What is a ferret?
The European Ferret (Mustela putorius furo) had been domesticated for over 2,000 years. Ferrets are not rodents, but rather relatives of the weasel, polecat, stoat, ermine, martens, badger, otter, mink, wolverine and the endangered North American black-footed ferret.
Ferrets do not have much in common with dogs or cats, so it is important to understand the differences in caring for ferrets. Ferrets have almost no survival skills because they have been domestic pets for so long, and only bred in captivity. They simply do not exist in the wild, nor can they survive in the wild. A ferret left alone outdoors would be lucky to live 24 hours. They have no skills for finding food or water on their own, there are many, many things outside your home which would kill them very quickly. Ferrets also have no defenses, and no fear. They have been known to walk directly toward a running automobile without sensing that it is larger than they are, and could be dangerous to them. Predators (including dogs and cats) found outdoors can easily kill a ferret. Ferrets should never be allowed outdoors except when wearing a snug harness and lead with a human attached to the other end of the lead. Ferrets should never be exposed to temperatures higher than 80 degrees, or lower than 60 degrees, these are very life threatening for the ferret, and can cause permanent irreparable damage and death to the ferret.
Indoors ferrets should not be allowed free run of the house unless someone is closely watching them. When they cannot be closely supervised, they should be confined to a ferret-safe room, playpen or cage.
Ferrets are very playful and amusing pets and will offer their owner many endearing qualities not found in dogs or cats. Above all, they are extremely intelligent and they are escape artists. These are two reason they need such specialized care and supervision. For some, ferrets make wonderful companions and the ferrets and owners establish a bond unlike that with any other pet. However, ferrets require more time, attention, and care than other pets, and not everyone will be willing to give the ferret all it needs. This is why it is important to understand ferrets and their needs before getting one. Ferrets are special pets for special people.
Ferrets must be handled gently, and never dropped. They have a very delicate bone structure and do not have the muscle tone and structure of dogs and cats to withstand falling, or dropping even twelve inches to the floor. Even falling this short distance has caused broken bones in ferrets. It is best not to allow small children to handle ferrets because it is easy for small children to hold them too tightly (causing injury to the ferret) or to drop them or fall on them accidentally. A ferret that is being squeezed too tightly, and in pain, like any other animal, may bite or scratch the child to try and free itself. If you have small children it would be wise not to bring a ferret into your household as a pet.
The average life span of a ferret is 8 to 10 years. When fully grown, females weigh about one and a half to two pounds while males are generally about twice the weight of females. A female's length is about twelve inches nose to tail and the males are about sixteen inches.
Ferrets come in many color variations. Most are shades of brown, gray and black with the mask, feet and tails generally being the darkest in color. "Albino" ferrets are white with pink eyes.
Ferrets have powerful, distinct and engaging personalities, and a playful and fastidious nature.
Ferrets are diurnal creatures with their periods of greatest activity just before sunrise and shortly after sunset. They sleep about eighteen to twenty hours of the day, waking up twice a day for very active periods of about two hours. Due to their very high metabolism, ferrets also awaken roughly every four hours for a few minutes to eat, relieve themselves, and play briefly. When they wake, ferrets shiver very noticeably for periods up to twenty minutes. This is normal as the ferret is increasing his body temperature after sleep due to his higher metabolism and inherently higher body temperature.
As burrow-living animals, ferrets require a dark, quiet place to sleep. The most suitable beddings are old towels, sweaters, pants and the like in which they can roll up or bury themselves.
Ferrets are extremely curious and will investigate anything and everything. This curiosity is the leading cause of premature death amongst ferrets. It is important to supervise your ferret at all times when he is at play. If you allow your ferrets to roam about your home, never close refrigerators, washers, driers, etc. without first ensuring no ferrets are exploring the interior or roosting within.
Ferrets are latrine animals and prefer to use a specific area for this purpose. Generally, a ferret will relieve himself within a few minutes of waking up. Being small predators, ferrets would be in the middle of the food chain in the wild, so their instinct is to find a sheltered corner as a latrine. All these things make it possible to litter train a ferret with considerable success.
The ferret should have a litter box or paper placed in a corner near his nest or in his cage and be confined to the nest/litter area until after he has relieved himself. Afterwards, he can be released to play in the rest of the home as he will not relieve himself again until after his next sleep. The size of the nest/litter area can slowly be expanded as the ferret learns to use a specific area for a latrine, much like paper training a puppy. As a precaution, a litter box can be placed in a secluded, out-of-sight corner of each room for the ferret's use as these are his natural preferences. The use of a fine, dust-free, clumping litter in a litter box or newspapers is suggested. Remember to clean up daily.
Ferrets are very playful animals, much like kittens or puppies who never grow up. They have many behaviors related to play and play "hunting" which confuse or even frighten people unfamiliar with ferret body language.
The most common action is a "war dance" where the ferret arches his back, throws his head back with fangs bared, often bushing up his tail, and maniacally bounces forward, backwards, sideways, while chittering away. As seemingly mad as this dance may seem, it is only a challenge to come down to his level and play. If you imitate his actions, he will become more frenzied (hard to imagine though this may seem) and start chasing you, stop suddenly, turn, and run: Now its your turn to chase him.
Another common message is pawing the ground while semi prone: This is a challenge to a fight or hunt. Paw the ground yourself, and he will jump at you, then retreat. A few more bouts of pawing and jumping, and he will attack your hand or wrist, wrestling it down and attempting to kill it.
All ferrets have an affinity for people and want to include their parents in their play which is a major bounding component in a ferret's life. Due to his extremely strong jaws and small, sharp teeth, a young ferret can break a person's skin during these games. Ferrets have thick fur and skin which protects them when they play together and it takes a while for them to realize that we have no fur and only thin skin which is no protection. Once they realize that they are hurting us, ferrets modify their play so as not to do any damage. This rough play is part of a ferret's life, especially when young.
Nipping, pinching the skin hard without breaking it, is another invitation to play. Some kits never nip at all, but most that do will eventually outgrow this tendency as ferrets do mellow with age.
Ferrets are active, curious animals that should be allowed to run free when awake and be caged only when required. Should you not be able to allow the animals a large area with toys to roam about freely and explore, then ferrets are not the pet for you.
If it is necessary to confine your pets periodically, they should always be kept in a cage large enough to allow separate sleeping, eating, litter and play areas. Generally, a cage of 30 inches by 18 inches can house one to three ferrets comfortably for a few days or for travel. If confined for too long, clawing and gnawing at the cage occurs and dental damage often results. When it is necessary to keep the animals in a cage, exercise in a large area conducive to exploration for periods of two to three hours twice a day is advised.
Ferrets love to tunnel, so their favorite beddings are sheets, towels, blankets, sweaters and such. These items are ideal for ferrets to snuggle into (ensure that sweaters and blankets do not have decorations on them that the ferret can pull off and swallow).
Small cardboard boxes, bags of plastic and paper, throw rugs and towels, white socks and clean linen: These are a few of a ferret's favorite things. Fancy toys are nice for humans, but the child in the ferret enjoys the things he can crawl into, under, and through, like drainage pipe and box lids. The leavings of the latest shopping expedition are the greatest gift mankind can bestow upon a ferret.
Ferrets are exceptionally playful, so expect your ferret to tip over his food and water bowls. Check on them often, tape them down, or use an unspillable bowl. Rodent water bottles are not recommended as a ferret may damage his teeth on the spout.
Because ferrets have such rapid metabolism, they awaken to eat about every four hours. Fresh water and food should always be available to them. Ferrets eat only what they need and leave excess food for later, so one need not worry about over-feeding.
Ferrets must be fed a high quality dry ferret or kitten food. Hard food keeps the ferrets teeth clean and makes their feces less smelly. The food should contain at least 32% protein, primarily meat, and 18% fat. Older ferrets can be fed dry cat food as they become less active due to age. Be aware that some ferret foods contain high quantities of fish oil and by-products. These types of food are soft, causing plaque and tartar build-up on the teeth, and also give the animal an unpleasant smell.
Like all carnivores, ferrets enjoy fruit and sweet vegetables such as grapes, bananas, carrots, peanut butter, etc. as a dietary complement. Each ferret has his own preferences. Dog biscuits (for small dogs) also make a healthy snack. Avoid dairy products (most ferrets are lactose intolerant) and nuts or similar items which the animals would swallow whole as ferrets do not have grinding molars like us.
Vitamin supplements are not necessary if the ferrets are fed high quality food (and fruit snacks.) However, many ferrets love "Linatone" and it is an excellent reward for good behavior or a distraction when clipping nails and such. No more that 3-5 drops of Linatone should be given to your ferret per day as an excess of certain vitamins can cause medical problems including fur loss and blindness. Ferritone is a similar vitamin supplement designed specifically for ferrets. Once again no more than a few drops per day should be given to your ferret. Nutri-Cal is another acceptable supplement (and is especially recommended for ill or malnourished animals.)
You will need to take your ferret in to your veterinarian twice a year for a medical checkup and yearly vaccinations. Ferrets require yearly inoculations against canine distemper. They are highly susceptible to canine distemper and it is always fatal. Do not forget to inoculate against this every year!
If your ferret is outside for any length of time, a rabies vaccination is also suggested. In some jurisdictions this is mandatory. Be aware that proof of rabies inoculation is required when taking your pet across international borders.
Include a dental examination for your pet also. Though ferrets seldom develop cavities, check your ferret's teeth regularly as many ferrets break their fangs when playing. This can cause excruciating pain and make the animal cranky and bitey.
All ferrets should be fixed before they reach sexual maturity as this will drastically reduce their odor and it will extend their lives. Female ferrets go into heat in their first spring (generally in February) and they will remain in season until successfully mated. If mating does not occur, the females will succumb to aplastic anemia and die a most painful death. You will greatly increase your female ferret's life span if you have her fixed before this should happen.
As ferrets are a very difficult animal to breed successfully and the risk of loosing the jill, her kits or both is very high, breeding of ferrets should be left to experts with on-site veterinary support.
Ferrets attract mates through the use of pheromones which give the unneutered animals a very pungent aroma which most people find unpleasant. Unfixed males have a strong musky odor and mark their territory with urine.
When a ferret is fixed (spayed or neutered) it's odor will be eliminated almost entirely. Thereafter, bathing on a monthly basis should be all that is required. However, ferrets like all animals will retain a slight odor.
Be a responsible pet owner and have your pets neutered or spayed. This increases your pleasure in your pets and makes them more attractive to others.
One of the most common statements about ferrets is that they have a bad smell. Most of a ferret's odor results from the influence of sex hormones on normal skin secretions. These secretions are drastically reduced when the ferret is neutered or spayed (see above).
Being polecats and related to skunks, ferrets also have scent glands which they can release at will, though they rarely spray unless they are fighting, mating or very frightened. De-scenting involves the removal of these scent glands which are located at the base of the tail.
Ferrets do not need to be de-scented. However, if you wish to eliminate the possibility of an unpleasant experience should your pet be frightened in a public place, consider having him de-scented. This is a minor operation roughly equivalent to a human tonsillectomy in seriousness and discomfort. Your ferret will be back to his active self in two or three days and he will never miss this natural defense. This increases your pleasure in your pet and makes him more attractive to others.
Once your ferret has been fixed and de-scented, a monthly bath is all your ferret will require. Use a good quality ferret, cat, or "no-tears" human shampoo, preferably with a conditioner. Be sure to wash around your ferret's neck and face as there are additional scent glands located below the eyes.
The number one cause of premature death in ferrets is intestinal obstruction. Many ferrets will chew on soft rubber and other small objects. This is especially dangerous because these objects can become lodged in the ferret's intestine. This causes an agonizing and slow death unless surgery is performed to remove the obstruction. Many other items can be just as deadly: peanuts and other nuts, doll feet or hands, erasers, ear plugs, kitchen sponges, small rubber items such as bath or sink plugs, coffee beans, small buttons, fabric, Latex rubber toys for cats and dogs, household chemicals, shoe inserts and other foam rubber items, etc. Be careful and use your common sense as you would if you had a toddler at home. Fortunately, most ferrets outgrow this rubber attraction once they have left kithood, but it is best to take no chances.
Do not feed your ferret grain-based foods (breads, cakes, cookies, cereals, noodles, etc.), nuts, fibrous fruits and vegetables, or dairy products. These items are indigestible by ferrets and result in various digestive problems, including blockages.
Warning signs of a blockage are listlessness, vomiting, problems passing a stool, passing a thin and/or mucousy stool, refusal to eat or drink, vomiting after eating or drinking. If you suspect a blockage, take your pet to your veterinarian immediately!
Ferrets can catch the human influenza and cold viruses and they can pass them back. If you have a cold or the flu, be sure to wash your hands before touching your ferret. Keep the ferret away from your face and do your best not to give your cold to your ferret.
Ferrets are also susceptible to canine distemper and rabies (see above). Other common diseases are adrenal and pancreatic tumors, Aleutian disease, bronchial pneumonia and other viral infections. Most can be effectively treated given early diagnosis.
As ferrets tend to deteriorate quickly due to their high metabolic rate if they become ill, it is important to provide proper veterinary care immediately.
Ferrets are dry, temperate climate creatures who suffer from warm temperatures and damp. They should be kept indoors rather than outside, and when the temperature exceeds 20 C (72 F) they should be kept in a cool, shaded place with water. Ferrets do have sweat glands, but their thick fur prevents body cooling by evaporation, making them very susceptible to heatstroke and dehydration. Even if temperatures do not reach such an extreme, the ferrets are often left damp from the sweat and susceptible to chills from sudden cooling afterwards. Leave your pets at home with lots of water on hot days.
The red-eyed white breed of ferret, commonly called an "albino," was bred for the trait of eye color. Many of these animals suffer from hereditary vision problems due to this breeding and are basically blind, being able to distinguish only vague shapes and shadows. Expect an "albino" to require more care and attention than other ferrets.
The Family Ferret - Fast, Feisty, Furry, and Fun!
The third most common uncaged pet in North America today, after dogs and cats, is the ferret. Most people have heard tales of ferrets wherein they often are described either as a vicious weasel-like beast used for hunting rabbits and rats, or as some strange, smelly creature Englishmen tend to place down their trousers for wagers. Some people have seen ferrets in a pet store, were they are either sleeping angelically or rambunctiously rampaging about their cage with other ferret friends. But what are ferrets and what are they really like?
The origin of ferrets as a domestic animal is unclear. Ferrets belong to the weasel family (Mustelidae) and are related to mink, skunks, weasels, otters and badgers. Ferrets are the only domestic subspecies in this family and they should not be confused with the Black footed Ferret, an endangered species which is only distantly related. Ferrets are dry temperate climate creatures - they have a summer and winter coat, tolerate cold well but suffer when temperatures exceed 20C, and have a breeding cycle attuned to the length of day. Their closest wild relatives, those with which they can interbreed, are the European polecat and the Steppe polecat, found in Eastern European forests southwards into the Balkans and the Caucasus. The ferret's ancestors likely were encouraged as residents around granaries somewhere in the southern range of these animals 2500 or more years ago and gradually were tamed for vermin control and hunting. Thus ferrets have been associated with man not as long as dogs, but perhaps as long as cats.
The average life span of a ferret, barring accidents or serious illness, is 8-10 years. Full grown females weigh about two pounds while males are larger, generally about twice the weight of females. The most common color variations are shades of brown, gray and black, with the mask, feet and tails being the darkest in color. Some ferrets are white or pale yellow with black eyes, and "albino" ferrets are white with pink eyes.
It is especially important that ferrets should be spayed or neutered before they reach sexual maturity, and descenting is recommended. Females will succumb to aplastic anemia and die a most painful death if they are not spayed or if mating does not occur (Note: There is no money in breeding ferrets). Altering and descenting the ferret reduces the animal's odor, extends its life, and increases its suitability as a companion. Ferrets require semi-annual check-ups and yearly inoculations against canine distemper.
Ferrets must be fed a high quality, dry ferret or kitten food. They enjoy fruit or sweet vegetables as treats. Dairy products, grains and breads, nuts, or similar items must be avoided.
Ferrets as pets, as with any small animal, are not recommended for homes with very young children due to the excessive exuberance on both sides of the equation.
Ferrets have distinctive, engaging personalities and a playful, fastidious nature. They are active animals and should not be caged unless required, though a cage used as a "safe haven" is highly recommended. They are very gregarious and are usually happiest in groups of two or more. Ferrets are extremely curious creatures and will investigate anything and everything. Unfortunately, this curiosity is the leading cause of premature death amongst ferrets. Ferrets sleep eighteen to twenty hours of the day, waking up several times to eat, check their domain, and tend to other needs. Greatest activity occurs during two periods of about two hours beginning just before sunrise and sunset, when they play virtually tirelessly.
Once settled in, ferrets quickly establish their territory and set the house rules: What's theirs is theirs, what's yours is up for grabs. They explore; find and make nests; select and hide treasures. Life's simple pleasures, like bags and boxes, socks (with or without feet), or any rubbery item, appeal to ferrets most. Anything that can be turned over, inside-out, or dragged off, no matter the size, is fair game. In pairs, they prance, dance, wrestle, and hunt down each other, dogs, cats, and people with gleeful chittering. They are there to inspect every activity and supervise every undertaking. A ferret's greatest delight is to outwit a human. When these tiny whirling dervishes tire, they enjoy a warm place to rest, a human lap will do, piling up in groups if possible, with angelic little smiles on their faces which belie the previous hours of mad mayhem. In nature, a ferret acts and reacts like a child of two to four years of age.
Is a ferret the right for pet for you? Before getting a ferret, research the animal: Talk to people who own them and read a variety of books about them. Ferrets are not "just like cats" and have many special needs which are not obvious to a first-time owner. For example, a ferret's high metabolism and frenetic energy makes him prone to sudden illnesses and accidents. You must have a knowledgeable vet and a reserve for emergency veterinary fees of at least $500 for such possibilities as, when seriously sick or injured, the ferret doesn't have the luxury of waiting a day for a vet's office to open. Ferrets also often suffer from broken fangs as a result of their intensive play and these need to be fixed or the animal will be in pain.
Consider your lifestyle - if you aren't home much, have children under the age of ten, don't enjoy chaos, or have a busy lifestyle which would prevent a ferret from roaming freely, then these little beasts are not for you.
However, if you like young children but have none, have little household in-and-out traffic, don't mind occasional accidents, and thrive on turmoil, then you will probably get along well with a ferret. Ferrets do not chew or claw furniture, mark territory, or make loud noises. Being indoor pets which use a litter box, they do not require daily walks in the park. They are ideal pets for apartment dwellers and most allergy sufferers.
Should you decide to parent a ferret, be a responsible owner - protect your pet and yourself by getting a ferret, or any other pet, only from a rescue organization or pet store that provides animals which are fixed and vaccinated, and provide him with proper home and veterinary care. Beware of "cheap" ferrets (less than $100 each) offered by "breeders" and pet stores: Altering and descenting costs range from $250 upwards and the ferrets from these sources, either breeding stock or offspring, only rarely have had proper handling or any medical care, making them untrusting of humans, and likely carriers of parasites and genetic defects.
If you can provide for a ferret's needs, you will have a wonderful, loving, furry, little companion who lives his life to its fullest and will help you enjoy your own even more.
Ferrets have been used primarily for vermin control or hunting small game animals since they first were domesticated.
The earliest reference to an animal that was clearly a ferret is in the writings of Plinius, which he calls "Viverra." During the reign of Caesar Augustus, the Balearic Islands, off the Mediterranean coast of Spain, had become infested with rabbits released by colonists as game animals and posed a serious threat to the crops. Help was requested from Rome and the Emperor sent several shiploads of "Viverrae." These were released in the rabbits' warrens and drove the rabbits into the hunters' nets, making quick work of the infestation.
With the Moslem conquest of Spain in the 8th century, ferrets became known to the Arabs and spread through the more temperate parts of the Moslem world under the name "Furo." These little beasts were prized by the elite for their exceptional hunting ability, as were hawks. It was relatively common for ferrets to be released into the underbrush to flush out game birds which the falcons would bring down.
The return of the Crusaders through Italy and Byzantium, brought a new hunting associate to Western and Central Europe. Having found ferrets living in palaces and granaries to control the ubiquitous mice and rats in southern Europe and the Near and Middle East, the knights brought along and introduced ferrets to their manor houses for much the same purposes: Live-in rat-catchers and rabbit-hunting companions. They were so accepted as residents of great homes that DaVinci painted one as the companion to a noble woman in "Lady with Ermine" (now in the Czartoryski Museum, Krakow), though the ferret has been named an "ermine" as would better befit a noble Lady. Gradually ferrets spread throughout Europe and became common farm animals, used mainly as vermin control in barns and granaries. Ferrets would remain the primary rodent catcher in Europe until the late eighteenth century, when cats, no longer be considered to be the consort of the devil, would usurp this role.
Ferrets were replaced mostly by cats because whole ferrets stink to high heaven and cats don't (spay and neuter is a 20th century device), whole ferrets are not as friendly as cats, and it was much easier to control the activities of cats due to their larger size. So, with the passing of superstition, the cat became the more acceptable rat slayer / companion animal.
However, ferrets maintained their place in the rural areas where a more reliable hunting companion than a cat was needed. Even today working ferrets are kept on European farms. Ferrets have become one of the primary tools associated with poachers. The archtype of the poacher wears a baggy trench coat to hide his brace of birds or rabbits, carrying one or two ferrets in bag or inside pocket, a net and snare in the pockets, a short-barreled shotgun strapped in, and he is accompanied by a Jack Russell terrier.
In this century, ferrets have been put to other uses. In the forties and fifties in the USA and Canada, they were bred and raised for their fur which was used in making fake mink coats, a business now happily ended. The fluffier ferrets found in your household today are likely descendents of these animals.
Other industrial applications of ferret skills have been the stringing of electrical and telephone cables. As recently as the late 1960's, Boeing Aircraft Corporation in Seattle and British Columbia Telephones used ferrets to lay the guide wires for pulling the heavier cables through conduits. (Just think, that jet plane you flew in may have been ferret strung.) This practice ended because ferrets, being the contrary little critters they are, would often just stop in the middle of a conduit and take a nap.
