Ferrets are playful animals and considered pocket pets by their human.These brown, gray and silver little beings are known to be descendants of European polecats. There are two kinds of ferrets: a common ferret and a black-footed ferret.A common ferret has sharp, beautiful pinkish eyes and weighs around 1 kg. It has a long tail of 13 cm and is marginally smaller than the European polecat. Ferrets are adaptable and can be domesticated and treated like family. A domestic ferret is also called Mustela putorius furo and looks a lot similar to a European polecat. However, once a ferret is in human care and is a part of your family, it is unable to survive on its own in the wild. Domesticated ferrets can survive on water and meat which is very similar to the way domesticated dogs and cats are taken care of. Female ferrets can give birth to at least two sets of litter each year. Ferrets are sensitive to their surroundings and therefore it is important to keep their cage clean and tidy. Black-footed ferrets are similar in size and shape. However, these black-footed ferrets live in burrows and only eat prairie dogs. Black-footed ferrets are not kept in a family unless found as a baby. Only if trained and socialized with people from the start can black-footed ferrets remain as pets and parts of our families. Males and females are equally good at hunting for their food requirements. The digestive tract of these animals is relatively simple. They have short digestive tracts and so their owners feed them regularly. They look very cuddly but one should always approach a group of ferrets with caution. They bite hard when they feel threatened.After understanding if this wild animal species is indeed a rodent, do read are ferrets illegal in California and are ferrets good pets.Where did ferrets originate?This is an old name that goes back around 2,500 years. Around this time they were first domesticated as rodent and rabbit hunters. These curious animals have lean bodies and could track rabbits and rodents to their burrows. It was during World War 2 that people started using them to protect grain stores of their camps from rodents. This was mostly the practice in the American west region.The term ‘ferret’ has Latin origins and the word means ‘little thief’. Most domestic ferrets live up to eight years and are found to be highly active at dawn and dusk. Baby ferrets are referred to as kits. They are born with white fur and later, after around three weeks, they develop adult colors. Interestingly, ferrets also suffer from heartworms just like domesticated dogs do and the symptoms are similar to those seen in domestic cats. This condition develops when they are bitten by an infected mosquito.Research into old text and records shows that black-footed ferrets are native to North America, while domesticated ferrets having European origin are mostly seen at pet stores. In recent years, steps have been taken to ensure ferrets’ safety as a decline in the both domestic and black-footed ferret population has been observed in North America. Domesticated ferrets are mostly kept inside their cages but they are left to roam around and run for a few hours each day to ensure that they remain active and healthy. They cannot live in hot climate regions. The ideal temperature for both domestic and black-footed ferrets is considered to be 10-27 degrees Celsius (50-80.6° F). These descendants of European polecats have several species and sub-species with minute differences in their eating and behavioral patterns.What family does the ferret belong to?All animals are classified as being a part of a particular family. Lions, leopards, and cheetahs all belong to the cat family even though these animals are different from each other in various ways. Similarly, ferrets belong to the family of weasels. This is scientifically known as Mustelidae. Other animals belonging to the same family include polecats, stoats, and ermines.Ferrets belong to the Animalia kingdom. They are grouped under the class of Mammalia and belong to the Mustela putorius species. Females give birth to two litters in a year, each comprising around six to eight little ferrets. Domestic ferrets play actively in their cage and are comfortable. Domesticated ferrets become a part of their owner’s family.Domesticated ferrets are more likely to be pets than black-footed ferrets. Domesticated ferrets are loving, playful animals. They are social animals and can adjust to being part of a family. They stay in cages and can also roam around freely whenever their owners open up the cage. Just like dogs and cats, ferrets also shed their fur. Ferrets have two layers of fur, both of which they shed twice a year. The inner layer is meant for insulation while the outer layer of fur helps keep dust and water off.Ferrets live among humans. Members of this animal species are carnivores and their owners usually feed them meat such as rodents. These carnivores search for food as soon as they wake up. Domesticated ferrets tend to eat whatever food they are given. They are not fussy eaters. Ferrets tend to sleep 14-18 hours on average. A ferret’s scent becomes a part of the home environment and humans around them get used to it. Unlike cats and dogs, ferrets do not like to cuddle.Is a ferret a weasel?It is true that ferrets belong to the weasel family but that does not mean that they are the same animal as weasels from the weasel family.This concept is similar to the fact of lions and cats being of the same family but being remarkably different from one another. Ferrets have a dark brownish coat while weasels have brownish underbellies. Another stark difference is that ferrets are thinner than weasels. A very important difference is in their trainability. It is easier to train a domestic ferret than to train a weasel. Unlike friendly ferrets, weasels are true carnivores and hunt even when not hungry. Ferrets are also carnivorous but unlike weasels, they eat anything that is available to them.Weasels are vicious and can turn kittens and pups into their prey. Pet ferrets, on the other hand, play and love to socialize. They get along with cats and dogs and even play around with rabbits. However, ferrets need to be supervised when in contact with smaller animals to ensure that they do not bite them.Comparing Ferrets And RodentsFerrets and rodents are very different from each other. Ferrets belong to the Mustelidae family which essentially means the family that preys on rodents. Rodents, on the other hand, belong to the Rodentia family. This family includes chipmunks and beavers. Upper and lower jaws of rodents have a single pair of incisors. Ferrets have incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Rodents are mostly omnivores while ferrets are carnivorous animals. The diet of both these creatures is different. Humans feed meat to ferrets while rodents eat cheese, vegetables, and bread. They live a healthy life and an active life in the natural world.Differences also exist in their looks and body. Rodents have short legs and long tails while ferrets have slimmer bodies.Do ferrets kill rodents?Ferrets are quick on their feet and their slender bodies allow them to fit through holes and burrows. In ancient times, they were specifically domesticated to put an end to rodent infestations. Ferrets can kill rodents easily. If trained properly they may even kill rabbits, like a polecat. However, rodents are their natural prey.In many households, there is a tradition of feeding dead mice to ferrets. These domestic ferrets then as a habit not only kill rodents but may also eat them as food. Effective rodent control is possible by letting pet ferrets hunt for them. Ferrets are natural hunters and have inborn hunting skills that assist them in capturing and killing these rodents. Ferrets are predators and their swift conduct helps them to follow their hunting instincts when their owners leave their cages open.These native pets have a musk scent on their bodies. They have an anal gland in the rectum region that secretes an unpleasant-smelling liquid. This is present in all cats and dogs as well. Animals use it to mark their territory. Most pet stores ensure that this scent gland is removed within a few weeks of birth to ensure that domestic ferrets are more acceptable. Over a period of time, owners get used to ferrets’ natural smell and are not troubled by it. However, if the smell increases or your domestic ferret becomes increasingly smelly then a veterinarian should be visited.Sebaceous glands are another gland that is present in ferrets. These glands are within the skin and are responsible for the musk scent that comes from pet ferrets. This gland is much larger in male and female ferrets who have not been neutered. Those who have been either castrated or undergone a vasectomy tend to have a milder scent. Even after they are neutered, they continue to be playful and live around 8-10 years.The easiest way to ensure that ferrets do not stink is to make sure that their cage is clean. Humans keeping ferrets as pets need to maintain utmost hygiene so that their pet remains healthy and does not smell bad. Ferrets need a bath at least two or three times a week and their litter box needs regular cleaning. On average, humans need to feed their ferrets quality market foods or whole prey to ensure that their skin and coat stay shiny and healthy. If the ferret is being fed whole prey then cleaning is much easier if the animal is fed outside the cage; otherwise, the whole deal becomes very smelly and messy. Owners can put an air purifier in the room where ferrets are usually caged and install smell absorbents in the cage to keep a smell-free home environment. Owners need to maintain the health of their pets and take them to the veterinarian for regular health check-ups and diet plan revisions (if any). The veterinarian ensures that the animal stays in its natural health. These native animals can control their urge to bite if trained well. Veterinarians may also provide tips to owners about how to ensure that their pet remains friendly and does not bite anybody.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are ferrets rodents then why not take a look at are ferrets nocturnal, or ferret facts?
Ferrets are playful animals and considered pocket pets by their human.
