Ferret
Size13–16 in
Socialsocial
Activitycrepuscular
Careadvanced
Lifespan~8 yrs
Obligate carnivore; needs lots of out-of-cage time; restricted in some areas (e.g. California)
Overview
The Ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a small pet, around 13–16 in, living 6–10 years. It is crepuscular — most active around dawn and dusk. Socially it is social.
Is the Ferret right for you?
A good match if — you can meet this species’ specific needs.
Think twice if — you want a simple, hands-off first pet.
What a Ferret needs from you
Day to day it needs a suitable enclosure with a good amount of room, the right diet, daily care and fairly demanding upkeep.
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Mustela putorius furo
- Size
- 13–16 in
- Life span
- 6–10 years
- Social needs
- social
- Activity
- crepuscular
- Care level
- advanced
- Notes
- Obligate carnivore; needs lots of out-of-cage time; restricted in some areas (e.g. California)
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
| Maintenance | |
| Time per day | |
| Need for company | no data yet |
| Handling / closeness | |
| Cost level |
What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 800 g and a ~8-year life, keeping a Ferret works out at about:
Setup & first year
$608 – $1,573
Over its whole life
$4,021 – $9,708
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →