D'aww, yes, I am proud, though for obvious reasons, I will now give the Ferrets 101 crash course because I guarantee that your kids are not prepared for the responsibility that comes with a carpet shark.
#1: If it isn't already, ensure your ferret is spayed. For males this is more because they get a little aggressive during mating season and may try to mark territory. For females, they can literally get sick and die from being in heat too long. (Yep, this is an animal that can die from
being horny too long.)
#2: While descenting isn't mandatory for any health reason, with children, I'd do it. Ferrets will only release their more
alluring odour when scared, which around children, will happen sooner or later.
#3: Get them other vet shots & et cetera. If you can't afford them all, specifically go for a flu vaccination. You can give your ferrets the flu and for them, it can be deadly due to weaker immune systems from generations of inbreeding.
#4: Ferret food can be hard to find, so keep in mind that in a pinch, high protein cat food makes for a solid substitute. They can also eat raw meat (specifically poultry such as chicken and turkey is easier for them to digest so long as you cut it up for them first).
#5: They're problem solvers and kleptomaniacs, like eight year olds. You may want to buy a simple combination lock for their cage, and write the number down somewhere so you don't forget.
#6: Watch your feet (
and ass) when you get up or sit down. Ferrets are extremely social and inquisitive, but again, they have the mindset of an eight year old: They don't understand the danger a 150-ish pound human can be if they get stepped on or sat on.
#7: When teaching them not to bite, keep in mind the following.
--Most biting is usually preceeded by a couple inquisitive licks.
--There is a difference between playful nipping (light pokes to get your attention) and solidly biting and gnawing. Try not to punish them for nipping: It doesn't hurt and it's how they naturally communicate and investigate the world around them.
--
Don't hit them or punish them with your hand. You don't want to associate your hand as a source of discipline and pain. Instead, put them into a container (a box will do--not their cage for the same reason as the hand) and leave them there for about 2-5 minutes. Repeat until they learn that biting = playtime over!
#8: Keep a couple ferret know-how sites handy, such as the
ferret rescue society,
PetMD, and
Adopt-A-Ferret. That way you don't have to ask an enthusiast for help, you can ask an expert.
#9: To toilet train them, take note where it is they most often do their business and keep a litter box there. Use positive encouragement when they use the litter box to reinforce that litter box = good. You may want to keep a couple litter boxes around--they're not as good as cats about using them. As with any pet, change it daily so the ferret will use it.
#10: Finally, remember that ferrets are social animals, perhaps even more than dogs. They love attention and they love to play. Getting them cheap toys and treats, and interacting with them is a must. They will
love you in ways few animals can and they will never stop reminding you of that... Except when they're sleeping for 14 hours a day, eating, stealing something (ferrets have kleptomania--watch where you put your keys!), and trying to problem solve.
Things ferrets love:
--Boxes and places to slink about (think underneath beds, couches, et cetera--getting them a plastic tube amounts to
god tier entertainment for them).
--Snow. (They love to burrow in it.)
--Not water. (Ferrets in their natural habitats don't swim often, they can dog paddle but 9 times out of 10 will do it just to get back to the shore.)
--Squeaky toys. (Grab one, squeak it, and keep it ahead of your ferret. Prepare for the most
adorable noise of all time as they try to reach it.)
--You. (Really. I mean it. Treat a ferret well and they will love you to utterly obscene degrees. Examples including cuddling up with you on the couch, dragging some of their toys over to you to play, and simply being bundles of excitable happiness.)
Ferrets are great pets, but they're high maintenance. They typically live between 8-10 years, though some are known to live as long as 14. Due to inbreeding they're vulnerable to diseases like cancer.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Otherwise, have fun with your new member of the family!
EDIT
OH! RIGHT! To keep a ferret clean: Wash them once every week or two,
no more often than that. If you do, the oils that make them smelly will kick into overdrive. On the flip side, they're hypoallergenic--meaning that
because they rely on the oils and not on dander like cats and dogs do, anyone with pet allergies visiting your home doesn't have to worry about the ferret. As for the cage, clean it like you would any other cage. If you don't, it'll smell,
like any other cage.