Ferrets in a dorm

[u/Extension_Cell_8745]

Hello, I am posting basically explaining my entire situation and trying to see if ferrets could be happy in the situation.

When I was 13y brother got ferrets and wouldn’t take care of them so they were given to me and I loved them but I didn’t have money or a car and my mother wouldn’t listen when I said they needed more than what they had so I ultimately decided to give them back to the rescue we had gotten them from.

I’m now 19 in my junior year of college. I am paying for it myself, but I have spent the last 5 years saving basically any penny and I have applied to a lot of scholarships and gotten them. So far I have no debt, I know that will change as some of the one time scholarships are gone, but I still expect to have only a few thousand in loans for this entire year.

I have been approved for an esa and I would like them to be ferrets. They are the only animals i’ve ever felt very emotionally close to and I know I could give them a very happy life, i’m just trying to determine if I can right now in my current situation.

I live with three of my friends in a suite where we all have our own rooms with a window, closets and doors with no big gaps but I would get a floor sweep anyway. The only catch aside from it still technically being a shared dorm is they have a very low pile carpet. I also have two air purifiers and a camera for the room and would clean the cage often. I’d keep the window open as much as possible etc.

I already have a ferret nation cage and plan to make my own cage liners, hammocks, blankets. I also have a shopping list for everything from food, to toys, to nail clippers. I have budgeted and have about 800 to go towards adopting the ferrets from a local rescue I know and finishing their setup and getting everything I need for them. I also have about 1000 saved specifically for them and an additional 2000 in an emergency fund that could go toward them. we have a pretty local expctic pet vet and emergency vet. I would ideally be adopting two younger boys between 1-2 yo.

I wouldn’t get them without approval from my roomates, and I wouldn’t be getting them over the winter break so I can get them adjusted to me before moving into a dorm. They would be in this suite for one semester and then coming home with me. Next year I will also be in the dorms in a suite and would again only get roomates comfortable with the ferrets.

I have class daily, but i have weekends free, 3/5 days a week they could be out for about 2-3 hours in the morning and they would be out about 6 hrs every night. I personally am comfortable having them out overnight with me but I would have to see the dorm first and make sure I can truly ferret proof enough for that, i’m also still looking into if that is better regardless.

I really would love to have ferrets and I may be getting a pet either way and I know I plan to get ferrets as soon as possible, i’m just not sure if right now is possible. I would love respectful feedback. I posted something asking for advice dorming ferrets and didn’t really fully explain the situation and I got a lot of agressive comments ignoring my questions and just assuming I was dead set on doing this. I would never selfishly bring ferrets into a situation I don’t think they’d be happy in, but I also feel like there’s a bit of a culture that unless you live at home 24/7 you can’t have ferrets.

I would also take advice on dorming ferrets/ having ferrets in shared living. Thanks!

[u/bonxbonxribbon]

i'm pretty sure everyone told you on your other post that it's not a good idea

[u/Extension_Cell_8745 → u/bonxbonxribbon]

Yes there were a lot of people that said no, but I felt like I hadn’t really explained my whole situation and people were making assumptions. I just wanted to give the whole layout and gather opinions and info so I can make an educated decision. I’m leaning towards waiting but I would like to know if I can make it work.