Ferret Question

[Annitude]

Ive been thinking about getting 2 ferrets.( Or 2 bunnys, or 2 G.Pigs , havent desided yet)

 And I was just wondering about how much does the food for them cost a month on average.
Also....I know they need a distemper shot, Do they need a rabies shot aswell?
Ive heard they can get very aggressive too and mean is that a false statement?

[StarDreamer]

For my three boys I spend about $20 a month give or take. As far as the rabies shot, its up to yu. Distemper I wouldn't advise going without as you can actually carry the distemper virus into your home on your clothes. But there has been no record of a ferret ever transmitting rabies to a human or animal but because they are still considered an "exotic" pet, without the shots if they ever bit and drew blood, the person bitten can request to have the animal tested which means it will be destroyed without quarantine. If it is up to date on its rabies vacs, it will be quarantined.

A ferret will only become aggressive if abused or neglected. All three of my boys were adopted/rescued and one of them was very aggressive. But after about a month of love and positive reinforcement, he turned into a wonderful pet. I have never met a mean ferret that was treated properly. Also, when they are kits, they do bite, but only out of play, much like a puppy does. And like a puppy, they have to be taught just what is acceptable and whats not. If you teach them not to bite, which should only take about a week of constant reinforcement, they learn to play gently with their humans and aren't mean at all!

[nakedrats]

Like SD said, almost all kits (baby ferrets) do bite and some bite hard enough to draw blood.  Ferret mills take kits away from their moms too early so they can get them descented and neutered and still be cute babies in the pet store.  This means the new owner has to be the ferret's mom and teach him how to play nicely and that biting hurts and isn't appropriate for playing. 

For your first ferrets, I highly recommend adopting adults from a rescue.  Adults will have already been taught good manners and are calmer and more cuddly than babies- they'll let you hold them for 30 seconds or so and hug them before they start squirming to get down.   It's also easier to get them enough exercise.  Ferrets need extensive free roam time out of their cage.  6 hours of free time every night is a good amount with older ferrets needing less and babies needing more.  This means you'll probably need to have a room that has been "ferret proofed" for them to be out in because you probably aren't going to be able to watch them the entire time.  You don't want to skimp on exercise because it makes a crabby ferret that's more likely to bite and have other destructive behaviors.  They are more similar to dogs than cats in that they need to be exercised or they'll destroy the house.

Please research ferrets before getting any.  You'll want to be ready for their expensive vet bills (my wellness visits were about $100 and an emergency visit was $800 for an overnight stay).  You'll also want to make sure you're going to be ok with it WHEN (not if) they dig the carpet to shreds, poop in all the corners and behind the furniture and wipe their hiney on the rug, steal your socks and hide them in the couch, nip your toes so you have to wear socks or shoes whenever they're out, climb onto shelves and dig out all the books, when you have to clean their cage every day so your house doesn't smell like ferret....  Ferrets are awesome animals and really fun to play with and own, but you have to be ok with all their less than cute and funny aspects as well.   Ferret shelters get TONS of baby ferrets only a few months old from people that had no idea what they were getting themselves into and couldn't stand it.  The other frequently dumped ferret is the one that got sick and nobody wanted to pay the vet bills.

If ferrets may not be for you, rabbits are active and fun to watch, but they tend to chew things and your walls and furniture may not be safe.  GP are less active and most willing to be held of the ones on your list.  They also don't need as much exercise and you don't have to get them out of their cage every single day like the others.   Just read up on these guys and it will become apparent to you which is best for you.  Another thing to do is call up a shelter that rescues buns or GP or ferrets and talk to the shelter director.  Tell them your situation and ask them if you would be a good match for the animal.  They have memorized by now the top 20 reasons why people get rid of the pet they rescue and can give you straight answers as to what to expect.  They've seen it all, and are more than happy to talk to someone that wants to make the right decision about a pet.