Mink as Pets

It is not the purpose of this site to encourage people to buy mink as a pet. This animal is not a suitable pet for everyone. Those who only have experience with cats and dogs or those who cannot or do not want to adapt their houses for a mink should not consider getting a mink. A mink is not a cuddly toy and cannot be forced to change. A mink is always inquisitive and is always into things or up to something. Plants and flowers should always be kept out of reach or off limits.

Mink have a habit of finding their way into other rooms, cavity walls or foundations (we have experienced this on several occasions!).

Also, people who are not prepared to or cannot make time every day are not suitable owners. A mink is not really a domesticated animal and so it is possible that it will turn wild again if not enough attention is paid to it. Our mink (Snoopy) knows that she is allowed out in the evening and waits impatiently by the door of her run. As soon as she is in the room, she has a mad five minutes and runs and jumps around the room, growling. Then we are always challenged to play with her and you cannot just sit quietly. We decide the nature of the game because the mink is less boisterous when she plays with our daughter Jill (6 yrs) than when she plays with us. Jill has also never been bitten painfully by Snoopy while my wife and I can get a painful nip during her games. Snoopy can get over-enthusiastic but when she does, if we shout af! And blow in her face, she stops biting immediately. After playing for a while, Snoopy will go to her favorite place and sleep but as soon as there is action in the house, she is back again. A mink is always curious and always around. Snoopy is great with the whole family and is very careful with Jill. Wherever Jill is, you will probably find Snoopy and that is probably because Jill was involved in bringing her up from day one.

We got Snoopy when she was 4 weeks old and just starting on solids. It was our intention to put her in with our raccoon but because she was still so small we had to keep her inside. Jill was with her every day and the older Snoopy got the more we realized that the two were becoming very good friends. We were convinced that the friendly nature of the mink would pass. Snoopy followed Jill around everywhere, even outside. At that point we decided not to put Snoopy with the raccoon and thought that she could become a pet. We even went for walks with her outside and a lead was not necessary because Snoopy stayed with us. She was not afraid of things that happened around her and dogs kept a safe distance themselves as if they knew it was better that way.

However, at six months, her behaviour towards strangers changed. Not everyone could pick her up and she often bit strangers who came too close for comfort. This meant an end to our walks. Now that Snoopy is fully grown, only our family and a handful of regular guests and ,strangely enough, our daughters cousin, can pick her up and others can be bitten badly or Snoopy will use her scent gland. The cousin was around when Snoopy was young so it is possible that she still recognizes her.

This is also probably a reason for many people not to get a mink. Snoopy is a great pet for us and we enjoy every day with her and she is an ideal playmate for our daughter, always wanting to play and even helping to undress Barbie. The many ferret owners out there will recognize many characteristics but a mink is definitely different to a ferret. A mink can easily be kept together with other animals because our Snoopy walks through the living room with the skunk. The two just ignore each other but we know people who keep them with cats and they even play together. We also know people with domesticated mink that are kept in runs and they get a lot of pleasure from them. Mink take short naps and are active during the day and at night and are even still playful as adults. For this you do have to get them when they are young and keep a few together otherwise the animals get lonely. A mink has certain characteristics that are better than those of “normal” pets. For example, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters etc...

Mink do not stink at all (as long as they have the opportunity to bathe).

Mink can be housetrained and will use a litter tray.

Mink are attentive and not only when you feed them, but because they want to do something nice with you.

And don’t forget, look closely at a mink and see what a wonderful creature mother nature has given.

Below are two picture of a male and female mink (Maya and Radja), they are from friends of ours.