Are Ferrets Good Pets? Find Out What It’s Like Owning A Ferret

Do you know that ferrets suffer from colour blindness? Are ferrets good pets? Your every question regarding the ferrets will be answered in this article. There are many breeds of the ferrets and they are albino, Black Sable, blaze and many more. In total there are 20 breeds of ferrets which are distinguished by their colour, size and type of fur. The most common ferret is Sable and the rare one is cinnamon. Ferrets can only see red and blue colour.

Are Ferrets Good Pets?

There are some countries where ferrets are domesticated and they are Canada, Peru, Singapore, United-kingdom, Germany, Japan, Singapore.

Everything about Ferrets

Ferrets are small creatures full of fur and they have a long tail. Along with that the ferrets also have a nose which is cone-shaped. The long claws and the pear-shaped body of ferrets make them special.  The ferrets are domesticated on a very large scale in some parts of the world. According to the scientists, these tiny creatures are related to the wolverines, minks and the weasels of the Mustelidae family of carnivores.

There are a few fur colours that these domesticated ferrets are born with and they are black sable, silver, cinnamon, albino, silver and chocolate. Along with that ferrets born with black feet have white foreheads and pale skin colour. Ferrets commonly weigh from 0.5 to 2.4 kgs, the head and the body length of the ferrets is usually from 8 to 18 inches. The ferret’s size and shape are similar to that of zucchini and it’s the tail that is half the size of the whole body. The domesticated ferrets usually are kept in cages and the suitable temperature required is 50 to 80 degrees F.

Ferrets need 40 to 49 hectares of space to survive, along with that they also need the right amount of food.

Ferret’s Habits and Habitat

Once declared as extinct the ferrets are considered to be recyclers as their homes are made from old-prairie dog tunnels. Ferret’s homes can also be made from burrows of other animals.

The ferrets are nocturnal creatures so all their activities begin at dusk. They mostly hunt for their prey during the night time. Ferrets are known to survive alone so they have excellent smell, hearing and sight senses. The ferrets are tiny in size and get frightened easily. They make hissing and chattering noises to indicate that they are scared.

As they are active at night they choose to stay underground during the day and usually the time duration for this underground stay is 7 days.

The domesticated ferrets are known to adjust their sleep cycle according to their owner’s. A domesticated ferret will sleep for 17 to 18 hours.

Ferret’s Diet

Ferrets are carnivorous so they mostly eat meat for their diet. A black-feet ferret will eat tiny mammals like possums, rats, rabbits, prairie dogs and hedgehogs. Amphibians like a bird, fish, bird eggs, reptiles, carrion, invertebrates are also eaten by ferrets. The ferrets usually consume 50 to 70 grams of meat per day.

A pet ferret typically consumes chow manufactured in a factory and the healthy diet for a domesticated ferret is an amalgamation of proteins, fats and carbs. Their diet should be low in carbs and high in protein.

Reasons to have a pet ferret

Ferrets are intelligent and often the ferret owners are surprised as to how ferrets are extremely good at solving problems, more specifically riddles and puzzles. Ferrets by nature are very curious and determined creatures, they are good at manipulating things with their paws. Ferrets are often considered to be as smart as cats. If trained properly they are good at understanding commands like stay, jump, sit etc.

Along with that, they are also extremely quiet and low-maintenance. Although good at responding to commands a ferret will only make noise if it is scared. A pet ferret will not cause much ruckus and sleep for 17 to 18 hours per day.

The ferrets are small in size, they don’t need a big cage. A cage sufficient for their size is advised, a pet ferret does not need much room and the only time they will be out of the cage will be when they need to exercise.

Steps to take care of your ferret

The first step would be to buy a cage which is larger in size than the ferret. Along with that, the cage should also be ventilated. There should also be litter box in the cage as the ferret can be easily potty trained. The cage should be well sheltered and there should not be direct sunlight falling on the ferret as heat stress is fatal for them.

The second step is to make sure that your ferret is getting regular vaccinations. The canine distemper vaccine will keep the ferret healthy and fit. Your ferret will also need heartworm, flea control and worming preventions. Along with that, the ferret needs to be outside the cage for some time every day.

The ferret needs a cosy sleeping space inside the cage, a hammock can also be used. As biting and nipping come naturally to a ferret it can chew onto anything. Make sure your ferret does not chew rubber or any other poisonous material or substance.

Are ferrets good pets for kids?

 

Ferrets are quite demanding pets and because they are curious about everything they require adult supervision. Ferrets can be good pets for children from the age of 6 to 7 and above.

Are ferrets good with dogs?

Ferrets are sociable and affectionate and they can live in harmony with dogs. The only thing that needs to be taken care of is that the dog is the predator and the ferret is the prey, so both these animals should be trained for them to live together in a friendly manner.

Are Ferrets Good with cats?

Ferrets and cats get along really well only if they are trained properly, Ferrets are nippy since birth and there are high chances of the ferret nipping orbiting the house cat. kittens who grow up with ferrets learn to play with them and also get used to the nipping and biting that comes naturally to ferrets.

On the other hand, if the cat has more hunting instincts and sees the ferret as a prey then it may be dangerous for the ferret. In situations like these, it is advisable to test the waters first by letting the cat and ferret spend some time together under supervised conditions.

Are Ferrets good house pets?

Domesticated ferrets are known to be good pets, these tiny creatures are known to have the same pet qualities like cats or dogs. These ferrets are extremely curious and know how to solve puzzles and riddles quickly. Along with that the ferrets do not need much space, just a little cage built according to their size is sufficient for them. The good thing about ferrets is that they can be litter trained. If trained properly they will not make the place dirty. The litter box should be kept inside their cage.

Are Ferrets good family pets?

Yes, the ferrets are good family pets. The ferrets if treated properly are extremely loyal and affectionate.

Are Ferrets good pets for toddlers?

The Ferrets are suitable pets for children of age 7. The ferrets need adult supervision as they are known to bite or nip which can be dangerous for toddlers.

Are ferrets good pets for beginners?

Ferrets have been domesticated for over 2000 years, they are intelligent and playful. Ferrets even though are tiny in size need adult supervision.

Frequently asked Questions

1. Why ferrets are not good pets?

Although ferrets are cute, tiny and intelligent. There are a few cons of owning a ferret. Ferrets like to nip and bite a lot so if they are kept around kids then it could be dangerous for them.  Ferrets smell a lot, a lot of ferrets have a musky smell. If they are not taken care off, then they will smell really bad. Although ferrets sleep for 20 hours a day and only spend 4 to 5 hours outside the cage, they are able to cause a lot of ruckus by biting things that are in their reach. This can cause a lot of damage to the goods in the house. Also ferrets poop a lot, they poop 10 times a day.

2. Are ferrets loving?

Ferrets have been domesticated for aeons, so they can adapt to their environment really quickly. Ferrets if treated properly are fun-loving and affectionate animals who make their owner’s life more interesting.

3. Are ferrets aggressive?

Ferrets should be taught to not bite. Although ferrets who have been domesticated may not be violent but undomesticated ferrets can be aggressive especially if they have been abused in any form. These traumatised ferrets use biting as a defence mechanism.