Being a professional pet sitter and a passionate animal junkie, I started realizing that I don’t know a whole lot about ferrets. I got a call from a very nice lady who would like to meet me to chat about sitting for her two ferrets while she’s away. I’ve taken care of friends’ ferrets before and they have had a presence in my life, but how much did I really know about ferrets? A little, but not enough in my opinion! I went searching online and asked my fellow pet sitters and found out a lot of really interesting things and also reinforced some of the stuff that I already knew. My sources for these facts include: Wikipedia, Ferret Central, and Jennifer Perry of Pet Tech and Safe at Home Pet Sitting.

Introduction

Ferrets are domestic mammals and are in the weasel family. They are very closely related to the polecat, but it is not clear whether they are a domesticated form of the European polecat, the Steppe Polecat, or a hybrid of the two. The ferret’s ancestor, the polecat, is a very solitary creature. Ferrets, however, live happily in social groups.

The average length of ferrets is 20 inches, this is including a 5 inch tail. The average weight is 1.5-4 pounds. Males are substantially larger than females. The average natural lifespan of ferrets is 7 to 10 years.

Eating Habits and Feeding

Ferrets are obligate  carnivores. An obligate carnivore is an animal that by its genetic makeup must eat the tissue of other animals in order to thrive. The natural diet of their wild ancestors consisted of whole small prey, i.e. meat, organs, bones, skin and feathers. There is a lot of debate over what to feed pet ferrets. The key ingredient in any food for ferrets are fat and protein, specifically animal protein, since ferrets’ short digestive cycles prevent them from getting enough nutrition from vegetable proteins. The food needs to have 30-35% protein and 15-20% fat and animal protein should be the first listed ingredient. Raw diets are becoming more and more popular for pet ferrets, but you should know that most ferrets don’t like fish. Chicken, turkey, beef and lamb are all great. Unless your ferret is overweight, keep his bowl full and let him eat as much as he wants.

Precautions

If you’ve ever gotten the pleasure of hanging out with a ferret, you already know that they are trouble makers and quite mischievous. They love working their way into small holes, even as small as 2×2 inches. This can lead to many serious situations- the hole could lead the ferret outside, to wires, inside the refrigerator to the wires…you get the point. The best way to prevent this, is to put yourself on their level, crawl on your belly looking for holes near the floor, under cabinets, especially in the kitchen and laundry area.

They can also open drawers and cabinets, leading to household cleaners (which some will drink) and other dangers.  Some of the many problems for ferrets chewing mouths are sponges, erasers, shoe insoles, foam ear plugs, Silly Putty, foam rubber, Styrofoam, insulation, rubber door stoppers, and anything else springy or spongy (couches that they could bite their way into, etc). They love chewing on such things and swallowed bits can cause intestinal blockage. Also, some ferrets like to lick soap, so keep that out of reach. Ferrets are excellent climbers and jumpers, so keep in mind that they can get to places you wouldn’t think that they could! Put fragile items away and remove anything spongy out of scope. Using liberal applications of Bitter Apple can help deter your pet from chewing on things that you don’t want her to.

Recliners and sofa beds are a real danger for these cute little trouble makers. Many get crushed yearly in the springs and levers. They are almost impossible to ferret proof, so the best thing to do is to put your recliner or sofa bed in a room that the ferrets aren’t allowed in. Even regular couches and beds can be dangerous if the ferret digs or crawls his way into the springs or stuffing.

Be very alert around full tubs, buckets of water, the toilet, etc. when you have your ferret out of her enclosure, as these all pose drowning threats. Also, paper towel and toilet paper rolls can cause suffocation or choking if the ferret gets his head stuck inside. If you allow your pet to play in plastic bags, as they SO love to do, remove the handles and cut a slit in the bag.

Ferrets have several distinct health problem. Among the most common are cancers affecting the adrenal glands, pancreas, and lymphatic system. Viral diseases include canine distemper and influenza. Ferrets are able to transfer influenza to us, and we to them. They can also suffer from dental problems and hairballs.

For bedding, don’t use cedar lining, as it has been associated with allergies and respiratory problems in various animals, including humans. Also, pine and other woods cause a lot of dust. Wood shavings are completely unnecessary, as a ferret is more like a cat than a hamster. The really enjoy snuggling up in a nice, clean towel or an old t-shirt placed in a box or basket for sleeping.

Fun Ferret Facts

• It’s unclear exactly how long the ferret has been domesticated, but it’s likely to have been for at least 2,500 year
• In some parts of the world, ferrets are still used for rabbit hunting
• Ferrets spend 14-18 hours per day asleep and are most active around the hours of dusk and dawn
• When excited, ferrets may perform a routine commonly referred to as the “weasel dance,” a frenzied series of sideways hops which is often accompanied by soft clucking noises
• They love to steal and hide anything that is shiny
• Ferrets are the third most popular pet in the United States behind dogs and cats
• Ferrets don’t have an appendix

“A ferret is God’s way of telling you NOTHING is childproof.” ~ Unknown

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