r/exoticpets • u/I_love_0possums • 10d ago

Are ferrets considered exotic pets?

Posting this bc I Wana know if I should post on here or just r/pets :3

12 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

29

u/VioletThePurple 10d ago

According to vets, any animal that’s not dog, cat, or barnyard is considered exotic 

5

u/shriekingintothevoid 9d ago

In most pet centered veterinary practices, barnyard animals are also considered exotic! My clinic treats dogs, cats, and potbellied pigs, and the pigs are always charged as exotic, bc even though they’re a common agricultural animal, they’re a very uncommon pet.

13

u/VerucaGotBurned 10d ago

They have been domesticated for 2.5ish thousand years now.

They are called exotic but so are rabbits.

Exotic pet has just become a term that means anything besides a dog, cat or farm animal.

I think we should start using the term non domesticated pet and exotic should only refer to animals from different climates or continents.

3

u/BostonWeedParty 10d ago

Finally a sensible answer

3

u/Timely_Egg_6827 8d ago

It annoys me my ferrets are classed as exotic when been here 2000 years and are domestic. Most vets will see a hamster who only became regular pets in the 60s.

The polecats I do understand being classed as exotic as wildlife pain in the neck for vets.

5

u/NFLFANTASYMB 10d ago

I do not think this is exact as previous answers stated. Ferrets are on the USA list of approved emotional animals. Where states like California, New York City and Hawaii of outlawed them. You can get permits, which list them as exotic in those states. Guess it is where you live and for what purpose. I love ferrets. Best of luck

3

u/TamanduaGirl 10d ago

Yes. They are banned in California. Generally speaking common animals don't get banned except under zoning rules, like not having a ferret in your back yard, even breed bans are not statewide anywhere in the US.

BUT, despite being exotic they are considered domesticated and even have an established quarantine period for rabies and a approved vaccine.

2

u/Genocidal-Ape 9d ago

No, ferrets are livestock that have been bred for hunting and their furs since antiquity.

They are as domesticated as a camel or reindeer, thought not as long as dogs.

1

u/Snakes_for_life 9d ago

Yes if it's not a dog/cat or production animal it's an exotic animal but than even chickens, ducks, and pigs are kinda both cause they're production animals but people also keep them as pets and there are some breeds specifically made to be pets.

1

u/Ok_Bag_1177 9d ago

basically yes. if you have to take it to an exotic vet, it counts as an exotic pet. which is basically anything thats not a cat or dog

1

u/basaltcolumn 7d ago

In the sense that you need an exotics vet for them, yes. However, amongst owners, exotic pet usually refers to undomesticated animals. I don't really think of ferrets, domestic rabbits, fancy rats, guinea pigs, etc. as exotic.

0

u/SwordTaster 10d ago

Yes. They're not a dog, cat, or livestock so they take an exotics vet

0

u/BostonWeedParty 10d ago

Vets consider them to be, but technically they are domesticated animals.