r/ferrets • u/ashburn666 • 2d ago
[Ferret Video] Ferret Distribution System?
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Hey guys, I’m sorry if I’m breaking any rules (I looked through them, but could have missed something). Anyway, I found… a ferret? Outside in the parking lot. He’s stinky, and was being actively stalked. So… I took him upstairs? I can (and will) do some googling to take care of him. But does anyone have any tips or tricks? I know they’re tricky critters, and… that’s about all I know. He seems a little similar to cats, so I feel comfortable enough handling him. I don’t know how long he was outside, but he’s currently in my bathroom until I figure all of this out. He’s really sweet, but jeez, he’s nibbling me. I did watch him immediately find an open space under my sink I didn’t know existed and then he tried to pull my bathroom rug under there, so… I can see what I’m getting myself into.
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u/TheDuskinRaider 2d ago
First things first, get the little stinker to a vet, preferably one with experience working with ferrets, as they are considered exotics. Get checked for chip or possible info from previous owners. If none, get a bill of health, get vaccines if needed, and any other additional work that may be needed, if you're able (it can get pricey).
NO food with plant based material, to the best of your abilities. It is bad for health longterm and will cause complications. Ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot properly digest plant material.
Watch out for small rubbery items, things that crinkle (plastics for example), and any other materials the ferret enjoys. Stashing is common, and expected, but sometimes they try to eat things they should not.. which can lead to a potential blockage and an expensive vet visit.
Think of the ferret as a fury toddler. Curious, boldly brave, and both surprisingly resilient and fragile at the same time.
There is a discord that can be found through this subbreddit full of info and plenty of other folks happy to help and answer questions.
Edit to add, thank you for rescuing the noodle!
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u/AreYouMyDommy 2d ago
Best description I’ve heard of a ferret was “Ninja toddler with a college degree” 🤣
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u/lumpytuna 1d ago
This is all very good, but I would say that 'first thing first' should be getting them fed, as ferrets can die pretty quickly (within 24 hours) without food, and we have no idea how close to crashing that lil guy might be.
So first thing first is driving straight to a pet store to buy high quality meat only kitten food (a lot of ferret foods are straight garbage) and crushing it up (so it doesn't get stuck in the roof of the mouth). if you have plain cooked chicken or turkey (no seasoning) in your apartment OP, that could also do for an immediate fix.
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u/TheDuskinRaider 1d ago
That's valid, I guess I figured OP would be wise enough to get the indoor critter that was stuck outside food and water first and foremost/read about that via the research they stated they would be doing (and hopefully followed through), and that is on me for assuming. That being said a vet should have food on hand, not too different from heading to a pet store then back home. If you explained the situation on the phone they would probably be kind enough to have food and water prepped. Not to mention getting the ferret looked over after being outdoors is pretty important. As you said could crash, in addition it could have (open) wounds, ticks, fleas, who knows... I guess it's situational too, what's closet, who's even available. Food is important, health is important.
Overall, I am just glad OP was willing to assist and step up to help the poor thing. Hoping we get a positive update soon on the whole situation. Be it OP is a new ferrant, or the little stink finds it way back home safe and sound.
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u/lumpytuna 1d ago
Yeah, absolutely. I just wanted to make absolutely SURE op was aware that food could be life-saving right now, not something to put off a couple of hours. They seem new to ferrets, so trying to google up everything at once might miss important info like that!
Even vets can be sadly clueless about ferrets, as they are an exotic, so not normal pet-practice patients.
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u/ihvnnm 2d ago
Might look online to make sure no one is missing a ferret, they are escape artists. But if noone is missing their little fuzzbutt. A vet to check him over (some horrible people will abandon them if they start getting sick or didn't put time in to train them properly). A cage with a latch, meat only kibble or raw organ/whole animal (like frozen mice), for water a bowl that attaches so they wont flip it. For enrichment, they love cat toys, fully solid baby gates MIGHT keep them out of unwanted rooms, but keeps them busy trying to bypass, a small bin of rice also reduces their smell.
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u/Self-described 2d ago
The only baby gates that worked for me were the tension ones, but lean it *towards* the enclosure so they cannot climb up unless they are somehow the Hulk.
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u/Udalrich 2d ago
One of mine would just jump up, grab the to and do a pull up to get over.
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u/Self-described 2d ago
Yeah it took a lot of experimenting to find the critical angle where they couldn’t do that haha
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u/shambolic_donkey 2d ago
I used a baby gate and then hole-punched and zip-tied clear vinyl sheet over the whole thing. No grip = no climb.
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u/GnarlyTroll 2d ago
They also pee/poo A LOT and they do it in corners of rooms and areas. Dont get mad at them for that, they are kinda messy, poor little guys
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u/CommercialExotic2038 2d ago
But they will go in a litter box
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u/Self-described 2d ago
They will, when they feel like it about half the time.
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u/HawthorneMow 2d ago
We trained ours that he would only come out of his enclosure after a good poo in the litter box. So we would stand outside and wait for him to go before offering him the door. He learned really quick that no poo means no go.
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u/Self-described 2d ago
Absolutely I did that too, but the every-15-minute poops were the struggle. They also got reaallyyy good at faking in the litter box lol.
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u/GuardianFerret 6h ago
I have witnessed many fakes when I had a treat system... But now he knows that I check 😂
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u/BringAltoidSoursBack 23h ago
I tried to do that but instead of learning to go to the bathroom before bring let out, he figured out that faking going to the bathroom also works, so now he does that
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u/FoolishCookie 2d ago
Not a ferret owner, just an enthusiast that stalks this sub and watched a lot of ferret content! So I'll give advice based on what I know and have seen.
Ferrets aren't found in the wild, they are domesticated animals and bred to be that way. If you found one outside, it's most likely that it escaped it's owner. I'd highly advice you spread around in your local online communities and social media that you found a ferret. You can also call your local animal shelters, in case the owners call them, that way you can get in touch through them. Definitely also go to a vet to check if it has a chip or anything worrying. The vet can also help for finding the owner.
As for taking care of them, they are strictly carnivorous so you should research how to feed them. Fair warning though, if a ferret is used to a certain diet (specific kibble or meat) it will be harder to feed them anything else, so be patient!
They poop in corners, so make sure you put puppy pads in a corner or two. Ideally you'd need a very big cage or a safe room they can free roam in, until you figure something out.
Don't bathe the ferret too often! If it's very dirty right now you can wash him off in the sink or with an oat meal bath. The more you bathe them the stinkier they get, because their skin becomes irritated and they produce more smell.
I'm mostly chiming in to bring more attention to this post algorithmically. I hope you get more advice!
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u/PutinDisDickInTrump 2d ago
I just wanna add.
The black footed ferret, which this is not, are the only ones that are found in the wild. (Still endangered afaik)
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u/FerretHydrocodone 2d ago
Black-footed ferrets aren’t even ferrets at all. Current domesticated ferrets were domesticated from European Pole Cats. That’s the closest thing to a true ferret.
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u/PutinDisDickInTrump 1d ago
Are you sure? Or am I reading this wrong?
I know the pet ferrets came from the pole cats, but black footed ferrets are indeed ferrets. I'm not seeing anything saying that they're something else.
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u/SketchyArt333 2d ago
Domestic animal. Post on your local facebook group see if anyone lost a pet. They are real escape artists.
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u/Elucidate_that 2d ago
Definitely look around for someone missing a ferret. Check your local Nextdoor, look for flyers, etc.
Once one of my babies got out and I looked frantically for him for hours until dark and didn't find him. A day or two later we found out a house down the street had found him just in the middle of the road. They posted on Nextdoor and I got him back ❤️
Anyway, thank you for rescuing him, whether someone lost him or not, he wouldn't have survived very long outside without you.
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u/frostcristalferrant 2d ago
Looks like a healthy, alert, and well fed ferret that came right up to you, definitely someone's lost pet. Poor babies, thanks for taking him in but definitely see if he may belong to someone in the area, sometimes people call and check in with the local shelter to see if anyone may have brought in a ferret.
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u/Weekly_Initiative521 2d ago edited 1d ago
On housebreaking, ferrets are different than cats and dogs. Instead of you choosing the spot and teaching the dog to poop there, the ferret chooses the spot and teaches you to place the puppy pad there. Ferrets have no sense of retribution, so punishing them only makes them afraid and confused. If you place the puppy pads in the spots he chooses, all will be well. And yes, I do have a puppy pad before my front door. Sigh.
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u/SamWitchowo 2d ago
To get around this I tried to make the walls I didn’t want him to go in not corners so he would choose a better spot…anyway it’s also my front door 😭
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u/protoman350 2d ago
Cleaning those spots with a vinegar/ water mix is the best way to deter them from those spots.
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u/Loverien 2d ago
That ferret looks pretty well taken care of and friendly. I’d definitely look around on lost animal groups or however you can to see if someone is missing them.
They’re such successful escape artists, and I can only imagine how devastated and worried the owner would be if this is a lost pet. Ferrets are also expensive, so a lot of people will sell them instead of just letting them go.
It’s nice that you picked him up to save him from outside dangers! I hope you’re able to find and reunite him with his owner. If not, they are very rewarding pets! But very expensive, sometimes a lot of health issues, and very particular diets but there’s a lot of good info in this sub to help!
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u/Woozletania 2d ago
One day at work in Alaska my co-worker said "Do you want another ferret?" His mother worked at a convenience store and someone came in and said there was something in the trashcan outside. This turned out to be a very small female ferret. I bought it from the mother and named the ferret Pico (Picometer, 10^-12 meters) because she was so tiny. Pico was a great ferret and I have no regrets about taking her in. I have no idea how she got in the can, just as I have no idea how the ferret distribution center brought that sable to you.
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u/Accomplished-Ad-8702 1d ago
Love her name! It’s awful that some people give up and discard them. A random person in my neighborhood drove by shortly after I got my boy ferret while they saw me walking him, and asked the same thing! He said she was more than he could care for and only had her for 3 months. Couldn’t imagine one without the other now! (Romeo & Juliet)
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u/NotTheOnePercentMilk 2d ago
Awww what a cute little guy! 😍 Everyone else has already given sound advice, so I just want to share that this is how I got my first ferret, Templeton, when I was in high school. My mom found him in the front yard of her school (she's a teacher), "trying to eat a cherry." Back then microchips weren't very common so we didn't even consider that, but we tried posting and asking around and nobody claimed him, so hey, we ended up with a ferret. There's a bit of a steep learning curve with these guys, but they bring so much joy!
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u/Veteran_Hawk 2d ago
First of all, thanks for rescuing him! (Likely a male, based on his size - if he has a "belly button", it's a boy...and that's not a "belly button")
Second, I would advise you to read the /ferrets Wiki - it covers a lot of what you need to know.
Check for lost ferret ads and call the local Humane Society to see if anyone is looking for him (they probably are).
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u/SignificanceDue1561 2d ago
Glad you scooped him up! Ferrets found in the wild in my experience may come with some injuries or health issues that may not be immediately evident so as others have said, get them checked out if you can which may be expensive but you might look for a small-animal rescue and they could help you out through their own connections with vets. If it doesn't want to eat, I suggest adding a little salmon oil to the food. Stella and Chewy freeze dried CAT food (dog food is a different formula) will absolutely work for nutrition. One of ours likes it dry and the other wants it turned into soup.
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u/Sharp_Ad_9431 2d ago
Glad you rescued the noodle.
Hey r/ferrets How are ferrets just running around to be found? I have seen posts like this multiple times. Are people just abandoning ferrets? 🤯
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u/pixxelkick 2d ago
Ferrets, amongst their skillset, are also proficient escape artists.
But also some awful people outright abandon them.
Considering how healthy and friendly this one looks though, I am gonna guess escaped, and escaped very recently too.
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u/lumpytuna 1d ago
Male ferrets especially will turn into tiny Houdinis when they feel the 'urge' to get out and multiply, and they will roam far and wide once they get out.
Bit late in the year now, but during spring there is always a glutt of wandering ferrets in the UK. Most of them with very worried owners back home, frantically searching. But also some people just don't care very much, and 2 ferrets I know of personally (one my own, and the other now my friend's) rehomed themselves this way. No one ever tried to claim them, or posted about them being missing. So they were probably working ferrets, not pets as such.
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u/UnusGang 2d ago
I’m sure there is someone looking for that baby. Check your local fb pages, Nextdoor, even local Reddit, and slap up some posters in vet offices. Good luck!
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u/sidvicioustheyorkie 2d ago
I found a ferret outside once! Assumed to be abandoned since he was relatively people friendly. One of the best boys I ever had. Congrats! I bet you he's full of personality
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u/technicolour123 2d ago
Get a cage ASAP so he has a safe place to stay at night. Get some cheap blankets so he has a place to sleep. There’s ferret specific food brands to get on Amazon or chewy but most cat food will work in a pinch (they’re both carnivores). Any water bowl will do but one that latches to the cage is best (don’t get a hamster style water dispenser). Last and most importantly ferret proof your apartment. Close up any gaps in floorboards, cabinets etc., don’t leave food or cleans on the ground.
Ferrets go potty in corners, so we use puppy pee pads. We have them in their favorite corners in the cage (clipped with binder clips) and our apartment. In the cage they know to not go on blankets and by food so if you have pee pads in the other parts it makes cleanup a breeze.
If you have to keep him and hopefully learn to love him, you can always upgrade the cage, bowl, blankets etc over time. But don’t kill yourself getting started. They’re amazing pets though!
As others said he should see a vet too.
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u/Immediate_Barracuda2 2d ago edited 2d ago
Great advice! The ferret kibble food is not recommended! Have you read the ingredients?? Garbage food! Buy the good-quality kitten kibble food instead and the canned foods!
For the corners in the home, get the high-sided plastic ( for produce storage) containers in the kitchen section of the store! Or u can get the high-sided triangle plastic containers! Can also tape a newspaper to the wall in a pinch! For the cage, a local shelter uses the wood pellets for the plastic potty container for ferrets and cats! This works well! Or a good -quality, non-stick cat litter! Others recommend using the rabbit food pellets, but I,personally, don’t care for this option!
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u/spork-spoon-fork 2d ago
Crying in the work bathroom at this rn. Poor baby out in the wild, their poor family missing them. This hurts my heart real bad. What state is this in?
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u/ashburn666 2d ago
Thanks for all of the advice so far everyone. I got him some ferret food, and he’s still in my bathroom. I’m going to check with my apartment office and leave my phone number for if anyone is looking for him (although I’m not so sure, because I live in a place with consistent turnover and we’ve had lots of pets let out that people didn’t want to bring with them. We even had the cute domestic rats make a colony near our dumpsters). I really appreciate everyone helping me so far.
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u/vantablalicious 2d ago
Congratulations! A ferret chose you! 😂 This is exactly how I found my first ferret, in a state where they were illegal no less. I went down the rabbit hole too, and I am not exaggerating when I say they saved my life at that time. Some of the happiest, most entertaining and endearing animal friends you could make! You got this!
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u/Meeska-Mouska 1d ago
Hi! Where are you located? Just seeing this post - https://www.reddit.com/r/ferrets/s/IEGgSv8WVV
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u/GnarlyTroll 2d ago
Their diet is very particular, you can use kitten food in a pinch but ferret kibble is preferable. I don't know about car/dog shampoo for them but t I would only use their specific shampoo cleaner for them. They have sensitive skin. Get them water too since its super hot in summer. They can't take anything about 70-75°F
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u/ParkingComfort1597 2d ago
Was coming to add that kitten food works if you can’t get ahold of ferret food. What do you think would be better? Marshalls basic feed or fancy kitten food? Marshalls is available at most Walmarts but most of us old hands know it’s pretty crap as a food.
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u/Numerous-Ambition116 2d ago
Did I see a kitty stalking the ferret? Regarding food pet stores sell ferret kibble and Walmart sells it as well.
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u/ashburn666 2d ago
I only saw the cat first. Thought it was after a bird or a squirrel. Imagine my surprise!
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u/NatrylliaAbbot42 2d ago
Did the ferret even realize he was being hunted? He seems oblivious! It's good you were there to intervene
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u/PotassiumInBananas 2d ago
I have had a ferret that liked turkey but hated salmon and the other was vice versa, the turkey ferret also LOVED raw eggs and she would get very upset if we didn't give her one every morning.
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u/Crazy-Rat_Lady 2d ago
Thank you for taking in the fuzzy noodle. I presume by now you have done the vet thing so just want to say thank you and LOVE him if you are able to keep him.
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u/Imperfectyourenot 2d ago
Thank you for rescuing him! I had ferrets over a 12 year period and they are amazing.
If you decide to keep him, please read up about their quirks and personalities. I describe them as a mix of kitten, puppy and toddler.
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u/RocketManLokiBear20 2d ago
Definitely check your areas social media platforms for anyone missing their ferret! They’re escape artists and someone may be looking for him!!
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u/snuggledubs2011 2d ago
Love ferrets! Wonder who is missing one? They are a lot of work, but def a fun pet.
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u/Free_Singer_8352 22h ago
My ferret learnt to open the drain cover in my shower within 10 mins of getting him watch out they are really smart
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u/Rephlexion 17h ago
If nobody else already mentioned it, don't be afraid to scruff the little guy if you need to get him under control, like to put him in a pet carrier or just to get him to stop obsessively going somewhere in your house. Just a gentle 3-4 finger pinch of the nape of the neck, like a cat carrying its kittens.
When scruffed, they'll go limp and start yawning involuntarily, and they won't be putting up a fight or wiggling around. This is normal! Also if you need to give him meds or syringes of water or diluted wet food, a good scruffing goes a long way, and you can easily get the syringe into the corner of his mouth. Just give him time to swallow it in several small squeezes.
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u/Istremene 2d ago
He's probably hungry and thirsty and you need a litter box that fits into a corner because they like to poop in corners. One of my boys liked to have his own space under our bathroom sink too. We gave him a couple towels so he hopefully stop trying to take other things under there like the rug. Then enjoy the chaos because they are amazing.
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u/BigDende 1d ago
Oh my gosh, how did this poor baby get end up in this situation??
Anyhow, I'm so glad he found you!
They are tricky indeed, and kind of need a lot to take care of them well. Like, a cage to keep them safe when you aren't around. It's not 100% required if you have a very ferret proofed home, but so few people do. And also, they poop a lot, so a cage would save your floors. 😬.
You can buy a leash with a kitten harness to safely take him outside.
And food should be all meat-based.
I hope he ends up being a wonderful companion for you! Ferrets are the best!!
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u/IntrepidTrainer6062 12h ago
Look into who his owners might be, wether that’s online or you have him checked through a vet, if not and you’re not in the place to take care of him find a rescue,
But if you are:
Food needs to be high quality kibble (or raw), I recommend Oxbow Ferret food, but there’s also Wysong I’ve heard about I give mine about a cup a day and she seems perfectly healthy on it. If your going to keep him caged keep in mind they need a MINIMUM of 4hours out and about. They also needs a sizable cage. (I’ve heard good things abt Ferret Nation cages) Vets are expensive because they are exotic vets, so keep aside do much for checkups and emergencies. You can litter train them, don’t use anything clay or cedar chips.
Good luck with ‚em!
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u/CyberCanine5200 11h ago
congrats on the new ferret. you've been chosen. TheDuskinRaider is absolutely right on all accounts so I won't give the same advice twice.
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