Basic Ferret Care and Facts

Fun Facts About Ferrets

To start, let’s look at some fun, general facts about ferrets!

1. The word “ferret” is Latin for “little thief” (and that’s totally accurate!).
2. Thousands of years ago, ferrets were domesticated and domesticated so that they could be used to chase rabbits into their burrows for hunting.
3. Ferrets are part of Mustelidae family These include weasels, minks and otters.
4. A group of ferrets is called a “business.”
5. Ferrets are the third most popular companion animal in North America (behind only dogs and cats).

Ferrets are very interesting creatures! They had a bad reputation, and many people thought they were smelly and aggressive. While it is true that ferrets have a scent, most people have their ferrets de-scented. It keeps that smell at bay, and a healthy ferret doesn’t smell much.

A Safe and Orderly Home

Keeping a ferret as a pet requires them to have a cage that they can spend time in for sleep and safety. They require a lot of free time. This can be done with supervised free-roaming at home or by giving them their own room.

How their time is spent depends on a person’s home and what they are doing. You should plan to give them at least 4 hours of out-of-cage playtime a day.

1. Ferrets tend to sleep 15 to 20 hours a day in 4 hour intervals.
2. Some ferrets practice “dead sleep.” It is when they are in such a deep sleep, they appear dead even when picked up and moved around.
3. A good quality cage can range from 60 to 600 USD.
4. Getting the largest cage you can afford will give your ferret a happier life when they are in their cage.
5. Cages should have plenty of cribs and bedding, litter boxes, food, water, and toys.

A popular cage brand is Ferret Nation, which comes in a variety of sizes and is one of the easiest to clean. Don’t be fooled by these little escape artists! They can move their ribs in a way that allows them to escape certain areas with ease, so a proper cage made for ferrets is a good investment.

What Should I Feed My Pet Ferret?

As with any pet, it is important to feed your ferret a good quality food. While doing some research, you’ll find a long-standing debate about kibble versus a raw diet. Remember, this is a preference. Not everyone can afford or feel comfortable feeding a raw diet, and there is no concrete proof that it is better. Whatever you choose, just make sure you’re getting the best quality for your little fuzz butts.

It is best to avoid sugar, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.

1. Ferrets stamp their food by the time they are 6 months old. This means that they prefer and always like this food. Although not impossible, it can be very difficult to feed them new food after this age.
2. A ferret needs to have access to food at all times. Their digestive system is short, and they need to eat every 4 hours.
3. Ferrets should also have access to water at all times. However, you may see a lot of spilled water because they like to play in it too!
4. A good quality kibble should have at least 36% protein, 20% fat, and as few carbohydrates as possible.
5. In the wild, ferrets eat small mammals, eggs, fish, and reptiles.

Treats can be given to your little furry friends and can also be used to train them. Always check the ingredients of treats sold at the pet store, as they are not always the best quality and are full of filler ingredients. Cat treats are great little treats. Many will take a little raw meat or a little oil. All ferrets are different, and you can see what they like best.

Reproduction and Life Expectancy

Domesticated ferrets are bred in many colors, with the most popular being sable. Other colors include dark-eyed white, albino, black sable, silver, chocolate, and cinnamon.

1. Female ferrets that have not been spayed are called a jill and a fairy tale when they are spayed. Boys are called a entertainment and then gib when he is neutered.
2. Baby ferrets are called kits.
3. The gestation period is 35 to 45 days, and the female will have between 1 and 6 kits.
4. The average lifespan of a ferret is 6 to 10 years, but some can live up to 15 years.
5. Baby ferrets are born deaf, blind, and white. They see and hear around 34 days of age and start to get their color at 3 months.
6. Unspayed females can die if they come into heat and do not mate.

Many pet stores (particularly here in Canada) sell their ferrets neutered and deodorized. This helps to keep inexperienced breeders from having piglets. The risk of keeping an unaltered ferret is high, especially for females. When the unmodified female comes into heat, she must reproduce. Otherwise, he is in danger of dying.

Common Health Issues

These tiny creatures can cause many health problems. Most of the time, these are minor, but there are some complications that require several visits to the vet.

1. Ferrets can catch human colds and flu.
2. They are vulnerable to the same diseases as cats and dogs, such as distemper.
3. Some ferrets develop adrenal disease, which may require a surgical implant.
4. Intestinal blockage is very common, because they easily chew and swallow things they shouldn’t.
5. Ferrets can also develop Waardenburg syndrome, which leaves them deaf and socially awkward.

The best way to help your ferret is preventative medicine. Get them vaccinated, check and treat their ears for ear mites and keep their nails trimmed. If you have a cold, avoid hugging and limit touching. Make sure you visit the vet if you notice anything unusual or troubling.

Attractive Ferret Behavior

Although ferrets can be difficult to have as pets, it’s worth all the work when you see some of their behaviors!

1. Ferrets do the ‘weasel war dance’ (see video below). This is where they bounce and make a dooking sound when they are excited and want to play.
2. They will find and hide all kinds of things, no matter how big or small.
3. When happy, many ferrets wag their tails like dogs (which is cute!)
4. Many like to snorkel. This includes sticking their head in their water dish and playing.
5. Two is better than one. Not only does this keep them busy and give them something to play and sleep in, it can provide hours of entertainment for their owners.

Ferrets are happy, bouncy pets. They are curious, mischievous, and love to play. You will find that they will come in and explore anything they can fit. Keeping ferrets out of your home before they can roam free is important. Otherwise, you’ll find them in places you might not want. They bond well with their owners and enjoy being around people. Some love to cuddle, but others are too busy for that!

Sources

• PetMD: Ferrets 101
• VetWest Animal Hospital: Ferret Care
• American Ferret Association

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not intended to replace diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals showing signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

© 2018 Ask Huffman

Comments

Ellison Hartley from Maryland, USA on September 25, 2018:

They sure are cute! One of the few pets I’ve never had! Very interesting!

Source link