Become a credit card member today!
Congrats on welcoming home your new pet
The Petco new ferret Guide
We’ll help you navigate pet parenthood with helpful tips, expert guidance and recommendations for every milestone.
1. SETTING UP THE PERFECT HOME
Fill your space with supplies and essentials before your ferret arrives to help them feel comfortable and safe from the start.
Habitats
Provide the largest multitiered, wire-sided habitat possible, at least 2 ft. x 2 ft. x 3 ft.
Food Bowls
Feed healthy young ferrets two times a day using untippable bowls to help prevent them from eating all day and becoming overweight.
Water bottles and bowls
Provide clean, fresh water and refill it daily.
Hideaways
Tap into your ferret’s love for hiding and playing by providing several hideaway options.
Bedding
Place 1–2 inches of high-quality, paper-based bedding in their habitat.
Litter boxes
You can train your ferret to use a litter box to help keep their habitat clean—just make sure to use a different material than their bedding.
-
Habitats
Provide the largest multitiered, wire-sided habitat possible, at least 2 ft. x 2 ft. x 3 ft.
-
Food Bowls
Feed healthy young ferrets two times a day using untippable bowls to help prevent them from eating all day and becoming overweight.
-
Water bottles and bowls
Provide clean, fresh water and refill it daily.
-
Hideaways
Tap into your ferret’s love for hiding and playing by providing several hideaway options.
-
Bedding
Place 1–2 inches of high-quality, paper-based bedding in their habitat.
-
Litter boxes
You can train your ferret to use a litter box to help keep their habitat clean—just make sure to use a different material than their bedding.
-
Habitats
-
Food Bowls
-
Bottles
-
Hideaways
-
Bedding
-
Litter Boxes
2. Finding the right food
Set a strong foundation for your new pet’s physical health with quality nutrition.
Food
Set a strong foundation for their health with a high-protein, moderate-fat and low-carbohydrate diet.
Treats
Be sure treats make up no more than 10 percent of your pet’s diet and are made with high-protein, low-carbohydrate ingredients so they stay at a healthy weight.
-
Food
-
Treats
3. KEEPING YOUR FERRET HAPPY
Ferrets are naturally very playful and silly pets! Learn how you can tap into their fun personality while building your bond.
Toys
Help stimulate their mind with ferret-safe toys that don’t have small pieces of rubber they could ingest.
Hammocks
Because ferrets sleep for up to 18 hours a day, you’ll want to give them a secure and comfy place to snuggle.
Tunnels and tubes
Ferrets love tunnels and tubes that let them run and burn excess energy.
Ramps and shelves
These make it easy for them to explore their home throughout the day.
-
Toys
Help stimulate their mind with ferret-safe toys that don’t have small pieces of rubber they could ingest.
-
Hammocks
Because ferrets sleep for up to 18 hours a day, you’ll want to give them a secure and comfy place to snuggle.
-
Tunnels and tubes
Ferrets love tunnels and tubes that let them run and burn excess energy.
-
Ramps and shelves
These make it easy for them to explore their home thought the day.
-
Toys
-
Hammocks
-
Tunnels & Tubes
-
Ramps & Shelves
4. Understanding your ferret
Known for their happy, inquisitive nature and humorous behavior, ferrets are affectionate and intelligent animals who love to play and explore. Below are some key behaviors to know so you can help them adjust.
Weasel war dancers
Ferrets do this iconic dance when they are happy and excited.
Collectors
Intelligent, playful and mischievous, they love to collect and hide household items.
Expert sleepers
They sleep for up to 18 hours a day and tend to be the most active in the evening.
5. BUILDING A ROUTINE
A consistent routine for grooming and cleaning can help support their wellbeing while they settle in.
Grooming
While ferrets groom themselves, they need their nails clipped regularly, and you can help them stay extra clean by bathing them monthly.
Cleaning
Bedding and litter box should be spot cleaned daily, and their entire habitat should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.
