All About Ferrets

Like any animal, domestic or otherwise, ferrets have an odour. The question as to whether or not a ferret smell is "stinky" is really difficult to precisely address.  Good ferret care is one of the main contributors to a ferret's odour.  Proper diet, clean bedding, plenty of outside cage time, good health (regular vet visits) and regular maintenance of their environment (ie cleaning their poop!) all are sources of how a ferret will smell.

In other words, the cleaner the environment, the better a ferret is cared for, the better it will smell.  Its worth noting the source of ferret smell or odour is both the scent glands (removed by commercial breeders in North America prior to shipping for sale) as well as the oils on the skin.  Over bathing your ferret, for example, can result in an overproduction of oil, and a "smellier" animal.  Similarly, a ferret who is left in a cage more, whose bedding and blankets are not cleaned regularly (weekly or more), or whose litter/puppy pads are not cleaned daily, can smell more.

So to answer the question of whether or not a ferret is "stinky", is usually going to come down to the care they are provided, and a person's tolerance of their natural smell.  Most ferret owners love the smell of their ferrets and do not find them "stinky", however those not accustomed to a ferret smell or those ferrets in poorer conditions, may be deemed as "stinky".

Ferrets are obligate carnivores, meaning their primary food source must be animal-based / meat proteins.  There are many different views on what a proper ferret diet looks like, including kibble, raw, or variations of either (eg freeze-dried raw).  

The first step to nutrition is to discuss your pets' needs with your ferret-experienced vet.  There are commercially available ferret-specific kibbles. Should you choose raw, there are many internet resources available to help guide you.  FRES feeds Totally Ferret, as per the recommendation of the vet staff we use.

One strong word of caution, cheap diets lead to medical issues.  This includes feeding your ferret cat foods and cheap ferret kibbles.  These foods often contain ingredients which can ultimately lead to your ferret being sick.  One such problematic ingredient is peas - peas (and possibly legumes) have been shown to cause bladder stones in ferrets which is quite painful - if you are "lucky" to catch it, this means major (and expensive) surgery, but if you don't the outcome can be far worse.  Again, the cheaper the food, the higher the likelihood of illness (in other words the more suffering and expense for your pet).

Realistically a ferrets life span, in North America, averages 6-8years.  Factors impacting this primarily relate to the health of the ferret, but also the care they are provided.

A ferret with regular vet care, on a ferret-appropriate diet, and who is cared for properly, will have the best opportunity to live the longest life possible.  Unfortunately, despite this, there are medical conditions that can impact a ferrets health that are simply not preventable, but in most cases treatable.  With proper treatment, these conditions do not have to impact the life span of a ferret too significantly.