Introducing Your Ferret to the Family

There are many things to take into consideration when bringing a brand new ferret kit into your home. Many variables exist. For example, will you be introducing your new kit to an older ferret? Is this the first ferret kit that you bring into your home and introduce to your children?

A little bit of knowledge before you come home with your new kit will be worth its weight in gold.

If you are introducing a new ferret kit to cohabitate with an older ferret kit, you should know a few things. A new ferret kit will have much more energy than an older ferret. In fact, an older ferret is set in its ways and already trained. Now that you are throwing a vibrant, energetic new kit into the mix, you have introduced change into the older ferret�s environment. Any change for any animal needs an adjustment period.

It is always a wise idea to have a separate cage for a new ferret. Set up a room just for the specific purpose of introducing your older ferret to your newer one, after a little bit of time having the cages next to each other. This will give the older ferret a chance to sniff out the scent of the newer ferret, and give them both a chance to become accustomed to the presence and scent of one another.

Let your older ferret approach your newer ferret slowly and cautiously and for limited times only. Your new kit will be so energetic and excited; it may just overwhelm your older ferret.

As time goes by, the older ferret will get used to spending longer periods with his new friend. When the new kit grows up a bit and is a little less enthusiastic, the match for cohabitation will be better.

For some reason, introducing a new girl ferret to an older girl ferret seems to cause a bit of competition amongst them.

If you have a family pet such as a dog, it is best to introduce your dog as a puppy to your ferret kit. When animals grow up together, they usually grow used to each other much more easily and quickly. However, if this is not the case, then it is imperative that you supervise an older dog, especially if he is bigger, to your new kit.

A great idea is to speak to your veterinarian about your dog�s breed and the typical personality traits that it has. Some dogs are naturally bred for hunting and chasing and it may never be a good idea to introduce them. Keeping all food and toys separate and out of the room when they play is a wise choice as well. Always supervise your pets with your new ferrets.

When it comes to introducing your ferret to your children, take into account the age of your children. Ferrets are no more or less likely to bite or nip than a new puppy. Make sure that you always supervise your children with your new ferret just as you would with any other pet. Never leave the room and start off slowly so that your new pet will get accustomed to your children.

With patience and common sense, your new ferret will become part of the family in no time.