Ferret

Ferret(Mustela putorius furo)

Phylum —chordata
Class — mammalia
Order — carnivora
Family — mustelidae

Genus – mustela

Appearance

Ferrets have a typical mustelid body-shape, being long and slender. Their average length is about 50 cm (20 in) including a 13 cm (5.1 in) tail. Their pelage has various colorations including brown, black, white or mixed. They weigh between 0.7 and 2.0 kg (1.5 and 4.4 lb) and are sexually dimorphic as the males are substantially larger than females.

Habitat

Ferrets are found around the world in homes as pets.

Behavior

Ferrets spend 14-18 hours a day asleep and are most active around the hours of dawn and dusk, meaning they are crepuscular. They are social and live happily in groups. These are territorial animals, which like to burrow, and prefer to sleep in an enclosed area.

Like many other mustelids, ferrets have scent glands, the secretions from which are used in scent marking. Ferrets can recognize individuals from these anal gland secretions, as well as the gender of unfamiliar individuals. Ferrets may also use urine marking for gender and individual recognition. They can also release their anal gland secretions when startled or scared.

If excited, they may perform a behavior called the "weasel war dance", characterized by frenzied sideways hops, leaps and bumping into nearby objects. Despite their common name, ferrets are not aggressive; they are joyful and playful. The playing is often accompanied by a unique soft clucking noise, commonly referred to as "dooking". When scared, ferrets will hiss; when upset, they squeak softly.

Diet

Ferrets are carnivores. They eat prepared dry foods consisting almost entirely of meat, but some owners feed pre-killed or live prey (such as mice or rabbits) to stay closer to their natural diet.

Reproduction

Ferrets are polygynous and males mate with many females. They usually breed from March and until August. The average gestation period is 42 days and females may have 2 or 3 litters each year. The litter size is usually between 3 and 7 kits. They are born deaf, blind and weigh about 6 to 12 grams. Baby incisors appear about 10 days after birth. The eyes and ears open when kits are 5 weeks old. They are weaned after 3 to 6 weeks and become independent at 3 months. Ferrets become reproductively mature at approximately 6 months of age.

In captivity

A healthy domestic ferret can live between six to 10 years.

Ferrets as pets have unique needs and the key to keeping them healthy and happy is to accommodate these needs.

Ferrets are considered ‘obligate carnivores’ which means they should only eat a meat-based diet. A good option for pet ferrets is to provide a constant supply of high-quality commercial kitten food, as they have high metabolisms and require access to food at all times. You can also treat your ferret with small pieces of human grade meat. Remember that clean, fresh water should always be provided to your ferret, ideally in heavy bowls to avoid spills. Be careful of leaving objects around the home that might inadvertently be chewed by your pet ferret.

As a social animal, it’s better to house pet ferrets in pairs rather than alone. Make sure that both ferrets are desexed before housing them together, as desexing has important health benefits and will help social cohesion. Keep ferrets away from small animals in the same household, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and kittens, as they have been known to prey on smaller pets. 

To keep them safe, ferrets should be confined to a secure area like a cage except when under supervision. An active and inquisitive species, ferrets left alone in the house will explore and chew random objects which could quickly put them in a dangerous situation which is why ferret cages are a good idea. The cage where your ferret sleeps should be as large as possible, allowing them at a minimum to stretch fully, walk around and easily turn around in the cage. Ensure the cage is well-ventilated and contains different furnishings such as boxes, tunnels, and hammocks to keep things interesting for your ferret.

Did you know that ferrets can be trained to use a litter tray like a cat? Provide a litter box in the corner of their cage and change it daily.

Don’t let their small size fool you, pet ferrets require health checks and preventative health care as much as any other pet. Ferrets require vaccines as they can get many of the same diseases as dogs, as well as flea and worming preventatives. Considered geriatric by 4 years of age, the short lifespan of ferrets means they need regular check-ups with their veterinarian to monitor for signs of dental disease and other chronic diseases.