Ferrets and Children
Many people have the misconception that ferrets are vicious and will attack children - this is not even remotely true! A ferret is no more likely to attack a child than a dog or cat would be. In fact, the ferret's safety is more of a concerns than the child's safety. Children often don't know how to interact with animals and could accidentally injure the ferret by holding it too tightly or dropping it.
The truth is that children can own ferrets as pets, but there are important aspects of ownership that you must consider before choosing a ferret as a pet for a child.
- Ferrets are high maintenance pets that require a lot of daily care.
- Ferrets need a good deal of training, and many kits will need bite training.
- Ferrets need at least two veterinary visits a year, though most will have to go more often, especially as they grow older.
- Ferrets can live anywhere from five to ten years, and they will need a permanent home for that entire time.
Ferrets do make great pets for children, but it's important to realize that no child can take care of a ferret by him or herself because of all the reasons listed above. Ferrets require a level of responsibility that children just aren't capable of meeting. While children can own ferrets, a parent will always need to be the primary caretaker responsible for daily care, training, and any medical issues that may arise.
