How Much Do Ferrets Cost? The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

Welcome to the Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Ferrets! This is Chapter 6: How Much Do Ferrets Cost? Let’s find out if you are ready for what ferret ownership will do to your wallet.

How Much Does it Cost to Buy a Ferret?

If you are looking for a cheap alternative to a cat or dog, a ferret may not be for you. Ferrets themselves cost anywhere from $100-400. Ferrets from a pet store like Petco are typically cheaper than ferrets from a private breeder. However, if the breeder is reputable, your ferret should have less health problems down the road.

The most common places to get a ferret:

Pet Store
Breeder
Shelter

How Much Do Ferret Supplies Cost?

When it comes to the essentials you need to buy before bringing home a ferret, it is important to keep in mind the initial big ticket items (like a cage) as well as long term repeat purchases (such as litter and food).

Here are the basics you would need (we only linked to the products we actually recommend):

Ferret Cage ($160-250)
Litter Box + Litter ($7)
Food ($25)
Water and Food Dish ($10)
Sleep Hammock ($20)

How Much are Ferret Medical Costs?

Once you own a ferret, they will require regular vet visits and vaccinations. For reference, this is what we pay for our three ferrets on a regular basis:

Annual Distemper Vaccine per ferret: $15
Annual Rabies Vaccine per ferret: $15
Annual Vet Visit per ferret: $60
Annual Deslorlin Implant per ferret (Adrenal Disease): $160
Monthly Prednisolone Medication (Insulinoma): $30

The older a ferret gets, the more expensive their care will become. For example, last year we had a couple emergency vet visits for our ferret Moose that cost us around $1000 in total.

We believe our ferrets are worth the cost, but it is important to make sure you are ready for the significant financial commitment.

So… Should You Get a Ferret?

If you read all 6 parts to our beginner series, you already know what a ferret is, what they should and shouldn’t eat, their fascinating anatomy, how smart they are, and truth about the smell. At this point, you should know what it truly entails to care for a ferret. The question is -are you really ready to get a ferret?

Ferrets are extraordinary pets. After we got our first ferret, Moose, my fiancé and I decided to dedicate our lives to learning more about them. I have owned rats, bunnies, lizards, snakes, dogs, cats, and hedgehogs -yet nothing compares to the bond you form with a ferret. There’s nothing in the world like it.

That being said, you should only get a ferret if you have the time to play with them, train them, and help them live their best life! These often misunderstood animals deserve dedicated owners.

Ask yourself this: Are you ready to get a dog? If the answer is no, you are not ready to get a ferret.

If you aren’t ready to get a ferret, there’s no rush! We applaud you for taking the time to bring a new member into your family.

You can live vicariously through the many ferret owners in The Modern Ferret community that share their special moments in our weekly Ferret Feature Newsletter. If you are looking for something to brighten your day, this is it.