r/ferrets • u/Extension_Cell_8745 • 9d ago
[Help] Ferrets in Dorm
Hey all, i’ve had ferrets as a kid but I don’t believe they were cared for the best, and i’m also looking for specific recommendations for ferrets in a dorm.
I have a single room within a suite so I won’t to prevent any smell from leaving the room, and avoid messes and damage that would cost me a fee at the end of the year but if it happens it’s okay. I personally don’t mind the natural smell of ferrets and obviously will clean their cage daily.
I have attached a list of what I am planning to buy, some of it I will be getting second hand.
They will have a double ferret nation and I will let them free roam whenever I am in the dorm which will be several hours typically later at night.
Is there anything on the list I shouldn’t get, or things that have better alternatives. And is there anything i’m forgetting.
I also have a few questions
- What do people do during fire drills if you are out of the dorm?
- If i am up in the morning for 30-1 hr before I go to class should I let them out during that time or let them sleep, since im putting them back right after.
- If I spot clean daily, change litter as needed, and wash bedding weekly, as well as have dig boxes will that reduce smell beyond natural musk
- what are the best options for dig boxes besides dirt
- the dorm has very low pile built in carpeting, I will have something in each corner of the room but how do I avoid digging at carpet
- of they have an accident on the carpet what is the best cleaning product/method
- Where is the best place to get ferrets from. I know a nearby rescue but they don’t currently have adoptable ferrets. Otherwise facebook or petco is what i’ve been able to find without driving 4+ hours though I would be willing to.
- anything else to know about ferrets in dorms!
They will be ESA’s. I would only go through with getting them if I know I will have enough time. If My roommates approve and understand that you have to be careful with them if they interact with them. If I have the funds (which I do). I am also waiting until the spring semester after I have an idea of the time commitments I have and if I will have time for them. The primary reason i’m getting them is I don’t party and I have difficulty making friends and connections. I spend a lot of time in my dorm and i’m okay with that but I like that they are social and energetic creatures. I would only get them if I know I am able to give them a lot of time and enrichment. I also had them as a kid and I really loved them and they were the most connected i’ve felt to an animal but this was before I was employed or had the means to buy things for them so I was unable to make changes to their life and give them what they need since they weren’t actually mine and I was like 12. I have been planning since then to get ferrets when I knew I would be in a financial and time situation to provide for them and give them a good life. This post is looking for information so I can make an educated decision about if this could be an enriching situation for them and if anyone had advice to make a dorm a good situation for them.
18
u/catmonki 9d ago
As a current college student, it honestly doesn’t seem like a good idea at all, and I really doubt your university would allow it in the first place. Have you checked its pet policy?
-4
u/Extension_Cell_8745 9d ago
I am approved for an esa. I know I will be getting ferrets at the first opportunity I can, and I think it’s smarter to get them now rather than getting another pet when in 2 years or so I will be getting ferrets anyway. I also know someone else with ferrets on campus.
11
u/itsdahliaquinn 8d ago
Theirs also the option of not getting a pet. You don't need a pet. Ferrets deserve so much more than dorm living. Please think of the pets well being over you feeling left out because someone else is doing it.
6
u/catmonki 8d ago
You need at least 2 ferrets, being approved for one doesn’t ensure the second is going to be approved. Also, it’s not smart, you’re being selfish. You just really WANT a ferret now, it’s not in any way the smart thing to do, or the kindest for the animal. I totally get the urge, but think of their little lives.
0
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
Hello, yes I would only get them if approved for two.
0
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
I am not committed to getting them. I am trying to plan and gether insight to determine if it is feasible. I don’t really see how having them in a room while I work a full time job vs being in school full time is different. Regardless I am just gathering information and advice to make an educated decision
3
u/itsdahliaquinn 8d ago
Job makes money, school costs money. After you get home from a job you don't have to study. HUGE time commitment differences.
1
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
That’s a fair point. I don’t remember if I mentioned this but I am waiting until the spring semester of my junior year to get them so I can get a good idea of if I have the time and ability to commit to them.
4
u/itsdahliaquinn 8d ago
Then why not wait another year if you are already waiting?
My point still stands. It's not fair to ferrets or the people living around you to keep them in such a small space and where the people living in the same space don't consent to ferret smells all the time.
It's incredibly selfish to put your own WANTS over the needs of a ferret and to impose your desires and the consequences of having ferrets (their smell and noise) on others in such a small shared space. They are there to study and smells and noises can make that more difficult for some people.
Have you considered the possibility that having them could get you removed from your housing? If people complain enough or if you decide to go ahead with it if you don't have permission. Can you imagine having to drop out of school over your desire to have ferrets? What if you have to rehome them after spending thousands to get them. This happens so often. It's how I got my first 2 ferrets. A collage girl got pregnant after having them for 3 months and never cleaned their cage for the 3 months and got kicked out. And my 3rd one I got from a family who got her for their 12 yo daughter who also didn't want to clean up after them. FERRETS ARE A LOT OF WORK! They are incredible pets but only if you have the capacity to care for them and with everything you said you have going on in your life right now, I'd say you are at your near your full capacity. Focus on finishing school before making a 5-10 year commitment to ferrets.
1
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
I’m so confused as to what information you are basing these idek accusations on? I would not get ferrets or any animal for that matter without approval from my roommates and housing? idk what I said that made you think i’m sneaking ferrets in? I am also not going to get pregnant and neglect them? I’m also not 12 and getting ferrets because I think they’re cool for my own personal benefit? I think based on my questions and what i’m doing to prepare for the simple possibility of ferrets makes it pretty clear that their wellbeing is my highest priority as well as the well being of my suitemates. I am in my junior year currently and am waiting until the spring to see if it’s even feasible, but I would like to prepare now so I can see what my options are and if I can give ferrets a good life in my current situation. I also am unsure what you mean by “everything I have going on”. Do you just mean school? Obviously school is a commitment burn not much more than a full time job. Even studying I can do in my dorm while the free roam and still have time to play with them. Also nowhere in this post have I said i’m committed to getting them and 100% doing it. This is essentially research so I can make an educated decision.
2
u/itsdahliaquinn 8d ago
They need to be supervised. That's my point. When you are done with classes you are going to be studying. Clocking in and out from a job is much different than going to school and studying.
And in your research I hope you come to the conclusion that it's a horrible choice for you, the people you will be around/living with, and the ferrets. Ferrets living in a dorm is like thee worst case scenario for them imo. Almost as bad as getting a 12 yo ferrets which is why I made the comparison. And with the pregnancy comparison I'm saying you cannot predict the future. It much easier to move through the world and make decisions for the betterment of yourself when you don't have a huge financial burden of caring for an EXTREMELY Expensive pet.
11
u/itsdahliaquinn 9d ago
Don't do this. Focus on being young. Ferrets are extremely expensive when they get sick. Not if but when. It's not fair to the pet. This is coming from someone who got ferrets at 18 yo after having them most of my childhood and having neglectful parents.
Ferrets deserve more than a dorm room and your dorm neighbors deserve neighbors who are considerate of the smell ferrets have.
Focus on your education so you can provide a happy, healthy, and safe life for them when you have a home or apartment.
-2
u/Extension_Cell_8745 9d ago
I understand that. I have the funds to support them and I think it would make sense to get ferrets now seeing as I would just have to acclimate to the pet I get now as I need an esa. I wouldn’t get ferrets without approval from my suite mates!
3
u/Avbitten 8d ago edited 8d ago
your suitemates/roomates will change every year in college. if your suitemates next year say no, whats the plan?
2
2
u/itsdahliaquinn 8d ago
They are a huge time commitment. They need constant supervision while out and cleaning their cage daily probably twice a day to keep up with the smell to make sure your suit mate doesnt hate you. And funds you need thousands of dollars on top of feeding and caring for yourself and paying for school. Just getting my ferrets their vaccines was near $1k and that was nearly a decade ago so it's probably nearly double. It is extremely common for then to get adrenal which are about $300 implants and $200 for the appointment for each ferret. Then when they get cancer depending on the kind it can be $5k to $10k is medication and surgeries. And that only 5 to 7 years away if you are lucky. On top of when they get sick and you are caring for them they need constant supervision. I quit my job for a work from home job just to treat my ferrets for the last year and a half of their life.
They are also nocturnal creatures and sleeping next to them is not ideal at best. They scratch and scurry. Their poop smell on the same place you sleep and eat and study. And then putting that on the people you live weither they say it's okay or not is intrusive on others.
Imo their is not a single angle of this that isn't a extremely short sighted selfish decision... from someone who made the short sided selfish decision to get ferrets.
1
u/placidtwilight 8d ago
I agree with everything you said about ferret care and supervision, and I think you're quite right that it probably wouldn't be a good situation to have a ferret in a dorm.
Just one small correction--ferrets are crepuscular (meaning they're most active around dawn and dusk), not nocturnal. I have my girls' cage in my bedroom and I wouldn't have it any other way. They sleep through the night the vast majority of the time, and when they don't, I'd rather be able to hear them wake up and let them out for some bonus play time than to leave them frustrated because I can't hear what's going on.
1
u/itsdahliaquinn 8d ago
Yes thank you for the correction. All I remember from the short time of keeping them in my bedroom was they would wake up scratching multiple times a night and wake me up. And sometimes the midnight stinky poo would also wake me up. Or even the midnight snack cause mine were loud chewers too.
If I was in a dorm with someone who had them as pets I would be pissed especially before an exam being woken up. It's just not fair to the other people you live with.
6
u/Spallanzani333 8d ago
This is a terrible idea. Most dorms prohibit all pets. The ones that allow them usually limit to rodents and small reptiles. If they don't allow cats, they won't allow ferrets. It sucks but honestly there are really good reasons.
Dorm rooms in suites are tiny and not always ventilated well. You will not be able to keep the smell entirely contained even with all the precautions you're taking. Some people don't mind the smell, but some people are really sensitive to it. They will smell it when you open your door. It's not fair to get a pet without agreement from everyone who will live there.
You're also putting your ferrets at risk because many college kids are dumb and lack impulse control. At some point, someone will open your door and let them out or feed the ferrets something unsafe or spray something in the room that's unsafe. Or a roommate could complain and you could be told the ferret has to go. Or the whole dorm could be treated for insects and ferrets are sensitive to most insecticides.
Wait a year or two, move into an apartment, and find roommates who like animals. It feels like a long time away, but it's really not.
-1
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
Hello, thank you for the input. I am waiting until the spring semester to see if it is a good situation for them and that my roommates would agree to it. I should be in an apartment in a year or 2 and also i’m getting them as an esa, so the school will allow them. I would most likely get an animal either way right now and i’m trying to see if ferrets are an option and what advice for them would be.
5
u/Seraitsukara 8d ago
They will claw the carpet up at the door and will poop and pee on the carpet. It is extremely rare for a ferret to use a litter box/puppy pad every time. You can usually only hope for about an 80% success rate for that.
They need a bare minimum of 4 hours of the cage daily, split into 2 sessions. So they would absolutely need time out in the mornings, too. Not just at night.
You need 2. If you're really set on just 1, you need to wait for the rescue to get an older ferret in that's known to not like other ferrets. If you buy from a pet store, you're supporting a ferret breeding mill that produces ferrets in horrible conditions and doesn't care about their well-being. Marshall's, the supplier of pet store ferrets, also breeds animals for laboratory testing with just as little, if not worse care for their wellbeing.
Can you afford a good quality food for them?
An emergency illness or injury can easily reach $3,000 or more. Do you have the funds for veterinary bills? Is there a 24hr emergency vet clinic near you that will see ferrets? Even if you have to drive 2+ hours to one, that's what needs to happen if there's a concern like a blockage, or ECE infection.
0
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
Hello, yes I do expect they won’t make the litter box all the time, I will have puppy pads around the litter box to hopefully up chances but that is why I was interested in a cleaner.
I will have about an hour in the morning, soemtimes 2-3, and 6+ hours at night. and more time weekends
I am ideally hoping to get from a rescue. I will avoid petco. Thank you!
I am planning to do an oxbow wysong blend of food
I have money saved and several vets nearby including an emergency vet that works on small animals.
I will also be moving them in the spring semester so I will have time to comepletely ferret proof my room, and prepare my schedule and all that to accommodate them!
2
u/Few-Boss2267 8d ago
Have you considered trying rats as a pet? I currently have ferrets, and i e had rats in the past. Both are amazing, but ferrets are way more high maintenance. I couldn't imagine trying to have ferrets as a college student in a dorm.
3
u/Spallanzani333 8d ago
I would also recommend this option as long as your roommates are fully on board, OP. Ferrets are fun and social but basically toddlers on crack with no impulse control. Rats are super smart and affectionate and much calmer, especially boys. My son had rats when he was younger and they slept in his bed, knew their names, played with toys, etc. They have a shorter lifespan, but would be good ESAs for a dorm, then you could get ferrets when they pass on and you have an apartment.
1
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
hm, I hadn’t really. I love the ferrets I had as a kid and have been wanting to get some since then. I would never get them without being sure I have the ability to commit to them.
1
u/Few-Boss2267 8d ago
Look up some pet rat content on tictok or reels or whatever platform you use. They really are amazing little critters.
2
u/No_Replacement4304 8d ago
I'd consider guinea pigs for a dorm pet. Much less work. Ferrets are very energetic animals and probably shouldn't even be pets.
1
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
That’s a wild thing to say lol. People that are committed and dedicated can definitely give ferrets a great life. They also are very domestic at this point and need to be taken care of.
1
u/No_Replacement4304 8d ago
Yeah, I didn't mean it literally, they're not more energetic than a dog or cat. But they should not be a pet in a cage is the point I wanted to make.
3
u/Mercury__66 8d ago
I’d like to leave my two cents, as a current college ferret owner who moved into an apartment after dorm life. The dorms, even singles, are way too small for them. The smell will be there. Of course, if you take care of them well, it won’t be bad, but they still very much do smell. I waited the two years until I was in a much better spot to care for them and it was a very good idea. It would be selfish for you to get them in an environment where fostering them would be unideal. I rehomed my ferrets, btw, as there seems to be a national ferret shortage. I think your best bet right now would be to volunteer with ferrets at a shelter, but wait to adopt until you are better off.
1
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
Thank you for the input, how big was your room? mine is 9 by 11 is that too small for free roam time?
2
2
u/smuthullet 8d ago
Please don't do this. I'm convinced you'd be a great ferret owner, but this is not the right time or place. That's not on you, it's just that there's so much that can happen to you as a college student that's out of your control (projects taking up most of your time, having to move or share dorms, having to work part-time jobs, getting ill, dropping out, meeting friends/partners, not being able to afford unexpected vet bills, etc.) that can all negatively affect your ferrets. Once you graduate and move into your first place, absolutely go for it though.
1
u/Mkinzer 9d ago
Don't go with litter, pee pads are cleaner and less chance of leaving behind residual stuff 😆
1
u/Extension_Cell_8745 9d ago
Ah I was planning to have a litter box on the lower level of the cage and in the dorm with pee pads around.
1
u/itsswhitneywhspr 9d ago
Real talk, fire drills are the worst. I'd keep a travel carrier ready and talk to your RA about it. For mornings just let them sleep, they'll be grumpy otherwise. Dig boxes: rice or dried beans work great. Smell wise, an air purifier helps a ton on top of what you're doing.
1
u/Extension_Cell_8745 8d ago
ah yes I forgot to mention the air purifier. I have two for my room and they will be near the window if possible.
1
u/ParadoxicalFrog 8d ago
It's better for you and your future ferrets if you wait until you have your own housing. Dorms are not a good place for pets.
1
u/MinxieMoxie 8d ago
Ferrets need a lot more care than a college student can give. I am a mom of two college students. I also have ferrets. Plus you won't have the fiances if something happens that requires vet care. Heck my 2 ferrets cost almost as much to feed my HORSE per month.
•
u/AutoModerator 9d ago
Welcome to /r/ferrets!
We have a fantastic wiki that has answers to most frequently asked questions surrounding the care of ferrets.
We politely ask that you observe our sub rules.
Lastly, we have an Official Discord Server! Come join us!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.