Are you interested in raising ferrets? They are fascinating domesticated species covered in black, white, brown, or mixed fur. Knowing the most interesting things about them would likely motivate you more to have a ferret at home now.
Dead Sleeping
Just like many other small creatures, ferrets usually sleep for 14 to 18 hours per day, each session lasting up to two hours or six hours, in some cases. However, there are times when they might seem like in a coma, which is called “dead sleep.” The body is still warm and the breathing is very shallow. They won’t wake up, scaring owners into thinking their pet might be dead. However, ferrets eventually wake up.
Meat Diet Only
Ferrets may look like rodents, but they are actually among those who feed on rodents. They are carnivores because they don’t have the enzymes that can process fruits, vegetables, and other plant matter. That’s why you can only feed them meat.
Food Digging
Even if you give them a clean bowl to eat out of, they would always bring the food out and dig through it. Don’t be surprised to see scattered food around their bowl. They will be the ones to clean it up anyway as they eat all those leftovers on the ground.
Angry Hissing
Ferrets express their anger and fear through hissing sounds. Don’t pick them up when they are angry to avoid getting bitten. But if you have to, put on protective gloves.
Names
Female ferrets are called Jill, while male ones are called Hob. Babies are called as Kits. A group of these animals is collectively named “business.” Neutered males are Gibs, while spayed females are Sprites.
Sexual Maturity
Ferrets usually mature sexually when they reach five and six months of age. To prevent unwanted breeding, they should be spayed and neutered. Doing so will protect the females from Aplastic Anaemia, that could cause death. Neutered males will tone down the strength of their smell, and possibly, aggressiveness.
Domestication
It was more than 2,500 years ago when ferrets first became domesticated animals. However, they used to be good hunting animals. Once they become domesticated though, it would be unsafe for them to go back to the wild.
Birth
Ferrets are often born with a white, grey, black, silver, brown, sable., or a combination of any of these colours. Albino ferrets though have a white fur and pink eyes. Other patterns include white feet, white head, white blazer, and dark legs and tail.
Appearance
The average weight of ferrets is around 1lb to 5.5lbs. Males are larger than females. They have markings on their face that look like a mask. Their length usually ranges from 14 inches to 24 inches, including their tails.
Unusual Behaviours
There are times when ferrets would do a dance of joy, which actually is a weasel war dance. They would look as though they are moving spastically. They do this dance when they are frightened or agitated.
Some ferrets may also shock you when they slam themselves into a piece of furniture or a wall. That’s because they are clumsy and have poor vision.
To show dominance, you might see your ferret shake another ferret by biting its neck or abdomen. This is also a manifestation of their territorial behaviour.
The uniqueness of ferrets makes them interesting as pets. If you want to have a cute and quirky companion at home, ferrets might make good pets.
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