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Ferrets for Dummies
Slinky, lightening fast, mischievous, and smarter than many people you know, ferrets, like their otter cousins, are the merry pranksters of the animal world. Ferrets are also inveterate thieves who’ll steal just about anything that isn’t nailed down and spirit it off to their hidey-holes. But, as most ferret owners will tell you, the thing those fuzzy little balls of energy are best at stealing is your heart. Hmm. cunning, mischievous, light-fingered – sounds like a recipe for disaster in a pet. And the truth is, coexisting with a ferret can be a challenge – one you’d better be certain you’re up for, before you commit to bringing a ferret into your home. Ferrets For Dummies lets you take a long, well-informed look before leaping into the fabulous furry world of “ferts.” This fun, entertaining book fills you in on everything you need to know to successfully adopt, nurture, live with, and love a ferret. You’ll discover how Ideal for first-time and veteran ferret owners alike, Ferrets For Dummies is a gold mine of advice, guidance, and tested-in-the-trenches tips Your ferret is a smart little guy, and you’ll need to stay two steps ahead of him. This fun and informative book shows you how to handle your furry tornado’s playful energy and boundless curiosity, so you can live happily ever after together.
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First published October 5, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 13, 2011
I learned a lot from this book, but one major oversight made me want to give this book one star. If you own ferrets, for the love of God, give them a treat when they use the litter box. The author suggests not to do this because they will pretend to poop in order to get treats -- which would you rather have, ferrets pretending to use the litter box to get treats, or ferret poop all over your house? I now have both. =]
August 25, 2008
I had previously owned 3 ferrets, who were quite a wonderful business to have. Now that I am a Stepmom, I am considering getting a ferret for my son. I called the local ferret rescue and spoke with the woman for about an hour discussing what we were looking for and what she had. She informed me that she would feel much happier if I purchased this book and read it with my son since it has been over 10 years since I have owned a ferret.
I purchased the book used and my 7 year old and I sat down and read a chapter a night. On this whole, this was a very good beginner’s guide to owning a ferret, though I did have some minor problems with it. The over all information was fairly accurate and should give someone who has no clue what they are getting into, a better idea of what a ferret is.
What I would have liked to have seen that wasn’t there:
1) This book reads an awful lot like a sales pitch, extolling the virtues of ferrets. Though I personally love them, they really are not the right pet for everyone, and I feel that a much more unbiased reality check on what a ferret is and is not should have been included to deter people from getting a pet that would not be right for them. The book glosses over the scent issue, saying “its not and worse than a dog or cat” well sorry to say, ferrets have a VERY distinct, musky odor and the room you keep them in is going to have that smell. It didn’t bother me all that much, but I had friends who wouldn’t even enter that room in my home when I had them in college. And I cleaned their litter box daily and cage weekly.
2) The Poo factor – ferrets create a LOT of poo, and unlike a cat, they aren’t going to bury it so you need to scoop out their box daily. Also they like to dig, so there is a good chance that they will play in their litter box and you will find poo on the floor around the cage.
3) The colored poo factor – The book tells you that you can feed your ferrets cat food, which you can, but nowhere does it mention that if there is dye in the cat food their poo will contain all of the dye (I thought mine were dying because their poo was neon red) also the dye WILL stain anything the poo touches.
4) Deafness – Many ferrets with white heads are deaf, I had one, it wasn’t a problem for me, but we didn’t know he was deaf for a long time.
5) Baby ferrets WILL nip, you have to teach them not to, and it’s not as easy as they imply in the book.
6) Ferrets have no fear and will commit suicide if you aren’t careful. They will climb your bookcase and leap from the top, they will get under your oven, and they will end up in your neighbors apartment by climbing through a hole in the back of your cabinets that you didn’t know was there. They CANNOT be left unattended – EVER.
7) There should have been a chapter on how to make appropriate toys for you ferrets, and more on what you should NOT give to your ferrets to play with (IE paper towel rolls can suffocate and kill them)
8) More on ferret proofing – IE pictures of places that almost all homes have which need to be taken care of, but that you may never notice until your fuzzy has made it known to you. Like little holes up under your cabinets, blocking off your kitchen entirely, holes where people have run their cable themselves, etc.
9) Updated section on ferret diseases, particularly warning signs. Too many people think of ferrets as giant hamsters that never need a vet visit.
On the whole this book gave okay starter information on the colors of ferrets, their history, what kind of cage you should buy, and some basic diseases they can get. But in the end it felt more like a sales job to get people to purchase a ferret. And they do a great sales job, my hubby was against a ferret purchase, read the book and was suddenly sold on them. I hope that there will be a future version that is a little less like a sales pitch and a bit more informational.
I purchased the book used and my 7 year old and I sat down and read a chapter a night. On this whole, this was a very good beginner’s guide to owning a ferret, though I did have some minor problems with it. The over all information was fairly accurate and should give someone who has no clue what they are getting into, a better idea of what a ferret is.
What I would have liked to have seen that wasn’t there:
1) This book reads an awful lot like a sales pitch, extolling the virtues of ferrets. Though I personally love them, they really are not the right pet for everyone, and I feel that a much more unbiased reality check on what a ferret is and is not should have been included to deter people from getting a pet that would not be right for them. The book glosses over the scent issue, saying “its not and worse than a dog or cat” well sorry to say, ferrets have a VERY distinct, musky odor and the room you keep them in is going to have that smell. It didn’t bother me all that much, but I had friends who wouldn’t even enter that room in my home when I had them in college. And I cleaned their litter box daily and cage weekly.
2) The Poo factor – ferrets create a LOT of poo, and unlike a cat, they aren’t going to bury it so you need to scoop out their box daily. Also they like to dig, so there is a good chance that they will play in their litter box and you will find poo on the floor around the cage.
3) The colored poo factor – The book tells you that you can feed your ferrets cat food, which you can, but nowhere does it mention that if there is dye in the cat food their poo will contain all of the dye (I thought mine were dying because their poo was neon red) also the dye WILL stain anything the poo touches.
4) Deafness – Many ferrets with white heads are deaf, I had one, it wasn’t a problem for me, but we didn’t know he was deaf for a long time.
5) Baby ferrets WILL nip, you have to teach them not to, and it’s not as easy as they imply in the book.
6) Ferrets have no fear and will commit suicide if you aren’t careful. They will climb your bookcase and leap from the top, they will get under your oven, and they will end up in your neighbors apartment by climbing through a hole in the back of your cabinets that you didn’t know was there. They CANNOT be left unattended – EVER.
7) There should have been a chapter on how to make appropriate toys for you ferrets, and more on what you should NOT give to your ferrets to play with (IE paper towel rolls can suffocate and kill them)
8) More on ferret proofing – IE pictures of places that almost all homes have which need to be taken care of, but that you may never notice until your fuzzy has made it known to you. Like little holes up under your cabinets, blocking off your kitchen entirely, holes where people have run their cable themselves, etc.
9) Updated section on ferret diseases, particularly warning signs. Too many people think of ferrets as giant hamsters that never need a vet visit.
On the whole this book gave okay starter information on the colors of ferrets, their history, what kind of cage you should buy, and some basic diseases they can get. But in the end it felt more like a sales job to get people to purchase a ferret. And they do a great sales job, my hubby was against a ferret purchase, read the book and was suddenly sold on them. I hope that there will be a future version that is a little less like a sales pitch and a bit more informational.
October 15, 2018
I have never owned a ferret, nor have I ever really wanted one…but after attending a zoo program with a ferret, I like them. But don’t necessarily want one. I’ll stick to dogs, cats, and turtles. But I really like to learn information about animals and stuff, so this was one I decided to pick up. Now this is the first ferret information book I have ever read, and this is my opinion on the book. There may be better ones out there, but for now, here’s my thoughts: I think this had information for almost (or maybe it does have) everything you need to know about ferrets such as telling the gender (if you’re really picky), health, life-span, introducing a ferret, etc. Like I said, this has a bunch of information. If you are thinking about getting a ferret, or are like me, and just want to read just for the knowledge, pick this book up and start reading.
2014-Summer-Reading-Review
2014-Summer-Reading-Review
Read
November 11, 2020Very informative!
I learned a lot about ferret care and feel much more prepared to welcome my own little carpet shark into my home. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to adopt or purchase a ferret, or if you just want some cool ferret facts to tell your friends.
I learned a lot about ferret care and feel much more prepared to welcome my own little carpet shark into my home. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to adopt or purchase a ferret, or if you just want some cool ferret facts to tell your friends.
Want to read
January 30, 2021i like it
July 19, 2021
Amazing book for anyone with ferrets or interested in them. A lot of useful information in one place!
August 5, 2021
Exactly what it says on the tin!
May 25, 2025
I'm ready for my baby!
November 6, 2025
Very informative, but where is the 3rd edition on Goodreads?
October 2, 2015
If you've ever wondered what life is like - or should be like - with a pet ferret, pick up a copy of "Ferrets For Dummies" (For Dummies Publishing, 2000). This is part of the ever-present Dummies series of yellow and black covered books that pop up from libraries to supermarket check-out lines. Unlike many other "Dummies" books, this one is not written by a talented writer, but also has some color photographs. The book recently went through a second edition in 2007, but this review covers the 2000 edition.
"Ferrets For Dummies" could have been titled "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Ferrets (But was Afraid to Ask)". Topics covered include a ferret's sex life, ferret poop, newborn ferrets being eaten by their mothers, ferret poop, dealing with people who hate ferrets and ferret poop. This is the kind of book I wish would come out for every species of pet. Hopefully, one day Schilling will be persuaded to write some more pet care books.
The Good
The reason why Schilling is such an expert on ferrets is that she runs an Illinois exotic animal shelter called Animals for Awareness. She has seen all types and personalities of ferrets and been in the middle of many debates among ferret owners. She also knows how ferrets can relate to other animals, their quirks, their most common health issues and the myriad of ways ferrets can get into trouble.
Pages are easy to read with large dark font on white background. The spaces in between paragraphs make it easier on the old eyeballs to read more pages than originally intended. The book is also generously illustrated with black and white photographs. The book is well organized. Although it is not necessary to read the chapters in order, please read the "how to use this book" section and introduction so you don't miss out on some key explanations.
The Questionable
There is a lot of humor in this book - sometimes to the point of being overwhelming. However, Schilling's style makes it easy to tell whenever she is joking and when she is being serious. One detail can wear on the funny bone after a while - the words Schilling uses in place of "ferret". Perhaps she got sick of writing the word "Ferret" a dozen times per page, so be ready to read about fuzzbutts, ferts, carpet sharks and furries.
The other complaint is minor. Although Schilling goes into great depth about how ferrets can kill themselves, she does not go into much depth about how to have fun or relax with ferrets. As a result, it may make non-ferret owners think that ferrets are impossible to live with because of the stress of trying to keep them safe.
"Ferrets For Dummies" could have been titled "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Ferrets (But was Afraid to Ask)". Topics covered include a ferret's sex life, ferret poop, newborn ferrets being eaten by their mothers, ferret poop, dealing with people who hate ferrets and ferret poop. This is the kind of book I wish would come out for every species of pet. Hopefully, one day Schilling will be persuaded to write some more pet care books.
The Good
The reason why Schilling is such an expert on ferrets is that she runs an Illinois exotic animal shelter called Animals for Awareness. She has seen all types and personalities of ferrets and been in the middle of many debates among ferret owners. She also knows how ferrets can relate to other animals, their quirks, their most common health issues and the myriad of ways ferrets can get into trouble.
Pages are easy to read with large dark font on white background. The spaces in between paragraphs make it easier on the old eyeballs to read more pages than originally intended. The book is also generously illustrated with black and white photographs. The book is well organized. Although it is not necessary to read the chapters in order, please read the "how to use this book" section and introduction so you don't miss out on some key explanations.
The Questionable
There is a lot of humor in this book - sometimes to the point of being overwhelming. However, Schilling's style makes it easy to tell whenever she is joking and when she is being serious. One detail can wear on the funny bone after a while - the words Schilling uses in place of "ferret". Perhaps she got sick of writing the word "Ferret" a dozen times per page, so be ready to read about fuzzbutts, ferts, carpet sharks and furries.
The other complaint is minor. Although Schilling goes into great depth about how ferrets can kill themselves, she does not go into much depth about how to have fun or relax with ferrets. As a result, it may make non-ferret owners think that ferrets are impossible to live with because of the stress of trying to keep them safe.
Read
January 22, 2009I had grabbed this book when I got my first ferret, and it had helped me immensely. I honestly had no prior knowledge of the critters before hand, so I read it cover to cover. Learned about their diet and what to look for ingredient wise when choosing their food, best type of bedding, cages, toys to play with, hygiene, health care.. Very highly recommend getting this book if you are considering getting a ferret.
June 6, 2013
I found this book to be very helpful and also gave me many different options when it came to how to set up, where to buy, food and care. They give you many ideas as to where to buy things (such as websites and stores) and also gives you a background on the species which was surprisingly helpful. The content was simple and easy to understand while still giving you all the information you need. If you are a ferret owner or own a ferret (beginner or not) I would recommended this book.
November 12, 2009
There is some good information in the book. Unfortunately, the craft is poor. Poor grammar and spelling abounds, and the book uses a lot of lingo. For example, ferrets are less often referred to as "ferrets" in the book they are referred to as cute nicknames such as "carpet shark."
December 14, 2010
a very well written book that outlines the specific care of these beautiful animals. i have two ferrets and i cant tell you how much this book has been a god send. i would recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about or has a fuzzy. definitely worth the money.
February 24, 2012
A good start off point to gaining the knowledge needed to own a ferret. Widely available and fairly cheap. Although it is written from an American perspective and some of the practices mentioned are frowned upon here in the UK! Removal of scent glands wtf. Feeding of raisins?????
June 8, 2015
I've had ferrets for about a year now and even after that long, I found this book to be very helpful with my new kit. He was quite the biter and I was looking to make him stop before he gets any older. This book has definitely given me new ideas to try that I wasn't aware of before!
December 29, 2007
This is the best ferret book I have found. Very informative.
January 11, 2008
A comprehensive owner's manual that covers everything you need to know about our weasely little friends.
June 7, 2008
This is the best book available on owning ferrets. The author came out with an updated edition in 2007.
July 20, 2008
The best book ever! A necessity for ferret lovers!
October 23, 2008
This book helped me with SSSSOOOOOOO much! Loved it.
July 20, 2009
A must-have reference if you own ferrets.
March 10, 2009
All you ever needed to know about ferrets and more. Good reading material for the future-ferret owner.
Read
February 22, 2011Wow. What incredible insight.
May 2, 2012
Very helpful
September 9, 2012
The most informative book about ferrets that I have ever read.
October 15, 2012
Definitive book on caring for carpet sharks.
October 23, 2012
Nice easy read, and I feel a little more prepared for ferret ownership than when I started! (Apparently what motivates me to finish a book is the promise of a pet)
May 14, 2016
The books for dummies are always packed with good information about the topic they cover. I highly recommend this one for anyone who is thinking about getting a ferret as a pet.
September 1, 2008
A great resource for any ferret owner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews