The sale of ferret kits

Ratification Date: 23 Jul 2014

Ferret kits should be vaccinated and not offered for sale younger than ten weeks of age.

Ferrets are active and intelligent animals; there is a need for family/social groups to stay together as long as possible to produce more behaviorally normal adult pets, and for opportunities to exercise and interact.
Ferret kits are often sold too young, unable to eat solid food. This may result in chronic disease conditions including ill thrift and diarrhoea.
Being strict carnivores, ferrets have specific dietary needs, including the frequent feeding of small meals.
Ferrets are sensitive to extremes of temperature.
It is illegal to sell ferrets in Queensland as it is declared a Class 1 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002.
It is illegal to keep ferrets in the Northern Territory.

Kits should be vaccinated for distemper at eight weeks of age, a minimum of two weeks prior to sale.
The minimum age at sale should be ten weeks (estimated by dental examination) to facilitate the eating of a kibbled (or dry food) diet.
Kits should undergo veterinary examination at vaccination/before sale.
There should be minimum cage size standards and opportunity for exercise and social interaction (at least 1 square metre per ferret).
Minimum and maximum temperatures for housing should be adhered to (20 to 24 degrees C).
Ferret specific data should be included as an appendix to pet shop Codes of Practice which will underpin state and territory legislation.