Ferret

Coat and looks how to spot one

short double coat, seasonal

A long, slender, flexible body on short legs, built for slipping through burrows, with a notably long neck and lower spine. The head can be a rounder 'bulldog' shape or a slightly longer standard shape. The coat is thick and glossy, growing longer and softer in winter and lighter and silkier in summer.73

Personality what they are like

Ferrets are lively, inquisitive and sociable, keeping a playful, mischievous streak well into adulthood. They mix dog-like affection with a cat-like independence, and when excited they may bounce around in a sideways hopping 'war dance' while making soft chuckling 'dook' sounds.6415

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Very active when awake, though they sleep around 14-18 hours a day. Plan for at least 2-4 hours daily out of the cage in a ferret-proofed area, with at least some of that spent playing with people. Tunnels, balls and digging boxes suit their love of exploring.6415

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Coat care is simple: brush during the twice-yearly shed, trim nails about every two weeks, clean ears and brush teeth regularly. Bathing is only needed occasionally, no more than about once a month, with a mild ferret shampoo.4

Home where they are happiest

A roomy, well-ventilated wire cage of at least about 90 x 90 x 60 cm, with soft towels or blankets for sleeping, a litter tray with non-clumping litter, and a cool room around 18-23 degrees C, since ferrets cannot sweat. Ferret-proof any room they roam in.63

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Ferrets are obligate carnivores with a short gut and fast metabolism, so they eat small meals often. Feed a high-protein, moderate-fat, low-carbohydrate diet based on meat, such as a quality ferret kibble (the AFA suggests at least 36% protein) or suitable raw or whole-prey diets. Keep treats under about 5% of daily calories and avoid sugary foods, grains and vegetables. Fresh water always.641

Company who they like around

Sociable animals that usually enjoy living with other ferrets, though this varies by individual. They also need daily hands-on interaction with their owners.546

The story where it all began

Genetic studies suggest ferrets were domesticated from the European polecat roughly 2,500 years ago, and the MSD Veterinary Manual notes they have lived with people for more than 2,000 years. The Greek writer Strabo gave one of the earliest written references, and Roman writers describe animals sent to the Balearic Islands to control rabbits. For most of their history ferrets were working animals, used in 'ferreting' to flush rabbits and rodents from burrows, a practice that continues in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In the American West they guarded grain stores against rodents from around 1860 until the Second World War. The name comes from Late Latin furittus, 'little thief'. From the late 20th century ferrets became popular household pets, with around 800,000 kept in the United States by 1996.124

Recognised by the official bits

American Ferret Association (AFA)

Publishes a breed standard for the domestic ferret describing conformation, coat, colours (albino, black, black sable, champagne, chocolate, dark-eyed white, sable) and patterns (solid, standard, point/Siamese, blaze, panda, roan, dark-eyed white).7

Popularity About 800,000 pet ferrets in the United States1