Hi guys-

Has anyone out there got ferrets and kids?.  My kids are too young at the moment, but are both IN LOVE with ferrets.  We already have dogs, cats, fish etc, but my older son Rhys, keeps asking about getting a ferret.  He is very responsible for his age, but as they are about the only small animal I havent had, I wondered how easy/hard they are.  I know about the female hormone thing, and if we did get one, would probably get a neutered male. We have plenty of space, so thats not a problem, but can anyone suggest a child-friendly book about them, so that Rhys and I can read it together.  I have said that he cannot have one until he's a bit older, (I'll always be ultimately responsible for it anyway!), but does anyone have any input for me.  Rhys is 9 by the way-I know that this sounds very young, but he is extremely responsible, and wouldn't be solely in charge of it anyway.
Thanks in advance - your input is always gratefully received.
Ali :)

I remember we had ferrets when I was a child. Only me & my dad used to handle them, mom & sister.... no way! One day I'd been handling them when my dad was at work (I was very young 2/3 years old) & I didn't close the door properly & out came a little family of ferrets all over the garden. I can still remember my moms face (from behind the patio door) & I said "it's ok mom - I'll put 'em back" & promtly rounded them up & put them in their house!
I wouldn't know about how easy / hard they are to look after. & I know one thing for sure - there's no way I could touch one now. However tame it was!

Hope someone comes along with some helpful advice for you.

Hi Ali

I have a friend who's a vet and I remember her saying that ferrets make great pets.

That's all the help I can give I'm afraid!

Good luck!

Hi.
Ferrets are the most enjoyable pet there is.  They are great fun, play beautifully, are affectionate and can get on well with dogs and cats too.  Providing they are handled well and housed correctly (NOT in a small Rabbit hutch) they can make the most super pet for a child.
Dawn

I used to have a ferret, she was great and never bit me once.  A good book would be "my first ferret" published by TFH.

I have four ferrets and they aer great.  Don't bite at all.  They did go through their biting stage like young pups do but if you sort that out and handle them a lot whilst young, they grow up to fantastic pets.  I had my first ferret when I was about 13 and we used to take him for walks across the fields.

There are loads of resources online for ferrets now.  They are increasing in popularity as pets and don't have the same stigma as they used to - they stink and bite!

Helen

I have two ferrets they are house pets. My kids are teenagers but all my grandkids come and play with them. My 18mth old granddaughter carries them round and if they put their teeth, they never bite, on her hand or nose she just giggles.
As I say my ferrets are house pets so they have a lot of human company. They sit and watch telly with us and cuddle up to go to sleep on our necks, chest or in fact anywhere.
If you keep ferrets in the house you should neuter as this almost nullyfies any smell.
There is a forum at www.merciaferrets.co.uk sorry don't know how to fo links.
Dollface goes on there as well as she got herself a couple of ferrets.
By the way I don't think kids are ever too young for ferrets, as long as the kids are animal trained.
Where are you in the country as if you haven't had ferrets before it is best to get an older one, from rescue, as these are temperament tested and you don't have to cope with the baby nippy stage.
You can also show ferrets now.
Ferrets are kept totally differently now to how they were years ago. They are no longer the little things that were took out hunting. They are bred as pets and to be friendly and loving.
If you get on the forum you will be surprised at how people feel about their fuzzyfurbabies.
D4wn
Let me know how you get on.
By the way my ferrets have a better recall than the dogs and they are safe off leasd they never run up to other ferrets and attack them.

Hi as D4wn says I have 2 ferrets that I just rescued....Weasel and Emma (children named them) and my children look after them, the only thing I do is give them water so they don't spill it and food and sometimes I clean the litter box. They live in my son's room in a 3 level chinchilla cage and he lets them out to run around every day for about 2-3 hrs, more so on weekends and he is only 8. My daughter is 11, they both clean up after them and scoop their litter box everytime there is poo in there....Emma is still pretty hyper and who ever had her before must have put her down every time she nipped but she is learning that won't work with us, and Weasel is soo cuddly and just loves to have hugs....They are excellent pets both of mine are fixed and descented. Check out that ferret forum D4wn mentioned the people are super nice on there and will help you with any questions or concerns before getting one, hope to see you there :)..... You could even rescue one like I did and much more fun with two then only one they are very socialable animals.

ttfn :)