Ferrets: Jesters Of The Animal World

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Ferrets are, without question, the undisputed entertainers of the animal kingdom. Silly, mischievous, fun-loving and highly intelligent, ferrets not only seem to truly love people, they also appear to actually enjoy making them laugh.

A few years ago, my mother surprised everyone and rescued a handsome sable ferret who needed a home. Marcel was sweet and affectionate, with bright eyes and an incredibly expressive face, and he immediately won over everyone who met him, including me. I remember laughing out loud as I watched Marcel dance endlessly around the family room, pausing only briefly to hide behind the couch so he could jump out and startle the family cat. We watched him play for what seemed like hours, waiting to see what he would do next, until finally, worn out, he would curl up on the couch next to my mother and fall asleep. Everyone in my family adored him.

Unfortunately, after a few months my mother discovered she was allergic to ferrets. Because she had allergic asthma, she had no choice but to find another good home for Marcel. All of us, especially my mother, were devastated at having to part with him. Marcel went on to live out his years with another family, but he had already kindled a great love for ferrets in all of us – one that I still feel to this day.

So what exactly is it that makes these sweet, fascinating little creatures so special?

Fun Facts About Ferrets

Ferrets were domesticated by humans over 2,000 years ago. Contrary to popular belief, ferrets are not rodents – they’re meat-eating members of the mustelid family, which also includes otters, weasels, badgers, minks, and skunks.

The relationship between ferrets and humans has been well-documented throughout history. Some historians believe that ferrets were kept as pets by the ancient Egyptians before cats became popular. The Greek playwright Aristophanes also mentioned ferrets in his writings as early as 450 BC, calling out the Greeks as being similar to ferrets in their abilities as thieves. In fact, the Latin term for ferret, Mustela putorius furo, literally means “smelly little thief”!

By 600 AD, ferrets had made their way to Spain and were being trained to hunt rabbits. They were also used throughout Europe in the 13th century to help control rat and mouse populations, and made their way to North America on the ships of explorers and colonists, who used them to control rodents.

Due to their ability to fit into very small spaces, ferrets have also been used by several different institutions to help them run wire and cabling. In the 1960’s, aircraft manufacturer Boeing used them to string wire through planes, and in the 1980’s, it’s reported that ferrets helped run video cable through Buckingham Palace for the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, it’s estimated that approximately 334,000 households in the United States include ferrets. Healthy ferrets can live between 6 and 10 years, and the average adult ferret is about 20 inches long and weighs between 1 and 5 pounds. Male ferrets are referred to as “hobs”, females are “jills”, baby ferrets are “kits”, and a group of ferrets is called a “business”.

Ferrets come in a variety of colors, including sable (deep brown), albino (white with pink eyes), champagne (cream-colored), black, chocolate, and cinnamon. Sable and albino are the most common colors. Hunters favored albino ferrets, since they were easier to spot in the fields.

What Makes Ferrets So Much Fun?

There are many reasons why ferrets make such fun additions to the family:

• Ferrets are small and clean like cats, but also affectionate and playful like dogs. They are energetic, curious, mischievous, and love human interaction, even well into old age.
• Ferrets can be trained to walk on a leash, and love being outside and exploring new places. Many will ride quietly and comfortably on your shoulder or in a carrying bag.
• Although some ferrets are more shy than others, most seem to have no inherent fear of humans, so meeting new people doesn’t stress them out.
• Ferrets are highly intelligent. They can be taught tricks, recognize their name (many come when called), and can be trained to use a litter box.
• Like dogs, ferrets wag their tails when they’re happy.
• When ferrets get excited and want to express enjoyment, they’ll often arch their backs, puff up their tails, and bounce around in a display known as the “weasel war dance”. While dancing, they also make a chortling, clucking sound known as “dooking”, which sounds a lot like human laughter. Sometimes ferrets get so excited during their play dance that they lose their balance and run into things! You can see what a war-dancing ferret looks like in the video below:

• Unlike many other small pets, ferrets are not nocturnal, so they won’t keep you awake at night. Although they sleep an average of 18 hours per day, ferrets will adjust their schedule to yours and are always eager to play whenever you are.
• Ferrets are known to be little kleptomaniacs, running off with keys, pens, cell phones, silverware, jewelry, and other small objects that they stash in secret hiding places.
• One of ferrets’ favorite things is a box filled with stuff they can dig in: dirt, kidney beans, regular rice (not instant, since instant rice expands if swallowed), or biodegradable starch packing peanuts.
• Ferrets are loving and enjoy cuddle time. They also have a lower bite rate than other family pets (statistically, you’re less likely to be bitten by a ferret than by the family dog.)
• Like cats, ferrets are naturally clean and groom themselves often.
• Ferrets love games that involve chasing! Often they will try to initiate play by doing a soft nibble on your toe, then running away, wanting you to chase after them.

Caring For Ferrets

Although ferrets are small, they have unique requirements. They need more maintenance and veterinary care than other small pets like hamsters, rabbits, rats, or birds.

Food

Ferrets are strict carnivores, so they require a highly-digestible diet that contains at least 36% protein, with little to no carbohydrates. Dry ferret food can be found through your veterinarian or at local pet and feed supply stores. Ferrets can also be fed a raw diet consisting of meats, bones, and organ meats in balanced proportions. Many commercial brands now make raw ferret diets. If you opt to feed your ferret a raw diet, talk with your veterinarian first to make sure the diet is nutritionally balanced.

Ferrets also need access to food at all times. Since they have short digestive tracts and metabolize their food quickly, they need to eat multiple times during the day. The good thing is, ferrets generally will not overeat if food is available, since they consume only the calories they need at that time. Ferrets should never be given any foods containing sugar (such as grains, corn, rice, cereal, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, or sweets). These complex carbohydrates are difficult for them to digest, and can lead to intestinal and other health problems.

Housing

To keep them safe, ferrets should be housed in a large, well-ventilated cage that gives them plenty of room to climb and move around. Ideal ferret cages are multilevel, and include soft bedding, ferret-safe toys, and a litter box filled with paper-based or wood-based pellet litter. The living space for the cage should be temperature-controlled, with temps kept between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit – ferrets cannot tolerate high temperatures above 85 degrees F.

Because ferrets need lots of exercise, attention, and human companionship to remain healthy, they need a minimum of 4 hours per day out of their cage, at least 2 hours of which should include human interaction.

Coat Care

Ferrets naturally have a slightly musky odor (which can be greatly minimized by having the ferret spayed or neutered). Although many people’s first instinct is to try to bathe the ferret to reduce the scent, this dries out the ferret’s coat and causes an over-production of oil, which actually makes the odor worse. Ferret baths should only be given about once every 2 to 3 months with a very mild shampoo, preferably one made specifically for ferrets or recommended by your veterinarian.

Similar to their skunk cousins, ferrets also have scent glands that can release an odiferous substance when they feel threatened or afraid. These glands can be surgically removed, but it’s not usually recommended unless medically necessary, as it won’t reduce the ferret’s overall natural scent. Cleaning a ferret’s ears regularly, keeping his bedding clean, and making sure his diet is healthy may help with reducing the musky odor.

Veterinary Care

Ferrets need regular annual examinations with a veterinarian who is experienced in treating them. You can search for a ferret-knowledgeable veterinarian in your area on the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians website. Ferrets need to be vaccinated for rabies and canine distemper using vaccines specifically approved for use in ferrets. They also need periodic teeth cleaning.

It’s strongly recommended that female ferrets be spayed by 7 to 9 months of age, and male ferrets be neutered by 6 to 8 months of age. Ferrets are also susceptible to Aleutian Disease, a highly contagious and potentially fatal parvovirus. Your veterinarian can test for this virus.

Precautions To Take With Ferrets

Caring for a ferret is not like caring for a dog, cat, or other small pet – there are special considerations that need to be taken to ensure that ferrets remain healthy and happy.

• Ferrets must remain indoors, unless they are supervised outside with their guardians. Domesticated ferrets who escape into the outdoors rarely survive for more than a few days on their own. A small ferret can get through a hole that’s just over an inch in diameter, so it’s important to ensure that a ferret’s home and surroundings are escape-proof.

• Ferrets are highly sensitive to pesticides. Therefore, an experienced veterinarian should be consulted prior to using any flea products on a ferret. Ferrets are also at risk for heartworm, so the veterinarian can also recommend a ferret-safe heartworm preventive if needed.

• Just like cats, ferrets can get hairballs. They also have a knack for ingesting inedible items, so they should always be supervised while outside their cage so they don’t chew or swallow hair ties, rubber bands, erasers, or pieces of clothing or plastic items.

• Ferrets can be klutzy. Since they’re extremely nearsighted and have very poor depth perception, it’s not uncommon to see ferrets running into walls or furniture, or taking an unexpected tumble down stairs.

• Ferrets can catch human colds. Ferrets are susceptible to many of the same respiratory viruses that infect humans. A sick human should not handle a ferret, and vice versa – if a ferret is sick, a person may be able to catch a cold from him as well.

• Some household pets are not a good fit for ferrets. Ferrets are naturally curious and do very well with other dogs and cats in the household. However, dogs with a strong prey drive should not be introduced to ferrets. Also, due to the fact that ferrets are carnivores,  it’s not recommended that they be introduced to birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, gerbils, or reptiles.

It’s also important to keep in mind that although domestic ferrets have become more popular in recent years, in some states (such as California) and local municipalities (like New York City), it is illegal to keep ferrets as pets. Therefore, check your state and local laws for any restrictions against adopting a ferret before you bring one home.

Once You’ve Met A Ferret, You’ll Never Forget Them

Ferrets are the jesters of the animal world: playful, rowdy balls of energy who are able to entertain their humans for hours on end with their antics. Their incredibly expressive faces seem to change constantly as they slink behind the couch waiting to pounce, or fling themselves into the air in expressions of pure joy.

Ferrets are happiest when they’re spending time and having fun experiences with the humans they love. If you’re interested in adopting a ferret, you can contact your local ferret rescue organization, or ask a veterinarian experienced in treating ferrets to recommend a caring and responsible breeder.

Then prepare to be endlessly entertained!

Have you ever shared your life with a ferret? Please tell us about it in the comments below!