Posted: August 1, 2009, 10:15 p.m. EDT
Q: My nephew just went away to college, and I have been given custody of his ferret. How often do I bathe her? Do you recommend any household objects she could play with? My nephew kept her in her cage almost always, but I believe she likes to be free. Any suggestions are welcome!
A: Congratulations on your new pet! Ferrets can be a blast, but they do require attention and care. There are some great resources out there for new ferret owners, and I always recommend doing a little research into your new pet.
Ferrets need access to clean water and a high-quality food. They also need quality playtime out of their cage daily so that they can exercise, explore and interact with you.
Generally speaking, ferrets don’t need a bath unless they get into something specific that requires washing them. You shouldn’t notice a strong odor if you keep a ferret’s bedding and litter boxes clean.
Some ferrets love toys, while others take some time to get used to the idea of playing with something. It may take a while to find the right toy for your ferret. Household items can be used, but ferrets tend to destroy almost anything, so don’t offer any item that your ferret could ingest.
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