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Ferrets For Dummies 2e by Kim Schilling Review: A Thorough, Practical Guide for Ferret Owners
Ferrets For Dummies, 2nd Edition by Kim Schilling is a comprehensive reference guide covering every major aspect of ferret ownership — from selecting and housing a ferret to nutrition, health maintenance, behavior, and medical care — written in the accessible, plain-English style the For Dummies series is known for, with veterinary contributor Susan A. Brown lending expert credibility to the health-focused sections.
Tap to enlargeLuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Prospective or current ferret owners who want a single, accessible reference covering every stage of ferret ownership — from deciding whether to get one to day-to-day care, health, and behavior — written in plain English with no prior expertise assumed.
Worth it if
Worth it if you want broad, candid, all-in-one coverage of ferret ownership in a scannable format — particularly if you appreciate an author who honestly tells you whether ferrets are the right pet for you rather than simply selling the idea.
Skip if
Skip it if you need up-to-date veterinary or nutritional guidance — published in 2007, the health and dietary sections are over fifteen years old and should be cross-referenced with a licensed exotic-animal vet — or if you want a broader small-mammal reference rather than a ferret-exclusive guide.
What readers & critics say
Reader commentary aggregated on Thriftbooks praises Kim Schilling for writing from the dual perspective of a longtime owner and foster carer, commending her candor about ferrets not suiting every household and her ability to tackle difficult subjects — odor, litter box issues, problem behavior — with humor and grace. Publisher copy on ebooks.com and amazon.co.uk characterises the guide as a friendly, plain-English, quick-reference resource covering diet, dental hygiene, disease, and enrichment.
Sources: Thriftbooks, ebooks.com, amazon.co.uk4.7from 626 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
Look inside the book
Preview the actual pages, via Google BooksIn This Review
- What Works & What Doesn't
- What the Book Actually Covers
- The Author's Qualifications and Perspective
- Strengths: Accessibility and Honest Scope
- Honest Limitations: A Specialist Audience and a Dated Edition
- Who This Book Is For
What Works & What Doesn't
What Works
- Covers the full spectrum of ferret ownership in a single volume, from choosing a ferret to health care, behavior, housing, nutrition, and travel
- Written in plain English with a quick-reference format designed for accessibility, suited to first-time owners with no prior expertise
- Author Kim Schilling draws on over 20 years of ferret ownership and her work running an exotic animal sanctuary, lending real-world credibility to the practical advice
- Unusually candid about the challenges of ferret ownership — odor, litter box issues, problem behavior — helping readers make an informed decision rather than an idealized one
- Veterinary contributor Susan A. Brown adds clinical authority to the health and medical sections
What Doesn't
- Published in September 2007, meaning health, dietary, and veterinary guidance is over fifteen years old and may not reflect current best practices — readers should cross-reference medical content with a licensed exotic-animal vet
- Narrowly focused on ferrets exclusively, making it unsuitable as a broader small-mammal or multi-pet reference
A comprehensive, no-nonsense reference for anyone considering or already caring for a ferret, this second edition earns its place as a go-to handbook through the depth of its coverage and the candor of its author.
What the Book Actually Covers
Back cover featuring book overview, cartoon owl mascot, ferret care topics, and "For Dummies" branding.
Ferrets For Dummies, 2nd Edition is a pet-care reference guide structured around the full lifecycle of ferret ownership. According to the publisher's description, it addresses how to choose the right ferret, ferret-proof a home, handle first aid, navigate common diseases and infections, manage dental hygiene, design an enriching living environment, address behavioral issues, select appropriate toys, travel with a ferret, and even decide whether to breed. The book also includes recipes for ferret-friendly meals and lists of common ferret myths and misconceptions. Veterinarian Susan A. Brown is credited as a contributor, adding a clinical dimension to the health and medical content alongside author Kim Schilling's practical ownership perspective.
“Thinking about getting a ferret? Want to make sure you're giving the ferret you already have the best possible care?”
The Author's Qualifications and Perspective
Kim Schilling brings more than two decades of personal experience with ferrets to the text, and also operates Animals for Awareness, a sanctuary for unwanted and abandoned exotic animals. That background as both a longtime owner and a foster caretaker of ferrets awaiting new homes shapes the book's tone in a meaningful way. Rather than presenting ferret ownership as universally ideal, Schilling is candid about the challenges — odor, litter box difficulties, and the reality that ferrets are simply not the right pet for every household. One reader, writing on Thriftbooks, noted that Schilling "writes about ferrets from the perspective of an adoring owner as well as a foster mom to ferrets awaiting new homes" and does not hold back in letting readers know "that ferrets aren't for everyone." That same reviewer praised her for tackling difficult subjects — odor, litter box woes, and problem ferret behavior — "with style and grace" and "a great sense of humor."
Front cover featuring the book title, subtitle, author name, edition number, and a photograph of a ferret.
Strengths: Accessibility and Honest Scope
The For Dummies format is specifically designed for approachability, and this title leans into that strength. The publisher describes the guide as written in "plain English" with a "cut-to-the-chase, quick-reference format," making the material accessible to first-time owners without requiring prior expertise. The inclusion of practical lists — ferret myths and misconceptions, behavioral guides, toy recommendations — gives the book a functional, scannable quality suited to the reference use case. Thriftbooks reader commentary highlights that the book helped some readers confidently commit to ferret ownership while helping others conclude that ferrets were not the right fit — a sign that the content is calibrated to inform rather than simply to sell the idea of ferret ownership.
Honest Limitations: A Specialist Audience and a Dated Edition
Because the book focuses exclusively on ferrets, its utility is narrow by design — readers seeking a multi-pet or general small-mammal reference will need to look elsewhere. More practically, the second edition was published in September 2007, meaning some of the health, dietary, and veterinary guidance it contains is now well over fifteen years old. Ferret nutrition science and veterinary best practices have continued to develop since that publication date, and readers with specific medical or dietary questions should verify current recommendations with a licensed exotic-animal veterinarian rather than relying solely on this edition. This is a consideration worth weighing, particularly for the health and disease chapters.
Who This Book Is For
Ferrets For Dummies, 2nd Edition is designed for two distinct audiences: prospective owners trying to determine whether a ferret suits their household, and current owners seeking structured, practical guidance on care. The publisher's framing — "Thinking about getting a ferret? Want to make sure you're giving the ferret you already have the best possible care?" — maps directly to those two groups. Readers who enjoy straightforward, jargon-free reference books and want broad coverage of a single subject in one volume will find this structure well-suited to their needs. Those seeking cutting-edge veterinary guidance or highly specialized depth on a single topic, such as ferret genetics or advanced disease management, may find the general-audience format less sufficient for their purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
is Ferrets For Dummies 2e (For Dummies Series) by Kim Schilling worth reading for a first-time ferret owner
Yes, especially if you're still deciding whether a ferret is right for you. The review notes that some readers used it to confidently commit to ferret ownership while others concluded ferrets weren't a good fit — a sign the book informs rather than just sells you on the idea. Its plain-English, quick-reference format makes it genuinely accessible with no prior expertise needed.
What is this book actually about
It's a comprehensive reference guide covering the full lifecycle of ferret ownership — from choosing and ferret-proofing your home, to nutrition, dental hygiene, first aid, common diseases, behavioral issues, toy selection, traveling with a ferret, and even whether to breed. It also includes ferret-friendly meal recipes and lists of common ferret myths, with veterinarian Susan A. Brown contributing to the health and medical sections.
Is this book outdated
That's the key caveat worth knowing: the second edition was published in September 2007, making some of its health, dietary, and veterinary guidance over fifteen years old. The reviewer specifically warns that ferret nutrition science and veterinary best practices have developed since then, and recommends verifying medical or dietary questions with a licensed exotic-animal veterinarian rather than relying solely on this edition.
Does this book sugarcoat ferret ownership
Not at all — author Kim Schilling is notably candid about the downsides. A Thriftbooks reader highlighted that she doesn't hold back in letting readers know "that ferrets aren't for everyone," tackling tough subjects like odor, litter box woes, and problem ferret behavior "with style and grace" and "a great sense of humor." Her background running Animals for Awareness, a sanctuary for unwanted exotic animals, clearly shapes that honest tone.
Is this book good if i already have a ferret or only for people thinking about getting one
It's designed for both audiences. The publisher's framing directly addresses prospective owners trying to decide if a ferret suits their household AND current owners wanting structured, practical care guidance. Its broad single-subject coverage in one scannable volume suits both use cases well.
How credible is the health information in this book
The health sections benefit from the contributions of veterinarian Susan A. Brown, which adds a clinical dimension beyond just Kim Schilling's personal ownership perspective. However, the reviewer cautions that given the 2007 publication date, readers with specific medical questions should verify recommendations with a licensed exotic-animal veterinarian, as the field has continued to evolve.
Is this book good for someone who wants advanced or specialized ferret info
Probably not the best fit. The review notes that readers seeking cutting-edge veterinary guidance or highly specialized depth on a single topic — such as ferret genetics or advanced disease management — may find the general-audience format insufficient. It's built for broad coverage in accessible plain English, not deep technical expertise.
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- Cited in this review
- 1
- 2
- Further reading
- 3
- 4
thriftbooks.com
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