[grey_whiskers]

Ferrets leave a strong and distinctive odor. They love to crap in inaccessible places, just to make cleaning more difficult.

And they run off with keys and things like that.

Just. Don't.

[KarlInOhio]

Ferrets leave a strong and distinctive odor. They love to crap in inaccessible places, just to make cleaning more difficult. And they run off with keys and things like that.

The many reasons along with digging I want a friend to have one, but not me.

Similar to a friend's pet rabbits. Cute little buggers, but they have never learned that electrical wires are not nibbly treats.

[rarestia]

Ferrets leave a strong and distinctive odor. They love to crap in inaccessible places, just to make cleaning more difficult. And they run off with keys and things like that. Just. Don't.

Ferret musk ranges from slight to strong, but anything overwhelming usually means the gland removal was incomplete. I've had dozens of ferrets throughout my life, and the strongest odor comes from bathing. Ferrets should never be bathed. Instead, like chinchillas, they can be given a powder bath or a tub of sand to keep them "clean." They love to dig, so it's a good way to keep them busy.

They will, however, as you say, run off with keys and other things. They can be very mischievous. I had a dedicated room for my ferts, stripped of carpet and any other accoutrements. They are not in the habit of crapping in inaccessible places if you 1) litter train them and 2) don't let them have full reign of your home.

Ferrets are NOT for everyone. They require special attention and really should be kept in their own space. They play very well with cats and dogs if introduced early on. Any new puppies we brought home were crated in the same room as our "business," and they played very well. Ferrets will kill or maim animals such as rats and rabbits if left alone with them, as they are natural prey for mustelids.

[Hot Tabasco]

A bunch of years ago I used to live in an apartment building. One Saturday morning I was washing my car in the side parking lot when a black lady walked by and said she and her daughter had been attacked by a weasel........Well, knowing there were no weasels in the area, I kinda figured what it was.

Sure enough, about 10 minutes later a ferret walked out from under a bush along side the building. Since I had always wanted a ferret, and Michigan made them legal to own about a year prior, I took it in.

Well, you're right, they stink. I bathed the little guy several times but still couldn't get rid of the odor.

Keep in mind that I knew who the ferret escaped from since I had seen it on the guy's balcony. He was a punk thug who hung around with other bandana carrying thugs. So instead of returning it to him, the following Monday morning I took it to a vet that was a member of a ferret rescue group that had been created in anticipation of new ferret owners wanting to give them up for adoption due to various reasons - primarily because they stink........