Would you like to adopt a ferret? This new pet (NAC) ranks third among the most popular animals after cats and dogs, particularly in Europe. Here is all the useful information you need to know about your future little companion.
The ferret is not a rodent but a carnivore, belonging to the mustelid family, of the genus mustela (like weasels and minks).
Domesticated from the wild polecat during the first millennium BC, it was traced back to the 4th century. During antiquity, Romans and Greeks used them for rat control or rabbit hunting in burrows.
Later, they were exploited for their fur. In the 20th century, it was also used as a laboratory animal, especially for virology research. Then, from the 1970s, it gradually entered homes to become a pet.
The ferret, very sociable, can be an excellent playmate for you or your dog/cat. Being gregarious in nature, it needs the daily attention of its owner.
Curious and intelligent by nature, it enjoys being able to leave its cage to explore one or more rooms of your house, or it may suffer from boredom. However, it is better to keep it supervised, as it is so agile that domestic accidents can happen quickly.
If you take it outside, ensure that the garden is well enclosed to prevent it from getting lost, or use a harness to take it for a walk.
Keep in mind that the ferret is a heavy sleeper. In fact, its sleep lasts between 12 and 18 hours a day. During this state of lethargy, its temperature drops from 39° to 37°. This requires it to shiver for a moment upon waking up to warm itself up again.
The ferret may bite, especially when it is young and playing. Proper training will stop this behavior.
There are two main types of ferrets:
Twice a year, its short, semi-angora, or angora fur changes color during molting. In case of fear or intense pain, it can emit an unpleasant odor with its anal glands.
As for its morphology, it has a body about 60 cm long (including the tail), with a triangular head, small round ears, short legs, and a tail measuring between 10 and 15 cm. Females weigh up to 1 kg, and males 2 kg. Their life expectancy ranges from 5 to 10 years.
This small carnivore needs a daily intake of animal proteins and fats (no fiber or vegetable proteins, which it could not digest).
If you can't provide it with small prey like poultry carcasses or mice, you can give it kibble suited to its dietary needs and age. Different brands are available in pet stores.
The ferret cleans itself. So, there's no need to bathe it. However, it is essential to brush its coat regularly, to make it shiny by removing dead hair. Its claws and teeth need to be monitored. It relieves itself in one or more litter boxes, left within its reach.
Your ferret will be quite resilient but will still need to be vaccinated against distemper (and rabies if traveling). It will also need to be dewormed every 6 months, have an up-to-date vaccination record, and be microchipped.
For your animal's well-being, its cage should be spacious (at least 1 m long, 0.50 m wide, and 0.50 m high). Opt for a cage with tightly spaced metal bars to prevent any injury. The Zolia MALO cage for ferrets and rodents offers an ideal and comfortable environment for your small pet.
From her first heat at nine months old, the female ferret can reproduce. The gestation period is about 42 days, after which she can give birth to up to 8 kits, twice a year. They are weaned around 6 to 8 weeks.
To suppress the female ferret's heat and an overproduction of estrogens, which could cause anemia, it is preferable to have her sterilized. It's better to opt for chemical sterilization, with the insertion of an implant, which is less dangerous than surgical sterilization that can lead to adrenal disease.
For the male, castration is not mandatory but reduces musky odors, which are amplified during the breeding season.
So, are you convinced by this little animal's qualities? All that's left is to choose one!
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Which cage should I choose for my ferret?
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