Animal Care Associates, Inc
840 Oakwood Road
Charleston, WV 25314
304-344-2244

Ferret Facts         

The ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a domestic pet.  It is not a wild animal, though ferrets are descendants of the European polecat (weasel) and are, therefore, close relatives of skunks, mink, otters and badgers.

Behavior
 

Ferrets make wonderful pets because of their engaging personalities, playful activity and fastidious nature.  They can be easily trained to use the litter box because they tend to habitually urinate and defecate in the same places.  There is no innate animosity between ferrets and dogs and cats, and all can usually share a household with little difficulty.  However, ferrets have been known to attack pet birds, so it is advisable for owners of both to take appropriate precautions to prevent these encounters.  Ferrets are naturally inquisitive and can squeeze through very small spaces.  It is important to "ferret-proof" your house before bringing your pet home.  Thoroughly check every room it will inhabit, sealing all holes and opening wider than 1 inch in diameter. Make sure that all windows that may be opened have secure screens.  Check the openings around plumbing, heating and air conditioning ducts or pipes.

Some kits are small enough to squeeze under some doors.  Ferrets are so small and silent that you usually do not hear them approach.  They are easily stepped on when they are sleeping under a throw rug or suddenly turn up under foot.  Their love of tunneling and their inherent curiosity frequently places them in potentially dangerous situations.  They could very easily crawl unnoticed into your refrigerator, into the bottom broiler of a stove, through the rungs of a balcony railing, out the front door, or even end up in the washing machine with cloths under which the ferret was sleeping.  Other dangers include folding sofa beds and reclining chairs.

To help protect your ferret, especially if it is allowed free run of the house, obtain an adjustable light-weight cat collar, the kind with elastic on one end, a small bell, and an ID. tag.  The bell will signal that your ferret is underfoot or has perhaps slipped out the front door.  The bell also helps to warn caged birds allowed unrestricted freedom in the home that the pet ferret is nearby.

While ferrets are not always destructive to most household items (furniture, clothing, etc.), some have a tendency to chew on soft rubber.  This is especially dangerous because the pieces of tennis shoes, Barbie Doll toes, or other rubber items can become impacted in your ferret's intestines. Ingested pieces of kitchen gloves or sponges with household chemicals can also threaten your ferret's life if eaten.  Latex rubber squeak toys should not be given to ferrets because they may swallow parts of them, causing intestinal obstruction.

All ferrets have an affinity for people.  Some enjoy people more than others.  The older a ferret is, the more mellow it is likely to become.  Young kits tend to be nippy, but no more than a new kitten or puppy.  They just nip with more enthusiasm.  Some kits never nip at all, but most that do eventually outgrow it.  Ferrets have tough skin and kits have sharp little teeth.  The roughhousing a kit may do with its littermates may not be appropriate for its owner's finger.  Many new ferret owners mistake this nippiness for viciousness, even though the same behavior in a new kitten or puppy is accepted.

There are a number of documented cases of ferret attacks on infants and very small children.  Some of these involved serious injury to the child.  It is important to point out, however, that these unfortunate encounters are far less common than those involving household dogs and cats.   Parents must either forbid encounters between pet ferrets and their infants or very young children, or closely supervise all of these encounters.

Ferrets are unusual animals, but not "exotic."  They have been domesticated for thousands of years and can be treated under the same set of disciplinary rules you would use for any other domesticated animal.  Ferrets are extremely intelligent and can quickly be taught what they may and may not do.

Types & Terms

There are 2 varieties of ferrets, based on coloration.  Fitch ferrets (the most popular) are buff- colored, with black masks, feet and tails.  Albino ferrets are white, with pink eyes.  The female ferret is called a "jill,' while the male is called a "hob." Babies are "kits."

Diet

The dietary requirements of ferrets can easily be satisfied by feeding commercial cat food.  The growth formulas for brand-name cat foods, composed of high-quality meat(not plant) protein are preferred.  Dry kibble is recommended over semi-moist and canned foods because the soft foods lead to disease of the gums and tooth roots. Table food also can be offered but should be limited to cooked meat, fish and poultry.  Fruits and vegetables may be offered in very limited quantities.  Do not feed milk and foods rich in sugars, (cookies, candy) and carbohydrates (pasta, rice, bread) because ferrets have great difficulty digesting these foods.  Bones and foods containing bones should not be offered because they are likely to injure the ferret's digestive tract.  It is not necessary to offer vitamins or vitamin-mineral supplements to your ferret as long as it is fed as outlined above.  Your veterinarian may recommend these dietary supplements, however, under special circumstances or for aged ferrets.  Fresh, clean water should be available at all times.  Water bottles or heavy ceramic (crock) dishes can be used for this purpose. 
 

Housing
 

Ferrets must be confined within the home and when their activities cannot be adequately supervised.  Most ferrets prefer to sleep within a relatively small, enclosed area.  A cat or rabbit-sized wire cage or a suitable sized dog/cat airline carrier works very well.  Paper or a few towels can be used on the bottom of the enclosure.  Ferrets are especially fond of tunneling under towels and prefer to sleep in this manner.
 

Spay/Neuter

Spays or neuters are  usually preformed at the breeder before you purchase the pet or at 6-8 months of age.   Spaying female ferrets, if they are not going to be a breeder, is highly recommended.  Once a female ferret goes into heat they will continue to have a bloody discharge until they are bred with a male.  If the female does not mate with a male there is a high risk of death for the female. Castrating (or neutering) male ferrets can help reduce any aggressive tendencies.

Odor Control

The objectionable odor of ferrets is primarily the result of the influence of sex hormones on normal skin secretions.  Consequently, castrating male and spaying female ferrets is usually sufficient to control this problem.

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