Pet Ferret Introduction - History And Characteristics

Ferrets are very unique pets to own. They are named after the Latin word "furonem" which means "thief." They were named this because of their propensity to hoard and save food and toys in hiding places. Ferrets are now some of the most popular household pets out there. They can be friendly and inquisitive. These social animals make great pets, but they will need some patience to be litter trained.

Ferrets were domesticated as few as 2,500 years ago. Ever since that time, they have considered humans as part of their social group. They were the preferred animals of the nobility and royals in the Middle Ages for their engaging and sociable behavior as well as their striking features.

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 albino versions of ferrets as well that have white fur and pink eyes, which is what you would expect from an albino animal.

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. This is probably where the behavior started, but it definitely continues to this day.

Ferrets are commonly blamed unfairly for being odorous. 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. Usually, if your ferrets have a strong odor, it is due their cages being unsanitary or due to owners not giving them adequate care. If you forget about your ferret's litter box or cage for a few days, of course they are going to stink!

Ferrets will require some help to make sure that they don't smell and stay in excellent shape. 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. Bear in mind, cat food will not have all the necessary nutrients and minerals that ferrets require.

Ferrets are very intelligent and can be trained to do some tricks, although this will require some patience. They love holes as they were originally bred to get rabbits out of 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.