What You Need To Know About Ferrets
December 29, 2022
You might not know it, but ferrets came into our lives around 2000 years ago. They were domesticated for hunting rabbits and as a consequence, have found their way into our homes as playful, affectionate pets.
Likely a descendant of the European polecat, ferrets are in the same Mustelidae family as the mink, badger and stoat. Their long, slim bodies allow them to burrow with ease through the underground tunnels of rabbit warrens and the homes of other underground critters.
A full grown ferret will measure in at 20 inches long and weigh an average of 1.5 pounds, though some can grow to 4.5 pounds. An average lifespan for a ferret is 5 to 7 years.
Love To Burrow
Pet ferrets share this love of burrowing and crawling through small spaces. They love to hide out in your home and can squeeze through the smallest gaps and holes. Something to keep in mind before you set the timer on the dryer, for example. You never know who might be hiding inside.
Little Thieves
The word ferret itself comes from the Latin word, furittus, which means "little thief." Not only do ferrets like to hide themselves, they also love to take objects and hide them too. So lock up your valuables and keep an eye on those mischievous creatures during playtime. If anything goes missing in the house, you know who to blame.
Playful, Inquisitive, Cuddly
Pet ferrets will happily sleep all day and are known to snooze for up to 20 hours. But when they’re awake, they are ready for playtime and whipping around your home. You can have a lot of fun setting up a system of tunnels and piping that your pet ferrets will enjoy immensely and get lots of exercise. They also love to cuddle, but watch out for those teeth.
Two Ferrets Better Than One
Ferrets are very social animals, which means if you’re deciding on getting one as a pet, you better get two. Single ferrets can get very lonely and this can lead to health and emotional issues.
Musky Odour
Ferrets have a reputation of being a musky animal with a strong and recognizable scent. Unneutered males give off a stronger scent than females, which is why breeders make sure they are neutered before going to their new homes. In addition, breeders will have the ferrets’ anal scent glands removed to further help minimize the odour.
Bathing
Because of their beautiful, silky coats, bathing ferrets is only recommended a couple of times a month, using specially formulated soap. Bathing will help to keep your ferrets clean; however, so attached are they to their musky odour, it rarely ever leaves them. Something to think about before making a decision on getting a ferret as a pet.
Meat Only Please
What ferrets love most of all is a live mouse or rat, but who has the stomach for that? Instead, ferrets will live quite happily on cat food or specially prepared dried food for ferrets, available at your local pet store. Avoid fruits and vegetables as ferrets cannot digest cellulose.
Ferrets make wonderful pets for the right owner - there are more than 5 million pet ferrets in the US alone. Bear in mind that they do require a lot of daily attention and special care. But if you have the dedication and inclination, it will be time well spent.