Cumbria Ferret Rescue
AKA Lakes and Borders Ferret Welfare & Rescue
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FAQ

FAQ
Frequently asked q&a ...
- Ferrets smell awful don’t they? - Only if they are not spayed/castrated, once this
is done then the odour becomes minimal unless they become frightened.
- Don’t ferrets bite a lot? - Well, all animals can bite if frightened or defending
themselves. However happy, socialised and well handled ferrets rarely bite and then
it is usually only a gentle nip. Between themselves ferrets do play very rough, grabbing
each other by the scruff of the neck and wrestling, but you can easily train your
ferret to understand that human skin is thinner and more delicate than ferret skin!
Ask us for advice if you need help.
- How long do ferrets live? - The average lifespan in the UK is 8-12 years, it is much
lower in the USA (about 6-8 years) where ferrets are the third most popular pet.
- What do ferrets eat? - The staple diet should nowadays be “kibble” which is a bit
like cat biscuits but specially formulated for the ferrets requirements of high protein
& fat. We recommend you supplement this with raw chicken wings which help with tartar
build up on the teeth. Please do not feed your ferret bread & milk as they are lactose
intolerant & will result in runny poo’s and a shorter live span as they will not
have the nutrients they need for a healthy life.