Choosing a Ferret! A few things you should know:

• Owning a ferret can be very expensive. You need a large cage, food and water bowls, litter and litter box, quality food, and toys.
• Ferrets need a lot of time. They need to be out of their cage and played with for several hours every day, and can never be left alone. (They seem to like getting stuck in small spaces.)
• Ferrets need extra medical attention: they need annual vaccinations. Treatments for common health problems will cost thousands of dollars. Their talent for eating strange things may eat a hole in your pocket as well, after emergency surgeries. They will only live up to 6-8 years, sometimes not more than 3 or 4.
• Ferrets need special care. If they aren't played with, they become self-destructive. They need frequent grooming, especially nail-trimming. They eat often, and must have access to food and water all the time. They will have "accidents" almost daily. They also have a unique smell, which can be lessened with frequent bathing.
• A permit and vaccinations are required to own a ferret in Rhode Island.

Owning a ferret is not for everyone. If you are still considering adopting one, please look for additional information about owning a ferret.

If you already have a ferret, and feel you cannot keep it-please return it to a shelter. If you just "let it go" it will die or be killed.