Pet Owners Independence Day 2024 is on Thursday, April 18, 2024: Do ferrets make good pets?

Thursday, April 18, 2024 is Pet Owners Independence Day 2024. Wristband for Special Event: Pet Owners Independence Day Party ... Pet Owners Independence Day

Frustrated of heading out to operate every single day to earn a crust, while your pet, cat, rabbit or budgie lounges throughout the house? Well, Pet Owners Independence Day aims to alter everything. The thought of this crazy holiday is the fact that we proprietors obtain a turn at laying around the carpet, while our fluffy buddies check out their talents within the place of work.Of course, there might be only a couple of disadvantages for this holiday… To begin with, will the typical family pet depend on going for a letter, not to mention a telephone call? For an additional, precisely how good is really a typical owner prone to prove at catching rodents, gnawing bones or keeping a itching publish in trim? Everything remains seen – but it’s a good idea, anyway, and really should add a little animal miracle towards the day!

Ferrets make good pets for the right owners (in the right places- make sure ferrets are legal in your area before you even think of owning one). They're rather like a cross between a cat and a dog in my opinion having the independence of a cat, the affection of a cuddly dog, and their own full bag of trouble and necessities.

Ferrets do have a mild musky smell to them and if not descented they can also "poof" causing a strong oder to linger in the air for a short time (think of a skunk, only thankfully this smell dissipates quickly). The best way to keep the oder down is to clean the litter box every day, clean and change out the bedding at least once a week, fully clean everything at least once a month (many do it every other week), and bath only as necessary.

Further information on baths:

A ferret should never be bathed more than once a month- Baths strip them of the natural oils in their coats (same as any other animal), and the body then goes into overdrive working to replace these oils. What does that mean exactly? It means too many baths are counter productive and cause ferrets to smell worse.

Most ferrets do love the water though so it can be great fun to fill the tub, place something in there they can stand on if they want, and to watch them swim around.

Potty training is going to vary a bit to bit from ferret to ferret. Anyone with experience with ferrets will tell you that a ferret can never be 100% litter box trained. They have accidents, they choose the corner you don't want them to choose (most give up and move the litter box there, others like myself just put a box in every corner), and some just straight out refuse to deal with the litter box. Poop is a fact of life when owning a ferret and it's advisable you stock up on a good enzyme cleaner (Nature's Miracle is my personal favorite).

Remember as well that litter box training isn't the only hurdle- Like children, puppies, kittens, and any other young animal in this world ferret kits tend to bite and need to be taught not to. They also have to become use to people handling them, have general socialization (introduction to many different places, people, and things), and need to be introduced to many different kinds of food at a young age (ferrets imprint on their food and later in life won't recognize new food as something edible. Never is this worse when you have a sick ferret that needs a broth and won't touch it).

The number of ferrets one owns is really a confusing issue. Ferret owners almost always start out with one or two ferrets and somehow end up with more than they had originally intended. Many individuals think that ferrets need another ferret as a companion, and if you can afford to care for two ferrets they are indeed great fun in pairs (though usually it's better to allow one to bond with you before bringing a second into the household), but if you only want or can afford one ferret that's fine too as long as you're able to give him or her the requirements necessary for a happy and healthy life. Personally I only own one ferret at the moment as I don't have the funds to own more, though he gets along just fine on his own, is more than enough trouble, and gets to go play with other ferrets at least once a month when possible.

Honestly if you're truly thinking of getting a ferret do your research. Far too many people see those cute faces and buy ferrets without thinking only to find they aren't the right kind of home for a ferret. Ferrets need play time (minimum of 4 hours a day), need attention, need to be handled and loved, and are just as much work as bringing a puppy into your home in my opinion.

I advise you pick up a copy of the "Ferrets for Dummies" (second edition book) and give that a read (and don't let the title throw you off, it really is the book to end all books on ferrets), check out a local ferret rescue or shelter if at all possible, and defiantly get involved with some people that already owns the furry animals so you can get a better feel for them.

Bringing an animal of any kind into your home is an experience and a huge responsibility. Please make sure you're up to the challenge before doing so, the rescues are full enough as is.

Add:

Sorry but the Marshall's comment makes this addition rather necessary.

I would like to note that Marshall's is nothing more than a large animal mill breeding facility. Ever heard of a puppy mill? Marshall's is the ferret equivalent of such forcing animals in small cages to be bred again and again with little care about temperament or health.

It's highly advisable that if you do decide to get a ferret you either rescue one, or speak with an experience private ferret breeder.

Also be sure to research dietary needs- Ferrets are obligate carnivores (meaning they need meat and that's all they can really digest). One of the main ingredients in Marshall's ferret food is corn (a filler) that can not be digested and thus is useless to ferrets.

Add:

CF- How are ferrets any less worthy of a good home and loving family than a cat?

Their are tons of animals of every kind looking for homes right now, and working in a ferret shelter I have to say we have more ferrets between the center itself and the different foster homes than the local spca and most feline rescues in this area have cats (likely because there are a whole lot less ferret rescues).

If someone has a good home their willing to open up for an animal it's their decision what animal fits their life best not based on the fact there may or may not be more of a certain animal in shelters currently.

Where can I find a list of national days?

Here are some just for the the next week, beginning April 17! (I had no idea...!)

*Blah! Blah! Blah! Day: 17

*Ellis Island Family History Day: 17

*Ford Mustang Day: 17

Trivia Days: 17-19

World Hemophilia Day: 17 Link

Adult Autism Day: 18

*Pet Owners Independence Day: 18

Record Store Day: 18

Respect Your Mother Day: 18

Teach Your Daughter to Volunteer Day: 18

Third World Day: 18

*World Amateur Radio Day: 18 Link

Husband Appreciation Day: 18 (3rd Saturday)

Auctioneers Day: 18

*National Hanging Out Day: 19

*Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day: 19

Boston Marathon: 20

*Kindergarten Day: 21

*National Chocolate-covered Cashews Day: 21 Link

National Teach Your Children To Save Day: 21

*Chemists Celebrate The Earth Day: 22

*Earth Day: 22

*National Jelly Bean Day: 22 Link

Administrative Professionals Day or Secretary's Day: 22

*World Book & Copyright Day: 23

Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day: 23

Arbor Day: 24

National Hairball Awareness Day: 24

Are children good pets?

Nope. Most people are looking for blind obedience from a pet. Also, while they're willing to feed and "water" them a few times a day and take them to "obedience school" from time to time, they're rarely looking for a creature who requires such constant training and retraining. While pet owners often like the autonomy/independence of a pet (e.g. you can leave and go to a movie while the cat/rabbit/bird/dog is alone) you can't do that with a child for the first 10 or so years of its life. Also, no one ever raises a pet so that it will be wholly independent and one day move out, potentially use crack cocaine and sire new pets. Responsible pet owners fix their pets... you can't do that with children without CPS potentially getting involved. Just a thought.