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Apr. 14th, 2011 04:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
altarflame
We've been trying to decide on small pets for the little kids for the last couple of weeks - hamsters vs gerbils vs guineas vs rats, etc. The cages were priced higher than we wanted to deal with in stores, so I was scouring Craigslist for cheap, used cage options.
In the process, I found an ad for three ferrets with a large cage, all for $100.
I've always wanted to have ferrets, and the kids have always begged for ferrets whenever we go to pet stores, but I've never actually considered it because, 1. They stink, and 2. They're way too expensive. PetCo charges $115 for a ferret. The large cages they need can run up to $200 as well.
I kind of went "Huh" the first time I saw the ad. Then I kept seeing it popping up, and ended up talking with Grant about it, reading about ferrets, and texting the seller back and forth.
We ended up getting these 3 ferrets - 2 females, one male - for $75 with their giant tri-level cage that includes big ferret tubing and a hammock for them to lay in and she even threw in a vented carrier bag for transport.
This is awesome because:
-ferrets get along very well with cats, unlike most of those other options listed above that are prey for cats
-they have a longer life span than most small pets (6-10 years; these are just over one year now)
-they came to us spayed and neutered, which is a big expense and also cuts the smell down
-they're INCREDIBLY sweet and friendly and playful...Elise can sling one over her shoulder and it's happy as can be
-so far, they really don't smell almost at all - there's a faint animal smell if you put your nose in their fur but I can't even detect it on my hands after holding them.
Nevertheless I am armed and ready to combat ferret stink. I have:
-ferret shampoo to bathe them in
-conditioning, scent neurtralizing spray for between baths
-food that is known for neutralizing their smells
-water drops you add to minimize smells
So, hopefully this won't become an issue. The lady at PetCo told me hers doesn't smell, you just have to change the litter weekly. Thus far I feel thrilled that we made out like bandits. The little kids are thrilled. The big kids are jealous but they get to play with them, too, and they each have a cat.
I am as usual a study in extremes. The good is mostly focused on how emotionally present and productive I'm being with all of the kids, and how happy they make me. We got letter and word beads today to make bracelets and necklaces for everyone. We all laughed forever in that homemade tent about the hilarious idea of Ananda making one that says Lord of the Rings, and Elise making one that says Tinkerbell, and Isaac making one that says cawbohydwates (his favorite thing). The bad is concentrated around surgery and medical terror, which manifests in ALL KINDS OF WAYS, like bad downward spiral overeating, all-day vice-like tension in my neck and shoulders, an inability to sleep at night...all kinds of fun stuff. A well meaning anonymous commenter left a pretty terrifying story in a previous entry. I am still planning to get this done at the end of the summer...
But...I really am super happy and excited about kid stuff. And my own stuff. I'm working on page layouts for my childrens' book, now that Memo sent me initial sketches, and it's so awesome to even think about.
*shrug* I
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Date: 2011-04-14 12:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-14 04:45 pm (UTC)Very cool fort. I love your kids.
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Date: 2011-04-14 05:00 pm (UTC)Ferrets!
Date: 2011-04-14 09:56 pm (UTC)Ferrets are awesome. Gender has an impact on smell...if you have girls, it will be less of an issue, but really even with a male, as long as he's neutered it shouldn't be much of a problem if at all. They get the smell rep from un-neutered males. /End of ferret bio lesson as you probably knew all that anyway
We have neutered females and they don't smell at all. We don't bathe them more than once or twice a year as they keep themselves clean. I would warn you against pre-emptively bathing them frequently, as this can actually cause a smell problem - it washes away their natural oils, causing the skin to over-produce them an attempt to counter the irritation and drying that can result from over-bathing.
I doubt you will even need any of the anti-smell products, but if you do use them, I'd just check the ingredients and make sure there's nothing too crazy or artificial in there. This wouldn't be good for them just like it's not good for us, but they don't get to choose what gets used on them and what they ingest.
I'm sure you and your family will love them. Can't believe they can cost over $100, though. Here in the UK there's a tradition of using them as working animals (rabbit hunting) and people would breed them in their sheds. They're sort of like non-pedigree kittens in America - if people have extra they give them away, charge only a small amount of money or take them to a shelter (at least, it was like that w/ kittens in Indiana back in the day). I don't think you could even get one in a pet store here.
Happy ferreting!
Re: Ferrets!
Date: 2011-04-15 07:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-15 12:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-15 07:14 pm (UTC)Hi!
Date: 2011-04-15 12:46 pm (UTC)Ferrets don't stink...unless you don't clean up their cage and messes outside of it. Just like any other pet. For 3 ferrets you'll be scooping every day and completely changing the litter weekly. I'm sure you have noticed already that they poop about 6 times a day. Only bathe them once a month though! If you bathe them too much they stink *more*
I could go on and on about useful info on ferrets, but that would be annoying.
I would suggest getting 'ferrets for dummies' and doing some serious reading up on them...they're a little more complicated to own that a dog or a cat (like they can catch the flu from you, never ever give anything but ferret food) but completely awesome. My local library had it and a bunch of other ferret books. I'm DEF not trying to be like 'i know better!!' i was a dog/cat owner my whole life and when we got the ferrets it was a biiiiig change, trying to give you a good heads up ;)
Good luck!!!
Re: Hi!
Date: 2011-04-15 07:15 pm (UTC)Re: Hi!
Date: 2011-04-16 07:17 pm (UTC)