The domestic ferret, with scientific name mustela putorius furo, is an interesting small animal to keep as a pet. By nature, ferrets tend to be very curious, energetic, friendly, funny and lovable. Ferrets have actually been domesticated for two to three thousand years. However, for the last couple of centuries, ferrets were often used in Europe and the Americas in a hunting sport called ferreting where they would search for, drive out, and hunt for small animals such as rabbits. Today the practice is illegal in the U.S. and many ferrets are becoming lovable household pets again. However, currently ferrets have still not been legalized as pets in two states, California and Hawaii.
Ferrets are not rodents, but are cousins of weasels, skunks and otters. As pets, their behavior and personality make them more like cats and dogs, though ferrets are smaller. Ferrets can see only reasonably well, but they have excellent senses of hearing and smell. Some are cuddly, others more independent. Like other pets, their personalities vary widely. However, most ferrets are a lot of fun and are very entertaining companions.
As you can imagine, ferrets also love companions of their own kind. Two ferrets are more fun than one for both you and the ferrets. They are very playful with each other and with you, and they do not lose much of that playfulness as they get older. A single ferret will not be terribly lonely, although the fun of watching two or three playing together is easily worth the small extra trouble. Many ferret owners also think their ferrets are smarter than cats and dogs. Most ferrets also love to go places with you, riding on a shoulder or in a bag. Ferrets can be also be trained to do tricks and play games much like cats and dogs.
Ferrets are lovely creatures that come in an astoundingly wide variety of rich colors and styles. The albino ferret is white or cream colored with red eyes and a pink nose. A dark-eyed white ferret has eyes darker than the albino if you do not like red eyes. The sable has a rich dark brown coat with golden highlights, with a white to golden undercoat. A black sable has blue-black guard hairs with no golden or brownish cast, with a white to cream undercoat. There are also chocolate, cinnamon, champagne, tan and silver ferrets.
There is yet more variety! Some ferrets come with white patches on the throat called throat stars, throat stripes, or bibs. You can also find ferrets with white toes, mitts or stockings as the patterning go progressively further up the legs. Blaze or badger ferrets have a white stripe on the top of their heads, a panda has a fully white head, while some other ferrets have masks. A siamese ferret is colored like a siamese cat, and it has a tan body and darker color on the legs and tail with a V-shaped dark mask. Ferrets also often change colors with the seasons, lighter in the winter than in the summer. Many of them may lighten as they age.
For housing and care, your ferret will need a cage. Ferrets sleep a lot, and they do not particularly mind staying in small places like a cage for a number of hours at a time. However they need to run around and play outside of the cage for at least one hour a day. Ferrets can also be easily trained to use a litter box like cats or rabbits.
Ferrets are carnivorous and require a diet high in meat-based protein and fat. You should feed your ferret a good food that is made for ferrets. Marshall and Kay-tee are two good brands for ferret food. As for going to the bathroom, you will be glad to know that ferrets are usually litter trained when you get them, and if not they can still be easily litter trained. You will need to get a high-back litter pan or corner pan made for ferrets, and then add a good dust-free cat litter or a good recycled-paper litter into the pan. You can train them to use a litter box usually in a similar fashion as rabbits and cats.
Because ferrets are such inquisitive and determined creatures – which is part of their charm but can also be a bit of a bother sometimes, you may need to do a little ferret-proofing with your home. You will need to make sure your ferret cannot hurt itself or your possessions. When a ferret can get its head through an opening, it can usually get its whole body through it. Look for loose air ducts and openings under appliances, etc. and either put a screen patch on them or use some duct tape.
Make sure dryer and dishwasher doors, as well as cupboards and drawers, are closed. Also try to keep accessible boxes, bags, and trash cans closed or covered. Try to keep strings, tacks, and other potentially hazardous small objects out of reach or in closed containers to prevent ferrets from finding them and possibly ingesting them.
Adult female ferrets weigh an average of 1 to 3 pounds, and males weigh 3 to 5 pounds. Baby ferrets are called kits, adult females are called jills, and males are called hobs. Spayed females are called sprites and neutered males are called gibs. Neutering helps avoid serious health complications that may occur as ferrets mature. Ferrets have an odor all their own, just like any pet. Some people like the musky scent, a few do not like it at all, and most are in between. A process called descenting can be done which will greatly reduce that odor traditionally associated with ferrets. For your convenience, most ferrets sold at your local pet shop have already been neutered and descented.
All ferrets need a series of distemper vaccinations when they are very young. If you purchase a ferret from a pet shop, it will already have received a temporary distemper vaccination. The ferret will require additional vaccinations at 9, 12, and 16 weeks of age, and then annually. It should also receive a rabies vaccination after 13 weeks of age. For your and your ferret’s sake, make sure your ferret is properly vaccinated every year. With good care, ferrets typically live 6 to 10 years.
If you have any questions regarding ferrets and their care, just ask us and we will help you any way we can.
You wear clothes and shoes for function and form – the same thing goes for your dog. Dog clothes and shoes serve several very important practical functions in addition to being attention-getting, fashionable, and fun for both owner and dog.
Dog clothing can serve yet another important function by keeping your dog safe. Bright, visible, or even reflective clothing should be worn by both dog and owner when walking after dark or even during the day near roadways. Finally, dog shoes or boots complete the picture. Think how messed up your feet would be if you went out barefoot or just wearing socks with no shoes on to cold, wet ground with snow, ice, or rain. Dog shoes and boots will protect the feet of dogs who have to go out in snowy and icy conditions or even when on hot pavement during the searing summer months.
You can bring a lot of what nature has to offer right to your own backyard. Backyard fish ponds, bird feeders and squirrel feeders are great methods for enjoying the numerous types of birds and other wildlife around your home. Millions of Americans, from the very young to senior citizens, are already enjoying pond keeping, bird feeding and squirrel feeding as relaxing and fun hobbies.