Ferrets belong to the Mustelidae and are the only domestic subspecies of the family. In ancient times these animals were used to hunt rabbits. In some countries, such as Spain, pet ferrets have become the third favorite pet. Only below cats and dogs. Every day more, people choose the ferret as a pet, before cats or even dogs. Despite that, there are many things you did not know about ferrets, and then we will tell you.
According to the Analysis of the pet sector carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment. In 2015 they had officially registered almost 20,000 pet ferrets, being more present in Andalusia (10,720), Castilla y León (1,042), and in Madrid (6,466).
These figures do not provide an exact figure for the domestic pet ferrets that live in the country, since there are still autonomous communities without official registration and control of animals.
Things you didn’t know about ferrets
- The name ferret comes from the Latin furonem, which means thief. It is not surprising since any ferret owner can assure that it is a well-deserved name since they love to steal. Pet ferrets hide anything they find within their reach. It is their way of playing other than exploring the house.
- They sleep for much of the day, about 18 hours. Their busiest hours are at dawn and dusk. Although they tend to adapt their schedules to those of the people they live with.
- They do not calculate distances well (it is dangerous to have them in high places since for them a 4thfloor is a perfect jumping distance). But they make up for it with their highly developed sense of smell and good hearing.
- They have been domesticated for nearly 2,000 years, but are not yet recognized as pets or companion animals in many countries.
- Pet ferrets have a clear body odor, which is why many owners try to suppress it with baths. This is a mistake. Because if you wash them too much, their skin dries out and forms more sebum (the main source of the odor) to lubricate it. They should bathe at most once a month. In many countries, it is very common to remove the scent glands to reduce their aroma, but this procedure is under discussion as it is harmful to the animal.
Facts about ferrets
- The condition of keeping a ferret still is to offer it a good meal to distract it, although, like cats, you can grab them by the hide by the neck and they enter a state of rest.
- The digestion of pet ferrets is very fast because they have a very short intestine. They are carnivores and do not tolerate vegetables well, although they may enjoy a raisin or fruit from time to time.
- A ferret’s hair color can change dramatically during its life, possibly due to environmental factors, castration, age, etc.
- To feed them, there are already several brands of special feed for ferrets. Although they can also be fed with some cat feed. Their natural diet is carnivorous, so the ideal thing is that they have access to meat (chicken, rabbit) in addition to feed.
- Ferrets, like other pets, are being used in therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders, as they are restless, fun, and sociable. The most docile specimens and those that enjoy contact with people are selected.
These previous points for sure are things that you did not know about ferrets, or it may be that you already knew some things, but it is worth reminding you of the previous points because they are very important for physical and mental health. To keep the pet ferret happy.
Pet Ferrets physical characteristics
Physically, pet ferrets have elongated bodies, short legs, and a short tail, and have rounded ears. They have 34 sharp teeth once they reach adulthood.
Its coat is soft and the colors vary in shades of brown, gray, and black, with the face, feet, and tail a little darker. Some are white or light yellow with black eyes, while others are albinos with pink eyes (the latter are prone to associated health problems such as blindness or deafness).
They usually measure around 1.5 feet and their weight ranges between 3.3-5.5 pounds. Females are usually smaller, not reaching 1.3 feet.