Ferrets

In general use, a ferret is a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo), a creature first bred from the wild European Polecat at least 2,500 years ago. Several other small, elongated carnivorous mammals belonging to the family Mustelidae also have the word "ferret" in their common names. For example, there is a rare and endangered North American polecat known as the Black-footed Ferret.

Ferrets as pets

In a lot of ways, ferrets act like kittens that never grow up. They have energy, curiosity, and potential for chaos all their lives. However, they are far more people-oriented than cats, and many want to play with their owners. It has been suggested that ferrets were bred for curiosity; whether this is true or not, their curiosity is greater than their common sense and this makes the chances of a domestic ferret surviving in the wild very slim (many die by exploring in reclining chairs without their owners knowing). In addition, virtually all pet ferrets are neutered, so there is no danger of pet ferrets somehow escaping and forming a wild population.

As a pet, ferrets rank third in the US, behind dogs and cats. Ferrets are sometimes accused of being dangerous to small children but this claim is false - proportionally, ferrets do much less harm to children than dogs or cats.

Dangers to ferrets

Ferrets are very good at getting into holes in walls, cupboards, or behind household appliances, where they can be injured or killed by electrical wiring, fans, and other dangerous items. Fold-out sofas are very dangerous for them, since they will often climb inside the springs and then be squashed to death. For these reasons steps are often taken to "ferret-proof" a home before acquiring one as a pet. Ferret-proofing a house often involves removing items dangerous to ferrets and covering over any holes. Many owners opt to restrict the ferrets to a cage at night or when there is no one home.

Diet

Ferrets are obligate carnivores. Cat food does not provide the protein or fat content needed by the ferret's metabolism. High-quality kitten food can suffice if ferret-specific kibble cannot be found, however many low quality foods are not appropriate. When reading the label, the first 3 ingredients should be meat-based, as ferrets cannot properly digest the cereal fillers used in cheaper cat and kitten foods. Ferret food should contain between 32–38% protein and between 15–20% fat. While a high protein content is absolutely essential a protein content above 38% can sometimes lead to kidney stones and urinary obstructions in older ferrets. Ferrets usually have fondness for sweets such as raisins and peanut butter, but such treats should be given sparingly, as even a small amount of sugar can increase chances of insulinoma and adrenal failure. While plant products can provide ferrets with some additional micro-nutrients and dietary variability, due to their relatively short gastro-intestinal tract they can not derive much energy out of them, and for that reason they should only be used as supplement, not replacement, for their regular diet.

Activity

Ferrets spend most of their time sleeping, but when awake they are very active, exploring their surroundings relentlessly. Ferrets are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active during dawn and dusk. If kept in a cage, they should be let out daily to get exercise and satisfy their curiosity; they need time and room to play. Ferrets, like cats, will use a litter box with little training, but it will be necessary to have boxes in several rooms, as they will not go far in seeking out a box.

Ferrets are also fine backyard companions and especially enjoy 'helping' you in the garden. However, they should not be allowed to wander; ferrets are fearless to the point of foolishness and will get into whatever holes they will find, including storm drains. Whenever they are outside they should be closely supervised, and preferably kept in a harness leash.

Play

Since ferrets are social animals, many ferrets are also very playful and will be happy to play with humans. "Play" for a ferret can involve hide-and-seek games, or some form of predator/prey game in which either the human attempts to catch the ferret or the ferret attempts to bite the humans' fingers or toes. Like a playful kitten, ferrets usually will not actually "bite" their human companions but instead gently grab a toe or finger in their mouth and roll around with it. However, ferrets who have been abused or are in extreme pain will bite a human. Ferrets have extremely strong bites and can bite clear through human skin. Once properly socialized, however, domesticated ferrets will almost never bite humans.

Most kitten toys work well with ferrets. However toys made of rubber or foam should be avoided as ferrets can chew off and swallow small pieces leading to intestinal blockage.

When ferrets are especially excited, they will perform the weasel war dance, a frenzied series of sideways hops.

Ferrets with children

Small children should be supervised around ferrets. Children often get the impression that the ferret is simply a small stuffed animal and will "hug" it, either choking or squeezing the ferret. The animal often reacts by squirming, scratching, or, if truly desperate, even biting. While there is nothing wrong with children playing with ferrets, all activity should be supervised by an adult, as it should with any other animal.

In the UK, ferrets are sometimes used for hunting rabbits or rats. Ferrets used to hunt rats are called greyhound ferrets due to their smaller body size and speed in confined spaces. The owners of hunting ferrets generally train their charges to be very aggressive; therefore, a child that has previously had contact with a domestic ferret may be at risk when exposed to a ferret that has been raised in a non-domestic or irresponsible way, as with any animal.

Social nature

Ferrets are extremely social animals, and love to play with other ferrets. Ferrets will often pile on top of one another while sleeping. It is advisable that when keeping ferrets as pets, the owner has at least two, preferably three ferrets at a time in order to keep them from loneliness. However, there is nothing wrong with owning one ferret, provided that he receives lots of play time and attention.