All About Ferrets!
Hide your keys it's time to learn all about ferrets! The ferret is a carnivorous member of the Mustelidae family. They are cousins to other meat eaters like weasels, skunks and otters. Mustelidae is the oldest carnivore family (living that is!). There are two kinds of wild ferret, the black-footed and European domestic ferret. These playful and mischievous animals are found throughout much of the world. The domestic ferret is the kind that most people keep as pets.
Ferrets
that are kept as domestic pets are called Mustela furo and these are not wild animals. They have in fact been bred as domestic animals for two or three thousand years. In the wild, these animals wouldn't survive for very long and often die from dehydration.
Black footed members of the ferret family differ from their European cousins by having broader heads, rounder faces and bigger ears and eyes. The legs, feet and top of the head is black or dark brown. European ferrets are diggers so they have large front feet and their tails are wide and pointed at the tip.
The eyes of ferrets are black or red. When they are in bright light their eyes close in slits like a cat but the slits aren't vertical like kitty, rather they are horizontal! They have very poor vision but excellent hearing and smell.
There are several different kinds of ferrets, such as sable, albino, silver, cinnamon, and chocolate varieties, and even long-haired Angoras.
What about Ferret Behavior
? In their natural environment, outdoors, the ferret lives alone and is very territorial. The male ferret will make sure that no other males enter his domain and the female will do the same for other female ferrets. The territory of males and females blend slightly.
It is interesting to note that male and female ferrets have different hunting styles. Females tend to hunt down burrows after rats and voles while males take larger prey and leave the tunneling to the ladies. Both males and females hunt rabbits.
In captivity, ferrets are playful and mischievous animals that love attention. Because they enjoy stimulation, keeping a single ferret alone may not be a good idea. Providing toys and games will keep your ferret happy and out of trouble.
Ferrets are lovable, friendly, playful little animals. New ferret owners may be shocked by their sleeping habits - they lower their body temperature so much that they seem almost dead and upon waking shiver violently to restore body heat and function!
If you decide to keep a ferret as a pet it may take a while for it to bond with you. It will grow to love you in time just like a cat or dog. Ferrets are intelligent but more than a little stubborn and very, very curious.
Ferrets can be trained to do tricks or go places with you and even to use a litter box to answer the call of nature. It's a good idea to let them have some free play as they are energetic little creatures. Your ferret will live for about 6 to 10 years.
There are some negatives to keeping a ferret too. Ferrets need lots of care and training while they are young and even as adults will demand more attention than a dog or cat. They have a characteristic odor which you might find offensive and they may not get along all that well with your other pets. If you own a hunting dog a chase and scramble may be on!
Ferrets also love to chew and you may want to protect your couch or bed linen from their little jaws and them from swallowing rubber! They also love to dig at the carpet, your plants and climb into everything. They love to steal little items and run off with them so you may have to ferret-proof your home to make sure they don't hurt themselves or you.
Ferrets do need a bit of work to keep them happy but if you are patient, willing to hide your car keys and don't mind giving your furry friend lots of attention a ferret may be the unique and interesting companion you've been looking for.
Ferrets-Info-Source.com is your complete guide to Ferret Information
, Ferret Breeders
, Ferret History
, Ferret Pictures
, and how to Adopt a Ferret
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