What are ferrets?
 
Ferrets are domestic animals. Their cousins are weasels, skunks and otters, but they are also related to minks, ermines, and badgers. They are not rodents; They are friendly and make excellent pets. Personality-wise, they are somewhere between cats and dogs, but smaller than both. While their vision is limited, they can smell and hear exceptionally well. Just like other pets, some are cuddly, others less so.
 
Why would someone enjoy a ferret as a pet?

There are many reasons why ferrets are the third most common uncaged pet in North America today. First of all, they are so much fun. They are very playful, with each other and with you, and as they get older, they keep much of that playfulness. They can be very entertaining companions, especially when you have more than one. They are pretty smart, too. They are also very inquisitive and remarkably determined, which is part of their charm but can also be a bit bothersome. They are friendly, and they do know and love you. Even so, some can take a year or so to fully bond.

They can be trained to do tricks and use a litter box, and most of them love to travel with you. They enjoy a space on your shoulder or in a bag. They enjoy sleeping quite a bit, and have no problem staying in small places, like a cage or a shoulder bag, though they need to run and play for at least a few hours a day. A solitary ferret won’t be too lonely, but the fun of watching two or three playing together is definitely worth the small extra trouble.

Most ferrets have a life span of 6-10 years. Fully grown females weigh about two pounds while males are larger, usually about twice the weight of females. While ferrets sleep a large percentage of the day, they do wake up several times to eat, check their domain, and tend to other needs. They’re at their most playful two hours each beginning just before sunrise and sunset. When these tiny whirling dervishes finally tire out, they enjoy a warm place to rest, like a human lap, piling up in groups if possible, with angelic little smiles on their faces. In human terms, a ferret acts and reacts like a child of two to four years of age.

So, they’re perfect pets?

Well, no pet is perfect! While ferrets have lots of assets as pets, there are some concerns as well. Like kittens and puppies, they at first require a lot of care and training. They do require more maintenance than cats; they’ll require more of your time and attention. Some people do not get used to ferrets’ unique scent, and not all ferrets are as habitual about using litter pans as are cats. While most ferrets can coexist with cats and dogs, nothing is guaranteed. Bear that in mind if you have a big dog, or one bred for hunting. Likewise, since both small children and ferrets are very excitable, the combination might be too much.

No matter what, ferret-proofing is necessary. Ferrets are not as destructive as cats, but they do love to get into EVERYTHING, so if you let them loose you’ll need to be sure they can’t hurt themselves or your property. A ferret’s greatest delight is to outwit a human. They love to steal objects both big and small, which you’ll find later under chairs and behind furniture. They like to chew on things that are sponge-like, so keep those sorts of things out of their reach or they’ll swallow bits. Boxes, bags, and trash cans will be toppled over, and reachable plants may lose dirt to joyful digging. Many ferrets tend to scratch and dig at the carpet. While these traits are not visible in all ferrets, they are widespread. If you’re not willing to take the necessary steps and precautions to protect both your property and your pet, a ferret may not be ideal for you.
 
Are ferrets wild? Why are there ferret permits?

Domestic pet ferrets, Mustela furo or Mustela putorius furo, are not wild animals. They were domesticated as long as two or three millenia ago. On their own, they do not survive long. Ferets who escape are prone to dehydration, starvation and exposure and, unless rescued, usually don’t survive more than a few days. Ferrets’ small size makes them unable to push over garbage cans and scavenge, as dogs and cats can do. It is so important to spay and neuter your ferret. Breeding ferrets is not a successful money-making venture, and females will die a most painful death of aplastic anemia if they are not spayed or if mating does not occur.

Most experts agree that the ancestor of the domestic ferret is the European polecat, which were originally used as hunting animals to catch rabbits and rodents. They were not supposed to kill the prey, only chase them out of their holes so that the farmers could kill them. While this practice is still popular in England and some other places, it is illegal in the U.S. and Canada.

What’s an FFZ, and why do they exist?

An FFZ stands for “ferret-free zone,” a place where ferrets are not allowed. Some places require ferret owners to have licenses or permits. The reasons for this vary, and most are invalid, rooted in the sad fact that many people don’t understand what a pet ferret is.

What are some of those invalid reasons?

Well, one is that ferrets are thought of as a wild species, like raccoons or skunks, rather than a domestic species like cats or dogs. As aforementioned, ferrets have been domesticated for about 2500 years. Another popular untruth is that ferrets have rabies; contrarily, studies have shown that it’s very difficult for a ferret to catch rabies. In fact, when one does, it dies very rapidly, so the danger is very small indeed. If need be, there is a rabies vaccine specifically for ferrets that has been proven effective. A third common excuse for banning ferrets is the belief that escaped pets (almost all of which are spayed or neutered) will form wild, feral packs and kill livestock or native wildlife. In the U.S., there are no confirmed cases of feral ferrets, and a few deliberate attempts to introduce domestic ferrets to the wild have failed miserably, so this fear is also unfounded. California and Hawaii are the only states which now ban ferrets. In the face of overwhelming evidence, many areas that previously banned ferrerts are being persuaded to change their outdated regulations.

Why is there so much confusion?

Most of the misconceptions about domestic ferrets probably come from mistaking them for their wild relatives. When all you’ve seen is a flash of fur disappearing into a hole, it’s very difficult to tell a polecat or a mink from a domestic ferret. Because of the similarity in names, domestic ferrets have also been confused with their cousins, the North American Black-Footed Ferrets, Mustela nigripes. Black-footed ferrets (BFFs) are wild distant relatives of the domestic ferret. They are an endangered species: The only BFFs known to exist are in zoos or in a Wyoming breeding program in Wyoming. However, though they may look similar, the BFF is not very closely related to the domestic ferret.

Will my cat allergies make me allergic to ferrets?

One can never really tell. You may be highly allergic to some other animal and have no problems at all with ferrets. If you think you might be allergic, visit a pet store, breeder or friend who has one and check. Allergies may reveal themselves in symptoms such as sneezing, or you may get a skin reaction from touching or being scratched by a ferret. Some people find they are allergic only to intact (un-neutered) males, so you may want to try contact with females or neutered males as well. Some people are allergic to the perfumes pet stores often spray on animals, but not to the animals themselves.

What should they be fed?

Ferrets need a high quality, dry ferret or kitten food. They love a treat of fruit or sweet vegetables. However, they are strict carnivores, so never feed them dairy products, grains, breads, nuts, or similar items.
 
How expensive are ferrets?
   
Ferret prices range widely from place to place. American stores and breeders usually charge anywhere from $75 to $250, most typically around $100. Expect to spend another $100-$250 for supplies and a cage, plus around $75 for the first batch of vaccinations. It’s especially important to vaccinate annually against canine distemper. Ideally, these active animals should not be caged unless required, though a cage used as a “safe haven” is highly recommended.

Of course, there are also regular costs of caring for the ferret. While food and litter are not a huge expense since they do not eat much, count on buying treats and hairball remedies, plus the yearly checkups and vaccinations. In addition, though it may not happen, be prepared to pay for at least one $300 vet visit in each ferret’s 6- to 10-year lifetime, from illnesses, accidents, or eating something he shouldn’t.

What’s that smell? What can I do about it?

Ferrets have a unique aroma, just like any pet. Some people like the musky scent, a few can’t stand it, and most are somewhere in between. If the ferret is not spayed or neutered, having that done will substantially reduce the odor. Young kits also have a peculiar, sharp scent which they lose as they mature a bit.

De-scenting the ferret reduces the animal’s odor, extends its life, and increases its suitability as a companion. However, bear in mind that de-scenting a ferret doesn’t change the day-to-day smell. The only scent glands removed are those near the tail, which only prevent the ferret from releasing bad-smelling musk when frightened. However, it doesn’t stop the normal musky oils which come from glands throughout the skin. The two big things you can do to cut down on your ferret’s aroma are to bathe him less often while cleaning his bedding more often. Most of the musk stays in the cloth, on the litter or paper, and on your floors and furniture, not on the ferret himself, so cleaning them can be a big help. Also, right after bathing, the ferret’s skin glands go into overdrive to replenish the oils you just washed away, leaving the ferret smelling worse for a few days. Foods with fish as an ingredient may make your ferret, or his litter pan, smell worse than those with chicken or lamb. Your ferret may tend to smell more during shedding season in the spring and fall. Some people have had luck with Ferret Sheen powder and various air filter systems.

I have kids. Would a ferret be a good pet for a child?

While most children and ferrets coexist well, there is a difference between having both children and pets, and getting a pet for your child. Never forget that a ferret is similar to a cat or dog, and will require the same type of attention and care. It’s not at all like keeping a pet hamster or guinea pig. If your child is old enough to be responsible and careful, and you’re willing to supervise and help out with the care, a ferret will make a great pet. If not, you’re probably better off getting a lower-maintenance pet you can keep in a cage.

 Supervise children with any pets.

Interactions between young children and ANY pets must be monitored closely. Children need to be shown the proper way to handle pets. A living creature needs, and deserves, to be treated with more care than a toy. Ferrets love to pounce and wrestle when they play, which may scare children, and children tend to roughhouse, which may prompt a more vigorous response from an active ferret than from a house cat. 

Just as some very nice dogs become nervous around kids because their looks, scents, or actions are different from those of adults, some ferrets who aren’t used to kids don’t quite know how to behave around them. Make sure both the ferret and your child understand what’s expected of them, and what to expect from each other. Ferrets raised around ferrets or other animals tend to adjust to a child better than ones only used to adult humans.
 
I’ve heard of ferrets attacking babies!

While there are several rumors circulating about ferrets attacking babies, there is not much truth to them. Since most people are unfamiliar with ferrets, people tend to make sweeping statements on the basis of a miniscule amount of information. Some of the rumors are rooted in confusing ferrets with other animals. Others may be based on true stories, but leave out important information (for instance, that the child and pets had clearly been previously neglected or abused ).

A small number are unfortunately true. However, plenty of children have been attacked or even killed by “friendly” dogs and cats. The number of injuries to people by ferrets each year is a tiny fraction of the incidents by dogs. In all cases, more responsible parenting and pet ownership is called for.

What colors do they come in?

Like the leaves, ferrets often change colors with the seasons. In the winter, their colors are lighter than in the summer, and many of them lighten as part of maturity, too.

The albino has white fur with red eyes and a pink nose. A dark-eyed white can have very light eyes and can be confused with an albino. These range from white to cream-colored. A dark-eyed white (often called a black-eyed white) is a ferret with white guard hairs but eyes darker than the red of an albino.

The sable has rich dark brown guard hairs with golden highlights, with an undercoat that is white to golden. A black sable has blue-black guard hairs with no golden or brownish cast, with a white to cream undercoat.

The chocolate is dark to milk chocolate brown but with a white to golden or amber undercoat and highlights.

A cinnamon is a rich light reddish brown with a golden to white undercoat. This can also be used to describe a ferret with light, tan guard hairs with pinkish or reddish highlights. Champagne ferrets are completely tan-colored.

A silver starts out grey, or white with a few black hairs. Some have a mask. The guard hair tends to lighten to white evenly over the body. As a ferret ages, each coat change has a higher percentage of white rather than dark guard hairs. Eventually the ferret may be all white.

White patches on the throat might be called throat stars, throat stripes, or bibs; white toes, mitts (sometimes called silver mitts), or stockings go progressively further up the legs. A blaze or badger has a white stripe on the cap of the head, and a panda has a fully white head. A siamese has an even darker color on the legs and tail than usual and a V-shaped mask; and a self is nearly solid in color.

What do you call a ferret male? female? baby? group?

Males are called hobs, while females are jills. Some people call neutered males “gibs” and neutered females “sprites”, but these are new and rarely-used terms. A baby ferret of either sex is a kit. Most people call a group “a business (or busyness) of ferrets”. Another possibility is  “fastening” or “fesnyng,” possibly due to a misreading of “bysnys” long ago.

How can I help ferrets and ferret owners?

There are lots of ways you can help the “ferret community”. If you have already vaccinated your ferrets and can trust them, take them with you to the park or pet store and show people what great pets they truly are, to counteract all the false rumors. (Be very careful, though: if your ferret should nip or scratch someone, even accidentally, some states will destroy him for rabies testing, even if he’s been vaccinated. You probably want to let people only pet his back.) Share good ferret information with your vet.
Adopt, foster, or sponsor a ferret from a local shelter, or donate old towels, shirts, food, litter, cages, money, or time. Many shelters need help with building projects, computers, recordkeeping, etc., as well as day-to-day ferret care, cage cleaning, and vet appointments. (However, don’t be offended if your offer of help is refused: Shelter directors are very busy people, and may have established routines they’d rather not have disrupted or changed, so ask if there’s something else you could do instead.) To find a shelter near you, contact a local ferret club.

What kind of lighting should I use?

For the health of ferrets, natural or fluorescent lighting is better than incandescent. There is evidence that unnatural light cycles play a big part in adrenal disease, one of the most common problems in older ferrets. To prevent adrenal disease, try giving the ferret about nine hours of light and fifteen of dark.