Living Space A ferret makes a great pet for apartment dwellers, since they are quite small and make very little noise. However, they do still need adequate room to move around and play. Are you willing to make room for a large cage, or give them free roam of the house or a room? Safety In addition to giving a ferret adequate sized living quarters, you must be willing to ensure that their environment is safe for them, by ferret-proofing your home. It may entail blocking small cracks or crevices that lead to dangerous areas, preventing access to household appliances, as well as furniture that may be dangerous. You'll also need to make sure that your ferret can't get to any wires or outlets. Ferrets should also be kept away from various items that they might ingest such as foam or rubber items, as well as any medications or chemicals. Ingesting any of these items could prove fatal to your ferret. Ferret-proofing is an ongoing process that must be taken very seriously, and done thoroughly. If you even have the slightest doubt at all about the safety of anything in your home, then chances are it will be a problem. Ferrets are experts in finding ways to get into trouble, and they will quickly show you anything you may have overlooked. Ferret-proofing is an absolute must if you plan to own a ferret. Neglecting to do so could very well result in the death of your pet. The Time Commitment Ferrets are highly intelligent animals that thrive on human interaction. If you're looking for a pet that you can just put in a cage and feed and admire on your way by now and then, consider a mouse or better yet, a fishtank, not a ferret. You must be willing to spend time with them each day, allowing them to run and play with you. They should be given at least 2 hours each day to get out and play, if they are caged, in a safe and stimulating environment. If you can't always give them this much play time, then you may want to consider more than 1 ferret, so that they can keep each other company. However, having multiple ferrets does not mean that you can skip his playtime with you. Ferrets can and do have a blast with each other, but they still need love and attention from their humans. You'll also need to make time to clean their living quarters, as well as feeding, watering, and grooming them. If you can't or won't give the necessary time needed to have a healthy, happy ferret, then consider a different pet. The Cost So, you have the money to buy a ferret? Great! But there many other costs you need to keep in mind. A ferret can be an expensive pet to have. Let's first look at their basic neccessities. First, you'll need a spacious cage, even if you don't plan to keep him caged. There are times when a ferret is much safer being caged, for example, during certain house cleaning chores. In addition to the cage, you'll need accessories such as food and water bowls, bedding and hammocks for comfy sleeping, toys to entertain him when you're not there, food, and treats. You'll need a high quality ferret or kitten food for his diet. Buying the cheapest food you can find just will not suffice. But it doesn't end there. A ferret requires routine checkups with a veterinarian, as well as annual rabies and distemper vaccinations. They should alse receive heartworm preventitives regularly. Even if you don't take your ferret outside, you should still take these neccessary precautions. Mosquitos transmit heartworm disease, and they could get in your house and to your ferret. Your ferret could come in contact with a disease carrying animal at the vets office during a routine visit. You can even bring disease home with you on your clothing unknowingly. The diseases that can be prevented with vaccines are very deadly to your ferret. Even worse yet, is if your ferret bites someone. Without proof of a rabies vaccination, your pet can be confiscated and killed in order to test him for rabies. This test cannot be performed on a live animal because it requires the animal's brain tissue for testing. In addition to routine checkups and vaccinations, there are the unexpected health issues. As a ferret ages, he has an increased chance for illness and disease. Ferrets are prone to various cancers and other illnesses as they get older, so even if you only have 1 furkid, there is still a good chance that you'll run into some sort of health issue in his lifetime. Are you able and willing to properly maintain your ferret's health, no matter the cost? If you can honestly answer this with a yes, then that's wonderful! Some people even set up a savings just for their ferret's care. You could set aside some money each week or each month, and you'll be better prepared should an emergency or major health issue arise. The Legal Issue It is truly sad that I must even mention the legality of owning a ferret. The only crime a ferret is guilty of commiting is stealing the hearts of humans everywhere. Nonetheless, ferrets are illegal in the states of California and Hawaii, as well as various localities throughout the country, such as New York City. You'll need to do your homework to be sure that ferrets are allowed in your area, and if any permits are required. Keeping ferrets in an area where they are not allowed could mean having your ferret taken from you by the authorities. It's best to check your areas laws before ever bringing a ferret home. If you've read all this and you're still up for being owned by a ferret, great! Ferrets make wonderful pets, who will give 110% back to you if you're willing to learn about them and provide a safe, healthy, and loving environment for them.