[South40]

If #5 is true, having a female ferret for a pet would be a temporary thing.

[chaosagent]

This is definitely true about ferrets. We lost one that way that we were told had been spayed, but it hadn't. If they go into heat and don't breed, their red blood cell production ceases.

It takes a while for all the old cells to age and die, after which the ferret basically suffocates because there is not enough red blood cells to carry oxygenated blood.

[Aracelis]

If #5 is true, having a female ferret for a pet would be a temporary thing.

By law, all ferrets sold as pets must be neutered. Unfortunately there are some sadistic individuals out there. We found out the hard way after adopting a really sweet female ferret from a local shelter. They assured us she was spayed before we brought her home, but alas, she was not. She died of aplastic anemia despite our Vet's most valiant attempts to save her.