Homes needed for abandoned ferrets currently in the care of the RSPCA

An appeal has been made for new homes for a large number of ferrets currently in care at the RSPCA’s Martlesham Animal Centre.
The RSPCA Suffolk Central Branch is overrun with the small furries and staff are hoping they can find new homes for them soon and that National Ferret Day might help to spark some interest.
The ferrets have either been given up by their previous owners or were found abandoned or straying.
They include Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite (pictured above) who were left in a cage in an alleyway in Stevenage, last September.
All three were skinny but otherwise in good health. The bare cage they were confined to was strewn with faeces and did not have any toys or props, which typically ferrets need for enrichment.
But they are just a few of the many ferrets at the centre – which have been overlooked because people may not immediately think of ferrets as pets.
However, each ferret has its own unique playful and friendly character and would make them great pets for the right owners.
Zoe Barret, the centre manager, said: “We have always had a lot of ferrets coming into the centre, but this is the most we have had for a long time. However sadly we just are not getting any interest from people wanting to rehome them and unfortunately these lovely boys and girls are all being overlooked.
“People might not always think that a ferret would be a good pet – but the truth is they are brilliant pets if they are in the right home with the right enrichment. They are very sociable and all have their own funny individual characters. They are wonderful to watch and bring a lot of fun and pleasure to owners’ lives.
“Ideally ferrets should be kept as pairs or more. They are very sociable animals and most tend to enjoy each other’s company. Although they may sleep for up to 20 hours a day, when they are awake they are highly active and inquisitive animals, needing regular change in their environment to prevent them from becoming bored.
“Most ferrets are very curious and enjoy exploring and investigating their environment. This means they need plenty to keep them occupied so they don’t become bored. There are many ways to keep them busy, for example giving them plant pots, tunnels and tubes, squeaky toys, and hammocks to explore. You can also hide food around their enclosure for them to find, which helps stimulate natural foraging behaviours.
“Our ferrets are all very unique individuals but they all love to play, chase, race around, play hide and seek, or just enjoy some fuss and a snooze.”
Zoe added: “Ferrets can make wonderful pets and we would encourage anyone interested in taking them on as a pet to give us a call and we can provide more information.
“All our ferrets have been neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.”
To find out more visit the branch website or call 0300 999 7321. You can find out more about caring for ferrets here.