Originally posted by: exilera
Your friend didn't know anything about ferrets, obviously.
I had ferrets; they're a whole lot like cats. They use a litter box and they're incredibly playful.
They do smell a little, but if you keep their cage clean, it's not bad at all. You can't bathe them often, once or twice a month at the most, because the more you bathe them the more they give off a scent, ironically.
You need to clip their nails, just like a cat. They need a lot of attention, like a dog. If you're going to get a ferret, it's best to get two. One will be miserable unless it has company.
They need to go to the vet just like cats. They need shots, etc. They're actual pets, not just something that you can look at. As I said, they need attention, a LOT of attention, actually. They're not tempermental; they're playful, but they have extremely sharp teeth, and while they'll bite you playfully, it can hurt.
Watching two ferrets play together is a lot of fun.
Also, get a VERY large cage if they're going to be caged most of the time, and make sure you secure the litter box down, or else they'll turn it over