fine depending upon the size and number of ferrets you have in a cage.  Water bottles should be cleaned and refilled with cool drinking water EVERY day!  Once a week they should be washed with soap and hot water to disinfect them.  A mild solution of water and bleach will also work, but be very care to rinse out all of the bleach!

Food Dish
Food bowls also come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles.  Always remember that ferrets will be ferrets!  They will dig, claw, pounce or do whatever is necessary to make a mess for you to clean up.  When buying or making a food bowl keep these things in mind.  It should be firmly attached to the cage.  This will keep them from dragging it around and spilling it over.  It should be large enough for their heads to fit into.  We've seen some bowls made for ferrets that ours could not fit their heads into.  It should be made strong enough so that it can't be chewed apart or shattered.  Some are made of brittle plastics than can be easily broken by a strong male ferret.  It should be made of material that can be washed repeatedly. Just like the water bottles, food bowls must be washed with soap and water at least every 2-3 days and be disinfected with a mild water and bleach solution at least once a week.  And finally, it should have a lip on the inside edge of the bowl to keep rambunctious ferrets from digging out their lunch!  Most ferrets love to dig and the food bowl makes a great place to practice their mess-making skills.
 
 

Other Essentials

Bitter Apple
Bitter Apple is used to help nip-train or keep ferrets from chewing those things they should not be.  It's not harmful to the ferret, but it is rather unpleasant.  With baby ferrets it can be used in small amounts on your fingers to train them not to nip you.  Older ferrets may want to play with electrical cords or things they may be dangerous to them.  A light coating of Bitter Apple will keep them from these things.

Travel Carrier
This is a must for any ferret owner.  Trips to the vet, a visit to the home of another ferret, a trip to the park. These are all times when a good secure travel carrier can really come in handy.  Don't forget to have an old towel or blanket for them, a small water bottle and for trips of more than an hour a food dish with their favorite ferret kibble.  In warmer clients, you may want to wrap a small ice-pack in blankets for the bottom of the carrier to keep them cool.  Remember, ferrets can overheat very quickly!  Please don't leave them in your car ever!

Hammocks, Tunnels, Ramps and Architectural Toys
This is the most fun for ferret owners.  We have found in our experience that the cheapest toys and those most cleverly designed work best.  Flexible dryer vent hose, 3-4in. PVC pipes (available at most home improvement stores) and old blue jeans all make great tunnels to explore.  Cardboard boxes with holes cut in them and taped together in levels also makes an inexpensive playhouse.  Boxes like this won't last very long and will need to be replaced with new ones from time to time.  Avoid soft latex toys or things made of spongy foam rubber.  These types of toys can easily be broken into small pieces and swallowed.  Toys with small bells or parts that could be pulled off should not be used either. Intestinal blockages are life threatening and if you suspect that your ferret may have ingested something it should not have, please take them to see a qualified veterinarian  immediately.

Harness and Leash
During the times of the year when the weather is cool or on trips to the store, you may want to take your ferret with you.  A proper harness and leash could be a life-saver. There are several different types available.  There is the figure-8 types which forms loops to slip over the head and behind the front legs.  They are relatively easy to put on and remove.  There is also the figure-H type.  This is similar to the figure-8, but in some cases they are fastened with velcro and are even simpler to put on and remove.  Standard collars and leashes will work as long as your ferret has had ample time to get used to them. Some ferrets being as they are may struggle to slide the collar over it's head.  These types of ferrets may be better off with a harness that is more suitable for the job like the figure-8 type.