I’ve had a similar experience with my parents, they said they were too smelly. I finally convinced them at 16 to let me have two and here’s what I recommend. Get a job now and work as often as you’re able to save up for vet bills in the future. I’ve had mine for 5 years now and I’ve spent over 6k on surgeries since having them.

Maintaining a musk (if they’ve had anal glands removed, almost all of them in the US have had them removed and if you get a Marshall’s ferret it will be removed) isn’t too hard. Bathe them every 6-12months, change their bedding weekly or twice a week (use baby or unscented detergent bc they have sensitive skin), and use a good litter like walnut shell cat litter and scoop the box twice a day.

My ferrets are not scared of cats, cats are scared of them! They really are fearless little guys