Ferrets themselves are usually a mid-range purchase, but the cage and ongoing care make them a relatively expensive pet overall.
Purchase price
Ferrets can be acquired from rescues, pet stores, or breeders, and the source affects the price. Typical price ranges are:
- Rescue or shelter adoption: about 50–300 dollars in adoption fees.
- Pet stores and breeders: roughly 100–400 dollars per ferret, with some lines or rare colors going higher.
Upfront setup costs
Beyond the ferret, you need a suitable cage and basic supplies. Common one- time setup costs include:
- Cage, bowls, bedding, litter box, toys, and initial food, which together often add roughly 200–600 dollars depending on quality and what you already own.
- Initial vet visit, vaccines, and possible spay/neuter can add another 100–400 dollars.
Ongoing monthly costs
Once everything is set up, most expenses come from food, litter, and healthcare.
- Budget around 30–80 dollars per month for food, litter, and basic supplies for one ferret.
- Including routine vet care and preventive meds, many owners effectively spend several hundred dollars per year per ferret.