Bathing your ferret

To shampoo or not to shampoo your ferret – that is the question! For the most part, the answer is no. But if your little fuzzball's gotten herself into something especially stinky or sticky, a bath is in order. As your pet's personal hairdresser, it's up to you to make bathtime lots of fun (and as safe and stress-free) as possible.

You may want to engage your ferret in a marathon play session before the bath. This can help to calm even the most high-octane individuals. Next, you should get everything ready for the big clean-up; it's not fun (or easy) to scramble for the shampoo when you're scrambling to control a slippery ferret. Here are some essentials for your pet's toilette:

• Safe, gentle shampoo specially formulated for ferrets (cat and kitten shampoos will work, too, but most others will dry out your pet's skin)
• Rubber mat to ensure secure footing for your ferret's tootsies
• Loads of clean, fluffy towels for drying off
• Vaseline or vitamin E cream to soften footpads (apply after bath, of course)
• An assistant, especially helpful to help keep squirmy pets calm – and in the bathtub!

You may choose to bathe your ferret in the kitchen sink or, if you are lucky enough to have a furry companion who views bathtime as a fun time for splashing and swimming, in the bathtub or shower. Fill the tub or sink with water, just deep enough so her feet can still securely touch bottom. Take care with the temperature, please – ferrets have a higher body temperature than humans, so they will prefer their baths on the warm (but not hot) side. Use a spray hose or pitcher to thoroughly wet your pet. Next, gently massage shampoo into her coat, working from head to tail. Be sure to avoid the eyes, ears, and nose. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, until all soapy residue has been removed.

Bathing a ferret Is fun!

And now comes the best part! Soggy ferrets tend to get a bit hyper and just plain silly in their quest to dry off, so you'll need to provide her with a clean, contained area for doing so. Place some fluffy towels in a cardboard box or in the bathtub (drained and dried, that is!) and watch her go to town. For an extra treat, you can even warm up the towels in your clothes dryer. FYI, some people may find it helpful to jump-start their ferrets with a quick towel-dry.

For the finishing touch, be sure to offer your little one her favorite food treat when she's ready for some relaxation. Now doesn't your bathing beauty look and smell great?

P.S. Did someone say "SMELL"? We know that ferrets naturally produce a musky oil throughout their skin, and that some owners who find the odor disagreeable may attempt to "neutralize" it with frequent bathing. Unfortunately, this will only dry out the ferret's skin and kick-start the oil-producing glands into double duty! The best way to keep your pet smelling fresh and clean is to change the bedding twice a week, and frequently clean the litterbox.