Ferret Information and Facts - History and Health Problems

The idea of keeping a pet ferret is gaining more popularity as more people discover how friendly and curious they can be. As ferrets can be comfortable around humans, they make good pets. They love to find hiding places for their tidbits and toys, and this is how they got their name. They were called 'thieves' or 'furoneum' in Latin, describing their furtive behavior when storing their possessions. However, bear in mind that you will need equanimity when trying to litter train them.

Ferrets were domesticated as few as 2,500 years ago. Since then, they have always included humans as part of their social group. They were the favorite pets of the royalty in the Middle Ages for their friendly nature and unique looks.

Ferrets are part of the weasel family, which can include a lot of members. The weasel family are mustelids. They have over 65 different species of cousins in the weasel family, including otters and badgers. If you were to closely observe a ferret, you will begin to understand how similar they are to these creatures instead of the rodents they are usually contrasted with. With their sleek bodies and their short fur, they can come in a variety of brown colors with black highlights. There are ferrets which are albinos and they are easily identified by their pink eyes and white fur, similar to other animals which have an albino strain.

Male ferrets are usually about 18 inches and 2-3 pounds, while females are a little smaller. We still have no clue why ferrets have a tendency to hide and hoard food and playthings. They probably initially started doing it to hoard food for the colder, more lean months similar to how squirrels act. It could be how this trait began, but it is still observed to this present day.

Ferrets are often accused of having a bad smell. This is not the case. They give off a musty scent due to their natural oils, but you can have the glands that produce these smells removed. Most of the time, if your ferret smells, it is a result of their cage being dirty or their owner not taking proper care of them. If you forget about your ferret's litter box or cage for a few days, of course they are going to stink!

Additional care needs to be given to ensure that ferrets do not give off an unpleasant odor and are maintained in tip-top condition. Unfortunately, they are prone to a number of ferret diseases and their already too-short lifetimes can become even more shortened. The diet of the ferret should be very high in fat and protein. They require a diet consisting of 35% protein and approximately 15% fat in order to be well maintained. For the first few years of a ferret's life, you will have to be very careful about what you feed them to make sure that they grow up strong.

You can give a ferret cat food if you are stuck in a bind, but you really can't give a ferret cat food for an extended period of time. After all, cat food doesn't have all of the vitamins and nutrients that ferrets need.

Ferrets are naturally smart and can be taught to perform little parlor acts, but you will need to be patient during training. They have an innate liking for holes as they were originally bred to chase rabbits from their burrows. They are descended from polecats and love to sleep. Usually, a ferret can sleep for as long as 18 hours but you will definitely be in the know when they come out of their slumber! These pets are fun, loyal and smart, making them great animals to have around.


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Moses Wright is a ferret pet lover. He loves to help fellow pet owners solve their home pet problems. He provides free ferret facts info, health care problems and supplies review on his web site.