Ferrets: characteristics, varieties, care tips

Many of you probably have or have had a pet of some kind. It is pleasant for everyone to have their own pet, take care of it, play and just have a good little friend. Have you ever thought about the fact that, in addition to the usual cats, dogs, parrots and fish, you can get yourself some unusual animal, for example, a ferret? In order to understand whether it is worth acquiring such an animal, we suggest that you learn a little more about this animal.

The ferret is a medium-sized mammal, belongs to the weasel family, and is a predator. The ferret looks very cute as a whole: a slender elongated body, a long neck, a fluffy tail. In the tail area, special glands are located, thanks to them, a secretion with a characteristic odor is released. Ferret size in length can be from 30 to 50 cm, weight varies from 300 g to 2 kg. In the wild, they live for about 3-4 years, in the case of domestication - up to 7-8 years.

Despite the small short legs, the ferret is able to move quite quickly, and with the help of strong claws it can nimbly climb trees and dig holes. Ferrets have a special advantage in their fur. Its main component is thick down and guard hair, light at the roots and dark at the ends. The coat looks much better in autumn, after shedding, becoming smoother and more shiny.

Ferrets are more active at night, but they can hunt in the daytime. By nature, these animals are rather aggressive and courageous, and in matters of getting food they will not be afraid to fight predators that greatly exceed them in size. Small rodents (voles, hamsters, ground squirrels, squirrels), lizards, birds and their eggs serve as prey for them. Ferrets also like to eat worms and various insects. Due to the peculiarity of their digestion, they do not eat vegetation, and the lack of nutrients is obtained by eating small herbivores. In rare cases, they are able to feed on carrion for some time.

Despite the courage with which they enter into the fight for food with other predators, some animals in the forest pose a danger to them. Ferrets should be wary of foxes, wolves, as well as large birds: golden eagles and eagle owls. Man also poses a certain threat to these animals. If ferrets live somewhere near a person's house, in pursuit of beautiful fur, people are able to ruthlessly exterminate these fluffy beauties. It should be noted that some ferret species are listed in the Red Book, so they need to be protected.

Before starting a ferret, it is worth considering all the nuances associated with the care and maintenance of this fluffy handsome man. You can read the reviews of the owners, consult with consultants in pet stores, in general, be well aware of this issue. Consider the pros of acquiring such an animal.

• Funny company... If this animal settles in your home, you will definitely not be bored - the mischievous and playful animal will help to cheer you up with its funny jumps and games. In addition, it is always pleasant to take him in your arms and stroke him, because he has such a soft and beautiful fur.
• Easy learning... Fertka is a pretty smart creature, so he can be taught some simple commands. Some specimens are even trainable, which is an added benefit.
• Easy maintenance. Grooming a ferret is not difficult, however, it is important to remember that this animal quickly adapts to a new environment and after a certain time will look for unexplored territory for entertainment, and you need to be ready for this. Due to the flexibility in training, it will not be difficult to train the animal to the toilet, which will make your life much easier.
• Coincidence in biorhythms. It tends to establish the same rhythm with the owner. Despite the fact that he is used to leading a nocturnal lifestyle, it will not be very distracting with its noise if everyone is already asleep.
• No need for frequent walking. You can keep your pet in the apartment for a long time and not worry that it's time to go for a walk, it saves time quite well and is suitable for people who are constantly in a hurry to work in the morning.
• Compactness. Due to its size, it is a compact animal, some even put it in a purse, and so go out with it for a walk.
• Help with rodents. If you live in a private house and are tired of fighting small rodents, perhaps the ferret will help solve this problem, because he perfectly catches mice.
• Same behavior. After castration, unlike other animals, they do not change their behavior, they do not begin to be more lethargic, lazy, but, on the contrary, they are all the same cheerful, cheerful and always ready to have fun with you.
• Practically hypoallergenic. There is an opinion that the hair of ferrets is less allergenic, unlike other animals, which is undoubtedly a big plus for people suffering from this ailment.

But, despite the rosy picture described above, there is, of course, the other side of the coin. Not everything is as smooth as we would like.

• Each animal has its own scent, and for ferrets it is especially specific, it gives off musk, so not everyone will like it.Such a strong "aroma" is obtained from the very glands, thanks to which they secrete a secret to mark the territory. But we solve this issue: you can castrate if it is a male or sterilize if it is a female, and then the problem with the smell will be eliminated.
• The maintenance of such a fluffy is not cheap pleasure, you need to spend a decent amount every month to create and maintain all comfortable conditions, and not everyone can afford it.
• Despite the fact that the ferret is quite easy to get used to the toilet, he will just as easily and quickly find a new place for himself in order to relieve himself. Therefore, if you do not have time to clean in the tray in time, you can safely look around the house for "surprises" in the most unexpected places, which is not so pleasant.
• Ferrets tend to hide various objects and things they like, so you need to be prepared for the fact that you may miss some hairpins, kopecks or find your mittens torn.
• If you have a ferret in your house, then, most likely, the flowers will not stand for a long time. The thing is that as soon as this animal finds access to pots of flowers, then, following instinct, the ferret will certainly start digging in them, digging a hole or turning over. Therefore, alas, you will have to say goodbye to flowers.
• Since the ferret is by nature a predator, you shouldn't have any other small pets with it (such as hamsters, parrots, guinea pigs), otherwise it will hunt them at the first opportunity.

Before we talk about the different colors, it is worth talking about the main types of ferrets, describing their appearance and main characteristics. So, there are several of the most common types of ferrets: steppe, forest, black-footed and ferret. Let's consider them separately.

The steppe ferret is one of the largest representatives of its species, it can reach a length of 56 cm, and its weight sometimes reaches 2 kg. Based on the name, you can guess that in As a habitat, animals prefer steppe, semi-desert places, fallow lands. They are called light due to the color of the fur.

The upper hair is usually black or dark brown in color, and the dense, thick down, which breaks through the thin hairline, has a rather light shade. On the face there is a characteristic pattern in the form of a black mask. They live one at a time, but group coexistence is also possible. They feed on gophers, hamsters, snakes, frogs. Females of this ferret species are very fertile, they are able to breed up to 18 puppies.

Slightly smaller in size - about 35-47 cm, body weight - from 400 g to 1.5 kg. It is mainly black-brown in color, and the legs and tail are almost completely black. There is also a characteristic mask on the face. It feeds on rodents, frogs, birds and their eggs. Compared to the steppe ferret, the females of this species do not bring many cubs - only about 4-6 puppies.

A rather rare predator, it is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the Red Book... In length it reaches about 30-40 cm, and the weight of the animal is from 650 g to 1 kg. The color of the fur at the base of the hair is light, and at the ends it is dark, a characteristic black mask on the muzzle is also present. The food habits do not differ significantly from other representatives, the only feature is prairie dogs, on the population of which the survival of the American ferret depends.

It is one of the domesticated species of ferret, although the term "furo" scientists have designated ferrets, which, unlike others, are albinos. A ferret of any kind, which a person has tamed and settled in his house, can be considered a domestic one. According to the main indicators, this species of ferrets resembles a steppe, the body length is also about 50 cm, and the weight is from 700 g to 2 kg.

There is another variety - the golden ferret. It was bred by crossing a ferret and a forest ferret. This representative has thick long fur, a black outer coat and an orange undercoat, for which it received this name. It should also be noted a species called honorik, it appeared by crossing a mink and a ferret.

Despite such a number of species, the various color options of these animals amaze with even greater diversity. Based on the huge number of all kinds of colors, they nevertheless decided to divide them according to certain criteria. The classifications began to include such features as:

• coloration, color scheme - what color is the body, nose, eyes, limbs;
• the presence of marks, the location of spots on the body;
• mask on the face - its color, as well as the presence or absence;
• fur pigmentation: silver, black, sable, chocolate.

In the wild, ferrets can also be one-color: completely red or completely brown, black. If we are talking about domesticated pets, then there are definitely more color options, here are the most common:

• white black eye - there is some similarity with albinos due to a similar white color, but their eyes are black and their nose is pink;

• albino - a feature of this representative is his coat, which has a characteristic white or powder color, the down is also white, there are small red eyes;

• champagne - a shade of noble beige or milk-chocolate, the underpowder is light or completely white, there are also golden and powdery shades;

• cinnamon (cinnamon) - a rather interesting color, the guard hair is of a noble light brown color, it becomes darker towards the tail, and the underpuff is beige;

• panda - a small white head and breast, paws and tail - of a dark color (often ferrets of this species are deaf, this is due to a genetic predisposition);

• siamese color - the coat is mainly dark in color, on a light muzzle there is a V-shaped black mask.

In addition to the color types described above, the classification of ferrets by species also takes into account:

• the presence of spots and their location;
• all kinds of marks.

Judging by the above characteristics, it becomes clear that the ferret is a rather aggressive and fearless animal, has a rather complex character and keeps alone. Therefore, if you decide to take your ferret home, then, of course, you should choose from the domestic species. It is important to remember that the taming process will take a lot of patience and a certain amount of time from you. Be patient and remember the main points.

First you need to know at what age period it is better to take ferrets. The optimal age is considered to be about 4 weeks., since the baby has already received the main care and nutrition from the mother, and there is still time before it becomes an adult. On average, the domestication process takes about 2-3 weeks, taking into account all the necessary rules.

Another important condition in the matter of domestication is your own safety. While the processes of rubbing against each other are taking place, it is best to take care of how to avoid negative consequences from a ferret that has not yet been tamed.Given the peculiarities of his behavior, it is quite possible that you will have to deal with his bites more than once, so it is better to approach a new friend with thick gloves.

One of the most common and effective ways to tame new pets in the house is, of course, to lure the animal with some kind of edible treat. But before you treat your new friend, study his diet, find out what food you can give him, what you can't, otherwise you risk ruining the whole taming plan.

At the beginning of this difficult path, it is worthwhile to gain patience and strength, and understand that the main thing is not to break down. As soon as you start feeding your ferret, take a small bite of the treat, place it in your palm, and reach out. When the animal approaches you, it is important to remain calm and not make sudden movements so as not to frighten him away. First, he will come up, sniff everything, examine the situation, and only when he is convinced of safety can he come up and take the food out of your hands. If this happens, then this is the surest path to success.

Then you can move on to the next stage. After the ferret begins to take the treats out of your hands, most likely he trusts you, and may soon dare to eat right from the palm of your hand. But do not immediately grab him for joy and try to stroke him, this can frighten him off. Give him some more time to get used to you. When you see that the animal shows confidence, is not afraid of the new owner, does not behave wary, calmly eats from the hands, then you can slowly try to pick it up and stroke it.

It is important not to rush in this matter, and to show maximum patience. Then try increasing the time the ferret stays in your arms. When he falls asleep, you can gently take him in your arms and hold him a little longer than usual, iron him, warm him up.

If you do decide to have an adult ferret, all the taming techniques, in general, do not differ, but it is important to remember that we are talking about an adult with its own character, accustomed to living in certain conditions. And it will take a little longer for a wild adult ferret to become tame.

If your ferret starts to behave rather naughty, makes a riot, bites, you need to take drastic measures. It is important to try to correctly explain to the animal that its behavior is inappropriate. If he bit you on your finger (during the game or in a fit of anger), you need to immediately stop these antics, and make it clear that this should not be done. You can bite him in response (for the withers) or give a small click on the nose.

And now that we have described all the features, pros and cons of animals, it is worthwhile to dwell in more detail on what conditions need to be created if you decide to keep a ferret at home.

To begin with, you will need to take into account some points.

• Do not leave windows open or an accident could result.
• Eliminate all kinds of crevices where the ferret can enter so that it does not get stuck.
• In the place where it will be located, it is advisable to remove tall objects, otherwise the ferret may climb on them and accidentally fall.
• Having sharp teeth and claws, pets can gnaw and scratch furniture, so you should come up with a special place where they can play without fear of ruining anything.
• In summer, avoid excessive exposure to sunlight in the room where the ferret lives, as overheating of the animal can occur due to the thick fur. To avoid this, it is worth installing a fan.
• Do not leave the toilet lid raised, or your pet may end up in there and drown.
• Carefully hide various household cleaning products, as the ferret may accidentally stumble upon them and think that it is something edible.
• The ferret is very fond of toys, so so that he does not spoil your things during the game, buy special rattles in the store that will amuse your baby.

Of course, the best option for a ferret will be if the entire premises are given at his disposal, since this animal loves freedom very much. But in this case, you will have to constantly catch him throughout the apartment, to make sure that he does not naughty anywhere, in general, he will be much more troublesome than with any other pet. Therefore, it is worth thinking about some kind of limited space.

A good home for your ferret is a crate. But before you buy it, you should consider some of the nuances. The crate should be large enough for your pet to feel roomy in it and be happy to run and play. For more comfort and convenience of your ferret, inside the cage you can make various labyrinths, stairs or install a small hammock.

As you remember, ferrets love to burrow in burrows. Naturally, you are unlikely to let him dig in flower pots, so as an alternative you can offer him various old rags, cardboard tubes, small boxes. There are special houses for ferrets that are sold at pet stores. The main thing is that your pet is interested in such structures. If you see that the ferret doesn’t like an item, it’s better to remove it and think of something else.

It is also necessary to install a feeder and a toilet in the cage. Secure these structures well (you can use special suction cups), otherwise your animal can simply overturn everything, and then it will be more difficult for you to accustom it to basic skills.

If the conditions of your home allow you to allocate a separate room or balcony (loggia) for the ferret, then, undoubtedly, this will be a pleasant bonus for your pet. Large space and freedom of movement will please your little friend. But this option, rather, is convenient for the animal, and not for the owner.

Consider all possible options, think in advance where and in what conditions your pet will live: completely roam free or still be limited to the outside of the cage.

The ferret is a carnivore and therefore needs to be provided with good nutrition. Suitable as food:

• meat - it can be fresh beef, chicken, minced meat;
• fish, boiled eggs;
• dry food - it is best to consult a pet store and choose a special food, food for cats may also be suitable;
• various cereals and vegetables.

There are also foods that should not be given to ferrets:

• too fatty and fried foods;
• all kinds of sweets, pastries;
• foods containing coarse fiber and a large amount of fiber (carrots, citrus fruits);
• different types of nuts.

Whatever you feed your ferret, the main thing is to correctly formulate the diet and provide its body with all the necessary substances. In some cases, you can give him fresh raw meat, for example, a whole ham or a small mouse.

Feeding with ready-made feed is the right solution. Moreover, they already contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals that play an important role in the harmonious development of your pet.However, such feeds are quite expensive, and besides, they are not sold everywhere. As a last resort, you can order them online.

Sometimes you can pamper your pet with wholesome goodies - for example, give a banana, a slice of apple or melon to taste. It costs about 5-7 times a day to feed your pet, in small portions. Or limit yourself to breakfast, lunch and dinner, but then the portion size for 1 feeding will need to be increased. Also don't forget that a ferret is a fairly clean animal, so after each meal you will need to wash its bowl, and only after that put a new portion of food.

In order for your furry friend to feel comfortable and healthy, you need to carefully monitor their hygiene.

Control his fur first. To do this, you need to buy special shampoos. and wash your pet regularly - about 1 time per week. After water procedures, it is important to avoid drafts so as not to chill the animal, while the ferret is wrapped in a towel. You can also purchase special brushes for proper brushing, so your ferret's coat will always look well-groomed.

Another important aspect is nail care. In natural conditions, the ferret itself constantly grinds them down when it digs various holes and minks. In a home environment, you need to periodically trim the claws of a ferret. Firstly, this way you will protect your furniture from scratches, and secondly, when the claws grow strongly, this restricts the movement of the animal, which brings certain inconveniences to it. You can buy special scratching posts.

Most people who buy a ferret speak positively of this animal. Many people like the fact that ferrets are active, you never get bored with them, such pets can easily have fun without a master. In addition, the ferret is good at toilet training, can live both in a cage and in a larger space.

There are also quite a few negative reviews. Ferret owners claim that animals constantly spoil something, do not always go to the toilet in a designated place, and require regular care. Some buyers of ferrets have not been able to fully cope with the character of the pet, and ferrets also have a negative attitude towards guests, which can also cause chagrin.

For information on how to practice obsession with pet ferrets, see the next video.