Ferrets as pets!

Ferrets are the most versatile of pets. Loyal like dogs, with cat traits, and the size of an elongated guinea pig, they have something for everyone.

There are quite a few misconceptions on the true ferret. It is not a wild animal. The ancient Romans bred them, and used them like one would a cat, keeping their camps and homes free of mice and rats. In short, the ferret has been a domesticated animal for thousands of years. There are those who have a litter and dump it in the forest, thinking these animals will survive in what they mistakenly consider to be their habitat. Nothing is less true. Even though it resembles other animals in appearance, the ferret is and always will be depending on Man for its survival.

Ferrets can be kept in a cage, which is more common practice than letting them loose in the house. If kept in a cage, they are to be let out at least for two hours a day. Since they are daytime sleepers, they’ll be snoozing the rest of the time. Some ferrets however, are allowed by their owners to roam around like they’d let a cat. Get them a snug nest (with, for example, an old T-shirt for them to sleep in/under), and they’ll be quite content there too. It is a personal choice more than anything else, and it can work quite good. When it comes to the outdoors, do know that ferrets are instinctive creatures… They can and will dig tunnels, and that does include under the fence and your rosebushes. So should you let him or her loose in the garden, be around. If you have drainpipes, bury a few in the garden, or put some in nooks and crannies: The ferret’ll love running through them, hiding in them and creating a little private space for himself. Get a ball of string or something similar, and the head popping out of the tubes’ll give for hours of mutual pleasure, the ferret hunting its prey, and you getting to have fun over the ferret's fast, imaginative hunting techniques. All in all: they’ll crack you up.

Ferrets eat the same as cats would, dry cat food as well as, say, slices of medium rare roast beef. Some even prefer chicken soup or a slight bit of cream (though this can result in diarrhoea, so no big amounts, and not often). Other than that, water and Whiskas catmilk are good as their liquid needs. Ferrets being what they are, they can be housetrained in a matter of days, and they get along very well with other pets, like dogs, cats and chinchillas for instance. Even though they have sharp teeth, a ferret won’t bite down hard when he knows it isn’t allowed. So as far as training goes, they are in the same classification as other house-trainable pets.

Unlike what most people think, ferrets do come in a variety of colours, rather than just the well-known albino. From all black to cream, they also can have a multitude of drawings. (The colours/drawings are classified in the following distinctions: Albino, Chocolate, Black, Black Sable, Champagne, Cinnamon, Dark-eyed White, and Sable). These are good to know and study, should you be interested in going to ferret shows with your newfound family member. Shows like these are held across the country, and information can easily be found online, like the Ferret Organisation.

It is recommended that if you do not plan to breed with your ferrets, that when you go in to the vets to have their stink-glands removed (Yes, they can stink up a place almost as badly as a skunk can), get their testicles removed also, or tubes snipped. A ferret that has no “natural urges” which cannot be relieved by lack of a mate, or lack of your desire to breed, is less likely to be a grouch.

In the last paragraph, all that remains to be said is this: Have fun with your ferret. They are active animals and good company for families with children. They’ll keep you smiling, they’ll cuddle, they’ll be your friend. Enjoy your new member of the family.