Ferrets are domesticated animals known for their agility, cheerfulness, and playfulness. More and more people are choosing them as pets. But before purchasing, it's important to understand the criteria used to select a ferret, what influences the price, and how much you'll spend monthly on upkeep.
What does the cost of an animal depend on?
The price of a pet ferret is not fixed. When setting the price, secondary factors are taken into account:
- The amount of money and effort invested in breeding and keeping a ferret;
- Competition. If a city has many pet stores selling animals, prices will be low across all of them.
- Living standards for a given locality. Megacities have the highest prices, while urban-type settlements have average prices.
The cost is also influenced by other, more significant factors.
Age
Often private breeders sell animals together with cage and accessories for care at a low price. This is because the older the ferret, the lower its cost. Their lifespan is short, so it's recommended to buy young specimens.
In spring and early June, when puppies are born, their price increases.
Coloring
| Name | Fur type | Coloring | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard color ferret | Standard | Standard | 3000-4000 rubles |
| Ferret of exotic shade | Standard | Exotic | from 8000 rub. |
| Ferret of rare color | Standard | Rare | from 10,000 rubles |
| Ferret with long fur | Elongated, semi-angora | Standard | 5000-6000 rub. |
| Ferret with long fur | Long or Angora | Standard | from 8000 rub. |
Standard-colored ferrets cost 3,000-4,000 rubles. However, puppies in other colors are available:
- Exotic shade – with white spots or resembling pandas. These animals were bred quite recently, hence the high price – starting from 8,000 rubles.
- Rare color - rich black. A ferret like this will cost at least 10,000 rubles.
Fur type
| Name | Fur type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard color ferret | Standard | 3000-4000 rubles |
| Ferret with long fur | Elongated, semi-angora | 5000-6000 rub. |
| Ferret with long fur | Long or Angora | from 8000 rub. |
A typical ferret with a classic color and standard fur will cost 3,000-4,000 rubles. You can also purchase a pet with a different fur type:
- Extended, semi-angora – 5000-6000 rub.;
- Long or angora, with long guard hair and no undercoat - from 8,000 rubles.
Where to buy a ferret?
Typically, prospective owners go to a pet store to purchase a ferret. A ferret will cost between 3,000 and 5,000 rubles. Young puppies are rarely available, and the selection is limited to standard-colored specimens.
Where else can you buy a ferret:
- Bird market. This is the least reliable place to buy a pet, as sellers at these locations are often resellers who purchase rejected puppies from private breeders. There's a high risk of buying a sick pet, passed off as affectionate and docile. In these cases, sellers often conceal the animal's age or deliberately understate it. Those who have never handled ferrets cannot estimate their age, which can lead to the animal dying within 1-2 years.
Another disadvantage of buying a ferret at a bird market is the lack of documentation and vaccinations. Ferrets are animals that are often susceptible to various infections. Those who sell the animals en masse keep them in poor conditions, cramped quarters, and with poor nutrition. Buying such a ferret can result in a pet with a damaged psyche, which will affect its behavior.
The choice is great, you can find animals with exotic coloring, but there's a high risk of buying a sick pet. The price in this case ranges from 1,000 to 2,500 rubles. - Pet store. The establishment is absolutely no different from a bird market. The shop owners are also resellers. The only difference from the first method of purchase is that the animals have a presentable appearance and are slightly better fed, as specialized food is also available on site. The price is around 4,000 rubles. A pet purchased in such a place will be asocial and aggressive, as children tease them in their cages.
- In the online store. Services like Avito offer ferrets for sale at low prices—1,000-2,000 rubles. Often, people sell because they're moving or having a baby. Acquiring a ferret this way isn't advisable, as it becomes accustomed to its owners and will be difficult to tame. Another downside to this type of purchase is that people often sell their pets because they're aggressive or unruly, but the seller doesn't mention this.
- Private breeder. In this case, you'll be able to purchase a healthy and tame ferret. Puppies from accidental matings are often sold, which negatively impacts the pup's behavior. The price in this case ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles. Reasonable bargaining is possible during the transaction.
- In the nursery. The price of a ferret starts at 5,000 rubles. Rare specimens that can be shown can cost up to 30,000 rubles. Purchasing a pet from a club is the best decision, as you can be sure of the ferret's health. In addition, the owner receives a purchase guarantee and informational support. The breeder provides a full list of recommendations on care, feeding, and maintenance.
In this case, the price is higher due to a number of factors: the presence of vaccinations, specialized care, and an ideal pedigree.
How much does a ferret cost on average?
Ferrets aren't popular in every region. This fact also affects their price. In specialized stores in Moscow, a puppy can be purchased for 3,000 rubles at around two months of age. In the Moscow region, the average price is 2,000 rubles, but some can cost as much as 5,000 rubles.
If you buy a pet in Vladivostok, you'll pay 4,000 rubles. The average price in Kaliningrad is 3,000 rubles.
How to buy a healthy pet?
Making the right choice when buying a ferret is a difficult task. It can be overwhelming for those who have never handled ferrets before. Don't just look at a cute face. To buy a healthy pet, consider several factors:
- Parents. The mother's weight should not be less than 1 kg 100 g, and the father's 2 kg. These parameters are considered ideal for raising healthy offspring. If the parents' relative body weight is low, the ferret is genetically predisposed to small size.
- Feeding. The breeder must feed the animal meat. This can be in the form of dry store-bought food. Without such food, there is a high risk of buying a ferret with rickets.
- Hygiene. Puppies should be clean and well-groomed. If their coat is not shiny, it's best not to purchase them.
- Documents. If the purchase is made at a club or kennel, then all the documents must be present in full: a certificate, a veterinary passport with current vaccinations, and a pedigree.
- × Make sure your ferret does not show any signs of stress or aggression that may indicate poor living conditions before selling.
- × Check that your ferret does not have any visible parasites or skin conditions that may require additional treatment costs.
What does a healthy ferret look like?
- teeth are snow-white;
- the fur is clean, soft, no bald spots;
- lively look, eyes without discharge;
- the nose is cold and wet;
- vibrissae are of equal length and not brittle;
- the back is level, the ribs are barrel-shaped;
- tail and anus free of dirt;
- body build is solid (should not be emaciated or fat);
- movements are confident, slightly impulsive.
Which ferret should I choose?
After reviewing pricing and deciding to buy a ferret, you should consider whether to get a male or a female. In this case, the choice is based on personal preference, taking into account the following considerations:
- females are characterized by increased activity, are easy to train and have a well-developed intelligence;
- Males are calm and sedentary, while those that have not been sterilized emit a specific unpleasant odor.
It's recommended to buy a ferret between 1.5 and 4 months of age. However, there's a caveat: getting a puppy is like having a baby. A ferret requires attention, must be constantly supervised, and must be fed six times a day. Additionally, ferrets need to be vaccinated several times, trained, and litter-trained.
You can buy a ferret aged 4-6 months. The owner doesn't need to spend much time with the pet, as it's already potty trained, well-behaved, and non-aggressive. An adult ferret should only be purchased from a club or breeder, so you can be sure it has been properly cared for.
The nuances of acquisition
There are a few other things to consider when deciding to buy a ferret. Here are some purchasing considerations:
- It is not recommended to have a pet in places where there are small children or people with an allergic reaction to wool.
- The diet must include not only meat, but also offal, which can be added to porridge with meat broth or mixed with vegetables.
- It's very difficult to find specialized dry food. You can substitute it with high-quality cat food, but such food is not considered the norm and should not be fed regularly.
- The pet's cage should be spacious, with a minimum size of 60x80x50 cm. Not every apartment has enough space for such a thing. But even if the space is large, it should be allowed out daily to romp. All cabinets, doors, and windows should be closed during this time.
- Ferrets don't tolerate heat well. It's difficult to keep them in a house with central heating. Boiler houses often turn up the radiator heat too high.
Expenses
Buying a pet is just the beginning of your expenses. Before bringing a pet home, the following items should be purchased:
- cage – 2000-12000 rub.;
- harness or leash, if you plan to walk your dog outside – 300 rubles;
- a carrier, which is necessary for visiting veterinary clinics - 500-3000 rubles;
- bowl, drinking cup, tray – 500-1000 rubles;
- claw removal scissors – 200 roubles;
- hammock, since the pet sleeps about 15 hours - from 200 rubles (one individual needs 3 beds).
A significant amount of money will be needed to visit the vet:
- vaccination – first 800 rubles, subsequent – 500 rubles;
- Antihelminthic treatment – 50 – 200 rubles;
- treating your pet for fleas and ticks if it is walked outside will cost 250-500 rubles;
- tests, medications – 500-10,000 rubles;
- veterinarian appointment – 500-1000 rubles;
- Consultation with specialists who give advice on how to properly care for a ferret - 200-400 rubles.
A characteristic feature of this animal is that after the start of the rut or during the heat period, the pet changes its behavior and begins to smell unpleasant. If there is no intention of breeding the pet, it should be castrateThe procedure costs from 2,500 to 4,000 rubles, depending on the status of the clinic visited.
How much will it cost to care for and maintain a pet?
Keeping a ferret will also take some money from the family budget. Monthly expenses include:
- meals – 600-1200 rubles;
- treats – 200-600 rubles;
- vitamins, dietary supplements – 150-500 rubles;
- toilet filler – 50-250 rubles;
- bathing products – 50-200 rubles.
- ✓ Consider the cost of regular veterinary visits for preventative checkups, which is not mentioned in the article.
- ✓ Be prepared for possible expenses on toys and additional accessories to keep your ferret active.
Ferrets are domesticated animals that are popular. They can be purchased in several places, each with its own unique characteristics. There is no set price for a pet; it depends on many factors. Maintaining a ferret requires a monthly expense.