[Rook]

Ferrets are NOT rodents.....

I'll say it again...NOT rodents ....

They're related to the Sea Otter, Ermine, Raccoons, Mongoose, and at one time even the Skunk...although the Skunk is Musteloid, it's a different Family altogether.[At the moment, they're studying to see if the red Panda is also related]

They do eat rodents though {like prairie dogs, rats, mice, occasionally guinea Pigs if the Person has a tough stomach, and Rabbits....occasional reptiles, bugs}, but, it has to start at a very Early age..or you'll get a rather Stubborn Ferret who'll sniff the meat, and walk away {they won't give squirts of piss how Expensive, or how much effort u made}.
Once they are taught this, you'd have to lack some serious I.Q. points if you plan on letting them play with your adorable pet Guinea Pig or Parakeet.They are by nature, Predators.
They "Imprint" their food when young, which is to say if they have been eating Kibble of a certain Brand growing up, you're gonna have a Battle for awhile switching their Food.
Which is good..and bad...in a way...
Good because if you let them Roam, they won't eat anything and everything they encounter {like dogs....and hamsters}, their curiosity will get them into the occasional troubles, but, if it doesnt taste like familiar Food, they'll stop nibbling and/or barf it, then walk away.
Bad? Yep, bad, because if their "favorite" Brand isn't really good for them, or the company goes bankrupt and stops production...You're stuck with trying to convince the fuzzbutt "this is food"...Some can adapt quickly....Some {like mine, grr} need Bribes and a Clue, plenty.
which is why it's always good to mix 2 different types of Good food.

They're notorious for 2 things.. Curiosity...and petty Theft.
Their curiosity will have them go where no One has gone before {star trek pun..oh so true.}, and investigate things No one should try.
Some ferrets, despite their lovable features, in all honesty, they can be incredibly stupid.
Those are a minority.
That naive, innocent , cute, adorable blank stare..almost always is a disguise.
Watch 'em, if you got 'em, stay out of sight..
Take off your socks u wore all day, bunch 'em in a ball, leave your keys on the ground...put an open bag of chips on your bed [ be ready to snatch it away though...chips = bad food ]....
You'll see something that would rival disneys "g-force" ...
They dont have that popular mask for nuttin'..
They're tenacious, and they'll figure a way to get those Chips..
They'll drag your keys to their "hide-out"...your socks too, and if the Ferret's a big, fat boy, he'll try to drag your leather boots too...
You *do* have to watch them a lot, like Chihuahuas, they really don't Grasp "Size", they'll brazenly pick a fight with a Bullmastiff....or a corgi, or a Cat...

They get bored fast, they're the textbook example of ADHD..they'll be playing, running, hopping, and in a blink of an eye go somewhere else cuz something Shiny...or Crinkly grabbed their attention...
Rotating toys works wonders{saves money too}..
Once a soft toy looks chewed to shit, get rid of it..{intestinal Blockage risk}

They don't cough up hairballs..
Don't let your Cat blame his slimy hairballs on the ferret.
They're highly susceptible to Heat Stroke, anything above 79 F is a risk for them, they don't sweat.
Which is why they're usually happy in cool/chilly weather{and fluffy}.

They're litterbox trainable, for the most part.
They're like Cats, Obligate Carnivores.
Which means their digestion works for meat only, or meat-based foods..Veggies, fruits, dairy and a few fishies, make for nasty-ass farts/poop.

Last but not least, like any animal, if u can't afford an emergency vet bill, don't get one.
Ferret vet bills can cause u to feel a heart attack approaching...thankfully some Vets negotiate payment plans.
Almost all Ferrets sold or adopted are readily Neutered, spayed /Descented..
They have to.
It's not an option, unless you plan on Breeding ASAP.
Jills that are not spayed risk Aplastic Anemia and Death, once they start Estrus they stay that way until Pregnant.
Hobs that are whole, become Intensely violent if a Female is in Estrus and nearby, and if another Male...neutered or not is in his Territory, he's capable of killing the other Hob {sometimes the Jill too.}
That and when a Hob is "horny" his hormones really show...
His fur becomes slick with Oil substance, rendering him a strange Orange/dirty look.
The more u wash, the more it gets Orange.
which is why ...fixed or not...the less u bathe a Ferret, the Better[unless U really have to].

Oh wait...
Catnip can kill them.