So you're thinking about a ferret?

Selecting a new pet certainly isn't rocket science, but there are a few things to consider before you go to meet some critters! Do you have kids? Do you have a busy work schedule? Do you have other pets? Are you adding to an existing business? And what do envision for the future…do you think you might want to have another ferret someday? Of course it's impossible to make a final decision until you meet some critters and fall in love, but there are some factors for you to consider before you even meet any critters to help with your decision making process!

If you're completely new to ferrets, we do recommend you do some reading before continuing in your ferret quest. Not that you have a required amount of reading to do to be a good parent, but there is much misinformation out there about ferrets and they still aren't as common as dogs and cats, so doing even a small amount of research will be a tremendous help to you as you decide if a ferret is the right pet for you. We recommend the book "Ferrets for Dummies" as the absolute best resource - especially if a child in your home has prompted your ferret quest.  It's a delightful read and such a wonderful resource for the whole family!

In Michigan, there are a few sources for a new ferret friend: Pet Shop, Private Breeder, Shelter or from a private owner. If you decide that you'd like to adopt a new friend from a shelter, there are some decisions you can make "on paper" before you visit. What kind of critter are you looking for? One, two or more? Male or Female? These questions might seem pretty basic and unimportant, but since Motor City Ferrets works together with other shelters around the state we often do try to do some matching up of critters and owners beforehand - so we can get good candidates together in the same city!  :)  To help you make the initial choices and explain what types of critters you will find in a shelter situation, we've created some categories...

These critters don't care for other ferrets, so they need a home where they can be the center of attention.

Considerations:

If you'd like to add more ferrets, a single would need a cage and playtime apart from other ferrets.

A critter who's been social and has lived with others, but is not bonded with any other particular weezil. Lots of variety in this group…not all swingers will get along with all other weezils in the world, but if you already have one or more ferrets and are looking to add only one to your business, this is the type of critter for you.

Considerations:

Swingers are social and have lived with others; therefore, they must be adopted into a home which already has a ferret friend to pal around with. All critters must meet to make sure we have a love match before considering an adoption!

Critters who have been together for their whole life and cannot be separated.

Considerations:

Pair of weezils who are bonded, yet get along with others: a family might add this type of pair to an existing business or choose this type if they think they might like to have more critters in the future.
Pair of weezils who are bonded to each other and not social with others: Just like the bonafide single, these critters love each other, but will not accept future playmates. If the family wishes to add additional ferrets in the future, separate housing and playtimes would be necessary. Another consideration for this type of pair is definitely the critters future. Eventually, as time passes, one of the pair will pass on. If the other critter hasn't been social with others, chances are after he/she loses his/her buddy, he/she will be single. So if you're making the decision for a pair because you have a busy life, then you might end up with a single critter you don't have enough time for in the future!

  For first time owners, we recommend a pair of critters. Why? Well, we have found that ferrets seem to be happiest when they have a buddy. After all, us humans have to go to work and have a life, so when we're away we think it's nice for the critter to have a full time buddy. Of course for our single critters life is a bit different as they prefer NOT to have a ferret buddy.  Two ferrets aren't much more "work," and a pair can keep each other happy as new owners tackle the learning curve.

If you're the type of person who likes to come home after work and settle down for the night, consider a bachelor or bachlorette. These critters can be the most interactive with humans and can be super best friends! ¨ If you're an active person with a busy life, consider a pair (or more) so you won't have a lonely weezil while you're away. If your family schedule allows for someone to be home most of the day, consider a single or non-social bonded pair - these critters need you! If you wish to add ferrets, you have enough people about the house to accommodate separate playtimes.  If you have young children, definitely only consider adult ferrets. Babies are just too unpredictable and can be rather nippy; a reputable shelter will offer only safe critters as candidates for adoption. If you have ferrets already, plan to bring them for a meet and greet so they can choose who they like the best!

Hopefully after reading through this information you can see why our first question isn't "which ferret do you like best?" but rather "which type suits your family and lifestyle?" Our goal is to find loving, permanent homes for all of our critters, so we hope this information helps families look into the future a bit so they can make good adoption decisions!  Now that you've settled on what "type" of ferret might be right for you, you're ready to move along to the next page.  Click here!

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