by  USFWS Mountain Prairie 

Do Ferrets Smell?

Do ferrets smell? This is the first question potential ferret owners ask. The answer is a bit complicated as ferrets, like other animals, have a distinctive smell. The odor is a musky scent, which some people like. However, some people really do not like the smell of musk and therefore, they do not like the smell of ferrets. Most people fall somewhere in between and neither like nor dislike the smell.

In this article, we will discuss the distinctive smell of ferrets and what you can do to control the smell.

Why Do Ferrets Stink?

Most ferrets do not stink. In fact, most of the time, ferrets that do smell are because the owner is not taking care of the ferret. The cause of the “stink” is not the ferret but the litter box.

Consider the cat. Cats in general do not smell. However, we have all have gone into a house and was hit in the face of kitten litter box odor. It is obvious that the owner does not change the litter box on a regular basis and the smell is just killer. This same thing happens to ferrets.

The sad fact is people remember negative experiences more so than positive experiences. Therefore, people will remember the bad ferret smell and forget about all the ferrets that did not stink. So if you do not want a stinky ferret, then take proper measures to keep everything clean.

Do All Ferrets Have Scent Glands?

Ferrets are born with scent glands. However, most pet ferrets have the scent glands removed when they are spayed or neutered. Since all ferrets must be spayed or neutered before their first heat cycle, the scents glands are removed very early.

Now, ferrets will still have some scent glands that give off the musky odor. It is only the scent glands near the tail that are removed, which prevents them from spraying. The smell will still be rubbed off in their bedding and in the litter box. This is why it is imperative to clean the litter box and the bedding to prevent an overwhelming ferret smell in your home.

Does Bathing a Ferret Help the Smell?
New ferret owners will make the mistake of bathing their ferrets more often to stop the smell. Unfortunately, this will cause the ferret to smell more.

What happens is the ferret’s skin dries out. This causes the ferret to be uncomfortable and then it releases more oil to coat the skin. It is the oil that people say stinks. Therefore, bathing your ferret less will be more effective in ridding your ferret of its natural musky smell.

Do All Ferrets Have Smelly Ears?

The ferret ear is prone to getting dirty and causing a distinctive smell. In order to prevent this, owners should clean the ears of their ferrets once a week. This can be done with kitten or rabbit ear cleaner and a cotton swab.

However, if the ear wax is black, then your ferret may have ear mites. You will need to have the vet check the ferret to see if this is the case.

Can I Use Air Freshener Around My Ferret?

While you may be tempted to spray some air fresher when company comes, this is a bad idea. Most ferrets cannot handle the aerosol in spray air fresheners. Additionally, plug in air fresheners can be fatal when ingested by ferrets.

For best results, burn a candle when you expect company. However, you need to watch your ferret as ferrets are naturally curious animals. Keep your ferret safe and away from the flame.

Find the answers to more ferret questions in our article: Ferret Facts and Information: Questions and Answers