This question has been frequently asked by interested parties who are considering getting a pet ferret. But there are actually many possible answers to this question, depending on which angle you choose to see it. There are various price quotes for ferrets these days, but the most reliable would be one that will come in with the advantages, disadvantages or how’s and why’s of such pricing.

Average store or breeder ferret: $100
On to the safer side of things, a breeder ferret will cost you a hundred dollars or so, depending on the age, store quality and rarity of the breed in that particular region where you ordered it. The average store of breeder ferret will also give you the advantage of having more people to talk to about it because most people who own ferrets for the first time get it from stores and will be more than happy to share with you their discoveries. Since this is a popular choice, you will also get a popular response should you encounter problems with your regular breeder ferret in the future.

Premium breed ferret: $200 and up
A premium bred ferret will cost higher and will definitely have higher maintenance. Though at the outset all ferrets may seem to be made of the same stuff, you might have to have additional facts with your premium breed. Perhaps they are easier to train, de-musked by removal of glands or have other special tricks up their sleeve compared to the regular ferret. And as an owner, you might have to know all of these after you hand in your hard-earned $200.

Cage, Supplies: $100
Ferrets are creatures that you cannot just leave lying around in your house. They need cages, toys, and other supplies such as shower toiletries. The ferret is like a baby in some ways. You have to prepare for its coming and make sure it comes in complete with the right stuff. If you are really eager to provide the best care for your ferret, there is definitely a need to shell out regularly for cage, supplies and toys that will keep you in harmony with your ferret’s wants and needs.

Vaccinations: $100 and up
Health is wealth even for ferrets. Vaccinations will ensure that they will not acquire viruses or illnesses that easily. This will be your ally especially if you are still in the beginning stage of caring for your ferrets. You might not be able to closely monitor or instantly define what’s wrong, so an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

Special Cases with the Vet: $300 per visit
There will also be cases where your pet ferret will undergo something major so you need to have at least $300 stashed somewhere for you to access should these things happen.

How much do ferrets cost? They are really expensive, especially if you factor in all the other priceless items such as your time, love, devotion and energy in caring for them.

by hans s
If you want to own a ferret, you will probably have more luck buying them from a breeder or a shelter instead of the pet store. This is because it takes some effort to care for these animals especially since they need constant attention.

For those who happen to find a breeder using either the newspaper or the web, it is best to ask for photos. If you like it, you will have to fill some forms and then pay for it and it’s already to be taken home on the same day.

Ferrets can be purchased at any age. If you want to raise a new born ferret, make sure to ask the breeder about animal care. Although these cute little creatures can already see, their vision is limited to a certain distance. You have to keep this clean at all times to prevent injuries. As they grow older, it is best to toilet train them.

Adults on the other hand are quite different but just the same, they have to toilet trained and your home has to be ferret proof to prevent damage to your home.

The price of a ferret depends on their size and age. On average, they cost around $75 to $125. Aside from that, you will also have to purchase a few other items like a cage, litter box, toys and vaccinations.

Another thing you have to know before going buying a ferret is finding out if it is legal to own one where you reside. You can do so by checking with the local wildlife and game department so if you need to get a license, this can be done to avoid any problems later on.

When buying a ferret, pay close attention to the eyes, their coating and their behavior. The more active the creature is the better. If you are worried that the ferret might reproduce later on, no need to worry because these are usually neutered.

Once the ferret has been purchased, the task of taking care of the ferret is in your hands and although it sleeps for more than 18 hours a day, once it is awake, it is very active and you need to let it out of the cage and let it run out.

To keep it healthy, you need to find a vet that is qualified to handle such an animal. If the one near where you live is not able to do the job, ask around for someone that can.

Food is one of the most important things to consider since they need to eat poultry or meat products that are high in protein and have low levels of fat. You should also avoid giving products that are rich in carbs and sugar. You must never substitute the food that is intended for other animals to prevent health problems. To keep them clean, given them a bath every so often.

Ferrets are cute creatures. If you have seen one on television or in the movies and want to own one, look around because you are sure to find ferret sellers in the market.

Is a wild ferret for you?
by Foxtongue
You might have to quiz yourself well on that before you head off to the nearest forest and score yourself a brand new wild ferret to have and hold. There are many advantages and disadvantages of keeping wild ferrets, and here are some of the more major things you can expect once you decide to acquire wild ferrets.
Advantages:
More adventure, more fun. People who are just as interested in getting adventures out of their ferrets as much as the wild ferrets are must be open to the idea of keeping them untamed. Wild ferrets are quite exciting to behold, especially for extremists who may find themselves bored with the typical domesticated pet. The good thing about wild pets is that they are extremely resilient and able to bounce back from attacks easily with they speedy and adventurous nature. Their curiosity may also lead to bring you in some surprises you wouldn’t otherwise have had if you had them tamed.

Non-deviation from their natural genetic makeup. The genetic makeup for ferrets is that they roam free and explore unchartered territories fearlessly. Leaving them to their wild side will enable them to do just that. If you are planning to research on ferrets, keeping them wild is the best way to keep them as close to their natural habitat and actuations as possible. This way, learning about your pet is maximized.

Owners will get the chance to see wild ferrets as they are, sans modifications that can be painful for them. Seeing ferrets au naturel has its perk. Modifying ferrets for domestication such as removing their gland (a big ouch for your mammal!) that secretes the offensive musky smell can really alter your ferret permanently.

One can have to option to train them at a later time. Once you have had enough of the adventures or misadventures of your wild ferret, you always have the option to tame them at a later time.

Disadvantages:

Wild ferrets may choose to be free from your ownership anytime. Since wild ferrets are designed to be free from any form of captivity or ownership, they will have no sense of loyalty whatsoever and will be free to roam around to places in any way they choose. If you truly want this whole thing to work, you have to be prepared to lose your ferret over anytime once they decide to break free and change their surroundings.

They have higher risk to diseases and early deaths. Wild ferrets are not regulated in any way. They will eat anything and everything that they see lying around. In fact, even domesticated ferrets still have this as a common cause of death. This risk to early deaths, lack of digestion and poisoning may be heightened. And treating them with a laxative may be all the more difficult if you have not trained your ferret even to get familiar with you to trust you.

They may pose a danger to you, especially to children. If you let ferrets be, they will remain as wild as ever and they may not be the kind of pet you would want to have around when there are many children who can get hurt. Children and ferrets are both playful and grow wild when untamed, and there is no predicting what kind of explosion may occur if you put them together in the same room and in the same condition.

Younger children are at a higher risk of getting bitten because they may not be able to regulate the way they touch your ferrets and the ferrets might interpret the child’s playful cuddling as an attack.

Once you decide to train them later, they may be most resistant to your attempts. Training wild ferrets when old may not be as easy as when you start them out young. You might have to incur additional expenses and few ferret trainers will be willing to get bitten by an old wild ferret for a fee.