Friday, November 5, 2010

Life with a Ferret

We have recently embarked on yet another pet adventure...a ferret. I'm not sure this was really in the plan. We had discussed a ferret but decided it was too expensive a pet and moved on. Then a free ferret came over the homeschool etree. I didn't think we wanted to pass this one up and I'm really glad we didn't.

Muffles (soon to be renames Gravity) came to live with us a week ago. Never has a pet been so loved. I think he's kind of exhausted from his "love". All the kids (and half the neighborhood kids) have enjoyed following her around the house, holding her, making mazes in the boxes for her, taking her on walks on a "leash", carrying her around in a little bag outside so she can see the world. Gravity has been a joy so far. She's pretty calm (for a ferret) and will endure cuddling.

Ferrets make nice pets...they don't have to roam your house at will, but can be caged. They can be litter trained. They aren't loud. They don't require much more than food, water and a few toys and a blanket or towel. Ferrets are cuddly and they do smell musky...which I can take over other scents. We clipped her nails this week and she was very good. We have a bath scheduled for this weekend as it might be the last of the warm days.

All in all, a great pet. Probably not a starter pet since little ones might hurt one, but once your kids want some pet responsibility but you don't want a lot of money for upkeep, this pet is great fun. Kind of an intermediate pet as far as responsibility and care.