They are related to their wild cousin, the Black-Footed Ferret in the same way a domestic dog is related to a wolf. They will use a litter box, but using corners of the room is a common problem. They like to dig and can dig holes in carpets and sofas. There are many creative ways of dealing with this problem, but if all else is unsuccessful, declawing may be considered as an option. These places breed and sell tens of thousands of ferrets every year.
Ferrets can get along well with dogs and cats.
The main danger is to the ferret if you have a cat who is predatory and spends time outdoors killing birds and squirrels, or if you have a dog who is likely to bite when the ferret nips its toes. The dog bite will do a lot more damage than the ferret bite, even if only intended as a warning. They are susceptible to heartworms and should be on preventive if you live in an area where heartworms in dogs are a problem. They get hairballs and should take hairball laxative just like cats. It is also a very good idea to provide natural or fluorescent lighting for them rather than incandescent.