It’s frightening when you realize you’ve lost your beloved pet. It can be even more concerning when it comes to ferrets, mainly because they can’t survive long in the outside world. Predators, traffic, and the climate all work against ferrets, and unfortunately, less than 10% of lost ferrets actually return home on their own. Which means you have your work cut out for you. That said, here are some tips and tricks that you can do to encourage your little friend to come home.
1. Look inside your home
First things first, look inside your house. The pet experts at We’re All About Pets state that ferrets can get inside things very easily as they can squeeze into tight places. Look in holes in any flooring or doors and then check inside closets, dressers, under furniture, and even in laundry hampers.
Check inside the appliances and at the top of the cupboards. And remember to check in between your clothes in your closets. He may even be hiding in a pocket.
2. Alert your neighbors
A simple door knock can work wonders. Most ferrets are found close to home by neighbors who didn’t even know he was missing, or even that he may have lived next door. Neighbors won’t look out for anything if they don’t realize it’s missing. Take a picture of your ferret with you and hit the streets.
Take a squeaky toy with you and when you’re at the front door alerting your neighbors, make the sound. If your ferret is in the vicinity, you may be able to coax him out. And at the very least, you’ve alerted more people to be on the lookout. As you’re walking around the neighborhood, be sure to make a squeaky noise as well.
3. Put signs up
In many areas, it’s illegal to put posters up on lamp posts. But you can put signs up in your windows and on your wheelie bins. Anyone passing by your house will hopefully see the sign and keep an eye out. Please make sure the signs are relatively large so that they can be seen from the street.
Pop your wheelie bin outside the house so even people who are driving past can see the sign. Remember to include a ferret photo (it doesn’t have to be yours) as many people don’t know what a ferret looks like. It’s also a good idea to do a letter drop. That way, you can alert your neighbors without even disturbing them.
4. Call local vets and pet shops
If someone has picked up your ferret, they may have taken him to a vet or pet shop or even contacted the RSPCA for help. And if they haven’t yet, they still might, so it’s worth leaving your details with local vets. Dropping a flyer may also be a good idea with a picture of your ferret. Consider also calling local businesses to keep an eye out for your precious pet.
5. Leave a cage outside
Leave a cage outside with your ferrets’ bedding in it. This provides a familiar spot to come home to, which means if your ferret does wander back, there is familiar bedding to coax him into the cage. Remember to check the cage regularly. It’s also a good idea to leave some water and food outside so if he comes home in the middle of the night, there is some nourishment there for him waiting.
What to do when you find your ferret?
On their adventures, ferrets can travel quite a distance, which is why it’s so important to make sure he is wearing an ID tag and is microchipped.
Once you’ve found him, the first thing to do is take him to a vet to get checked out. It’s a harsh world out there for ferrets, and there are a lot of perfect hiding spots around. However, these can be very dangerous for your tiny friend. Getting him checked out immediately will hopefully avoid long-term damage and subsequently high veterinary bills in the future.
Besides ensuring your ferret is doing well, it’s also crucial to ensure your home is ferret-proofed. This means checking for any holes in the floor or under the cabinetry where he can crawl into. Sometimes, when you think you’ve lost him, he’s just in a super good hiding place inside. Eliminate the hiding spots to be safe.
Ferrets can’t survive too long outdoors. There are many dangers out there for them, which is why it’s so important to ensure they are safe at home. However, the good news about living in more suburban areas is that there is plenty of shelter and access to food and water, so your ferret may be able to survive a bit longer than anticipated if he gets out. However, it’s essential to start looking for him as soon as you notice he is missing, and following the above tips will hopefully help you recover him much faster.