At one job interview, the interviewer himself had ferrets.  In a big smile
he stated that you let ferrets out of the cage, they are going to go get in
trouble.  Is what a ferret does, and does well.  If you are to have one,
you need too understand that is what the animal does, is innate.
 
In some cases to circumvent the damaging digging and other actions by the
animal using it's claws, the notion of declawing has come to mind.  I also
thought of this, but did some investigation into this before proceeding.
Here is what I learned:
 
The ferret is a member of the cat family, but not a direct lineage.  The
foot is somewhat similar but the claws are not.  A cat has retractable
claws.  These appendages are on a 'separate circuit' from the toes,
independent.  More akin to having 10 fingers per paw where 5 are used for
walking, and 5 used selectively as tools.
 
In the ferret, the claws are part of the toe bone, so the ferret has 5 toes
per foot only.  To remove the claw will invoke much more problems than it
will solve.  The claw is part of the weight bearing portion of the foot.
Balance and agility will be compromised by the loss of the claw.  Infection
to the bone is much more likely.  Bone infection is all but impossible to
control and cure and can result in some horrible disfigurement and even
death.
 
A regular routine of trimming the claws will curb much of the claw and
digging problem, will not cure it but will bring much of it to a closure.
One must be careful to NOT cut the claw so far back that the vein is cut
to cause bleeding.  You can see the (dark) blood vein inside the claw
where the claw grows out of the foot.  Simply cut just above that with an
appropriate nail cutting tool made for animals such as ferrets.  They are
not expensive and last a lifetime.
 
The ferret usually does not mind the claw being trimmed at all. Is just
a trial to hold the little dude still and get control of the foot where
they want "OUT" from being held still.  Is best with two people where
one holds the animal and the other trims.
 
Good luck, and PLEASE,, DO NOT DECLAW a  ferret. ok???? Thanks!
 
Gordon, Byte-me and Nibble-ed.
[Posted in FML issue 2954]