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What should I do?

  • Return the ferret to the pet store

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Relinquish her to a shelter

    Votes: 1 25.0%

  • Sell her on Craigslist so you can get money and find her a home

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • There's no reason to feel bad! Keep her and love her

    Votes: 3 75.0%
  • Total voters
    4
  • Poll closed .

Buyer's Remorse W/ New Ferret...

456 Views 11 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  beckettbehan, 
V
I have two rats who are my pride and joy (one especially, who I am particularly bonded with.) As I am in college, I don't, by any means, have a surplus of money. However, I have been wanting a ferret, so I saved up.

Last night I purchased the ferret, along with everything she needs, and I already feel bad. Not only did I spend pretty much every cent of my money, but I feel very guilty about the ferret...My parents did not approve of me getting her (even though I no longer live with them, they discouraged me from getting her, being concerned that she would destroy the condo they bought for me.) Mostly, however, I am feeling like I betrayed my rats and like they feel jealous about the new pet. I honestly don't know if I can love this ferret because of all of the guilt from the money I spent, the lack of approval and the possibly betrayal to my rats.

What should I do? Is it silly to feel this remorse and should I just enjoy the ferret anyway? Or do you think my rat might actually feel bad about it and unloved?

Is it possible to return a pet to the store? I feel horrible about considering that, but I don't know if I should keep her...and I can't just relinquish her to a rescue since I need the money back if I were to get rid of her....

I feel so horrible! Every option is a terrible one...I will miss her if I get rid of her, but I feel bad about keeping her!
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T
If you're tight on money a ferret was not the way to go. Have you researched what it takes to keep one? Did you only get one? Ferrets usually do better in pairs. I think you should have done more research but you have her now. I think the best thing you can do it 1) get her a play mate so if you can't let her out to play she'll still get interaction and exercise rough housing with her friend. I HIGHLY suggest getting one from the same store SOON so you don't have to introduce them which would require another cage.

2) RESEARCH. Ferrets aren't HIGH maintenance but do require more than just a cage and some toys. I say that not knowing how much research you have already done.

Again if money is an issue, ferrets are not pets for you. Usually they don't require much in younger years but as they get older they can get diseases that require medication daily.
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K
ferrets can destroy a house. but that being said your rats aren't going to feel bad about having another pet, just don't stop playing with them, and don't let them out at the same time. ferrets are pretty cool critters and you should save up for future vet bills.

It may have not been the best choice to get her at this time but you have her, so i would suggest take the best care of her you can and give all of your critters love and attention and you will be fine. It can be over whelming at times but i think you will be able to handle it.
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T
I agree to keep her. I think now that you have her, you did make a responsibility to her. It takes some training but litter box training is the best thing to keep the place clean. And ferret proof. Ferrets for Dummies is a good book I suggest you look into. Just make sure everyone gets attention and your new addition gets outside cage play time.

And I still HIGHLY recommend lots of research.
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txcowgirl said:
If you're tight on money a ferret was not the way to go. Have you researched what it takes to keep one? Did you only get one? Ferrets usually do better in pairs. I think you should have done more research but you have her now. I think the best thing you can do it 1) get her a play mate so if you can't let her out to play she'll still get interaction and exercise rough housing with her friend. I HIGHLY suggest getting one from the same store SOON so you don't have to introduce them which would require another cage.

2) RESEARCH. Ferrets aren't HIGH maintenance but do require more than just a cage and some toys. I say that not knowing how much research you have already done.

Again if money is an issue, ferrets are not pets for you. Usually they don't require much in younger years but as they get older they can get diseases that require medication daily.
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I definitely did research and I know that they require at least 4 hours of playtime outside a cage, especially if they do not have a pal. I researched the costs and I know how much it will cost me (I have a job now so I will have income.) This was not an impulse buy. I just feel really guilty about it....for weeks and weeks I was preparing for this and was so excited and now that it has happened, it doesn't feel right and I don't know why...
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B
Sales are generally final. You might find a rescue to take her but otherwise...meh.

As far as rats go, I had quite a zoo with my rats (two dogs, BUNCH of rats, a cat...) and my rats didn't mind. They liked to be out of the cage but they were fine with there wood branches, wheels, dig box, and their crap ton of toys.

If you're like me...see I panic over everything. I can plan something for YEARS and finally get it and...not feel right. I feel better later and this is probably some emotional hangup I have. Thats just me though.
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If you're like me...see I panic over everything. I can plan something for YEARS and finally get it and...not feel right. I feel better later and this is probably some emotional hangup I have. Thats just me though.
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I actually am like that too....my parents are very frugal and have instilled in me a hesitance to spend money on ANYTHING unnecessary. I went through a similar guilt when I bought my special rat her companion...even though I didn't spend all of my money on her, I still felt guilty for getting another animal. I am guessing this remorse for the ferret will go away soon, but I am still paranoid that maybe I made a poor decision, despite my wanting and planning it for months..
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vannalicious said:
I actually am like that too....my parents are very frugal and have instilled in me a hesitance to spend money on ANYTHING unnecessary. I went through a similar guilt when I bought my special rat her companion...even though I didn't spend all of my money on her, I still felt guilty for getting another animal. I am guessing this remorse for the ferret will go away soon, but I am still paranoid that maybe I made a poor decision, despite my wanting and planning it for months..
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You know what hon? My cat died in 2008 and I have wanted another one since. I have found and fostered a great deal of cats and adopted them all out. My friend had to get rid of her cat that she saved from a flea infested home. I vaccinated her and spayed her but felt bad that she had nobody to speak "cat" to...as silly as that sounds. What makes it worse is that a neighborhood cat was coming into my yard for a while and they would "talk" between the window. I saw that cat in the road a while ago...and my cat missed that cat dearly. So I decided to adopt another cat. Well that cat came as a perfect pair with another cat. The thought of having three cats made me happy but at the same time...well I know you know how that feels (as I was brought up the same way.) I have six furkids now. Two were victims of "no pets allowed" and three were on the EUTH list at local shelters. Spyro is just an old dog I have had since I was a child. The thing with petstores is they couldn't care less who gets the animal, as long as they get their money. Some irresponsible parent could have gotten this for a child, who would have forgotten about her and left her in a cage all day. I'd say...stick with it. Maybe you could save up for a friend later? I don't know much about ferrets.

Oh and I'd try to stay clear of CL. As much as there are really good people on there, there are also creepers.
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C
Craigslist I don't trust to much. Especially here in the states with all the horror stories that have happened.

Petfinder.com is a great place to find an animal in my opinion. A lot of them come from rescue groups which I'm a big fan of. You could also search for ferret rescues when you want to get another buddy.

My Gunny was pretty old when I rescued her and had been alone all her life (well since the original owner bought her. She went through three owners before she got to me) and I decided for her benefit it was best not to get another. She did fine playing with the cat but I think if you have a younger ferret a playmate would be best when you can afford it.

Ferrets for Dummies is a good source of information though I have to say and I'm sure people here can give you some good information. I'll be glad to share what I know, but most of my experience is from one ferret and lots of books.
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H
Not all pet stores are out for profit. I actually talked a customer out of a sugar glider and into a feeder rat. Yes my sale went from 250 dollars down to about $3.25 but the sugar glider just did not fit their situation. However, almost all pet stores see only dollar signs and nothing else. I ran my store on the side (mostly my wife) and was never in it for money. I had to close down two years ago but not because the business was failing but for other reasons.
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A
Spending a large amount of money on anything, particularly when money is limited, is enough to give anyone buyer's remorse. Check to see if the pet store has a return policy on live animals (many do where I live - even the ones most people sneer at) so you know what your options and deadlines are, and then you can relax and see how it goes until you have to make a decision one way or the other. Personally, I'm not a fan of ferrets, although I'm definitely not above playing with them if someone else has them (even descented they're a bit much for my hypersensitive nose), but I hope it works out and you keep it. They're a lot of fun if you don't mind the work.
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B
Acceptance is reached. God's purpose in remorse is that grief would take its course, and that through it important concepts are learned, and perhaps relearned. Remorse merely initiates, and motivates, the process of grief. But sometimes this process is stunted and the godly path of grieving is thwarted.
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