What Is a Ferret?
Ferrets, or mustela putorious furo, are domestic animals, and are in the same family as weasels, otters, and mink. They are NOT rodents in any way, shape or form. Personality wise, ferrets are actually kind of in between cats and dogs, a little closer to dogs. They are very friendly, and make excellent pets. Some are cuddly, others more independent. Just like other pets, each ferret has its own distinct personality.
Where do they come from?
Ferrets are believed to have descended from the European polecat and have been domesticated for around 2,500 years. An article by Dr. Freddie Hoffman, from the FDA Veterinarian May/June 1991 Vol VI, No. III, states that "Domestication of the European ferret predates that of the cat by more than 500 years," and that "Man's use of the ferret as a hunter of rodents and rabbits can be traced back as far as the 4th century B.C." Ferrets were mentioned in 450-425 BC in plays by Aristophanes, by Aristotle around 350 BC, and by Pliny in AD 79
Okay, so they are fun, friendly and old,
But what do they eat?
Ferrets are true carnivores. They must have a diet that is high in meat proteins. The should have primarily dry foods to help in keeping their teeth clean and the occasional treats. You can get either a VERY high quality KITTEN food or one of the many specialized ferret foods on the market.
They are free feeders and should have food and water available at all times.
They also need a supplement of vitamins and fatty acids that they will get if you use a product like FerretTone. Ferrets love this and it is really good for there skin and coat.
So where will they live.
Ferrets do live in cages most time, with most people, but they do require time to play. Some do get free run of the whole house or just a room of their own. But ferret proofing is a must and you must be very careful.
The should be allowed out to play for at least two hours a day and it best if they have someone to play with. They love and depend on people for more then just food and water. They really like to play with us.
We recommend a large cage with more then one level and a solid bottom. Wire is not really good for their feet. It should contain a little box, a sleeping area with something to cover up with and some toys.
It is important that you ferret proof your home. They will find a way to get under and behind anything they can. They are very curious. Be extra careful with recliners and sofa beds, these are the leading cause of accidental death.
Other danger areas are the refrigerator, dishwasher, cloths washer and dryer. All of these have moving parts that can kill.
Do the bite?
Does a dog bite, a cat, your little sister when you pulled her pigtails?
Sure they bite, all animals do. But it is how they bite that is a problem.
Most of the time when a ferret bites it is either because they are playing too rough, hurt or scared. People are a lot bigger then ferrets and can easily scare or hurt them. Ferrets have thick skin and when they are playing they don't realize how hard they are biting. The trick is the teach them that we are tender and they can't play with us the same way they play with other ferrets.
Most ferrets with proper care and handling are very friendly and rarely bite.
As with any animal care , training and supervision is the key.
Uww, Uww, that smell!
Ferrets do a smell like any other animal. They have a musty odor that can be offensive to some people. Ferrets are born with scent glands a lot like a skunk which is removed early in life. Bathing is one way to help cut down on the odor, but too many baths will make the smell stronger! This is due to the natural oils they produce. Bathing them washes the oils away and nature takes over and just produces more and more. Once a month is usually more than enough. Use unscented baby shampoo or ferret shampoo. The best thing you can do to keep the smell down is to change the bedding often and keep the little box clean.
Questions and comments:
Ferret Friends
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