10 LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT FERRETS

Ferrets, the long-bodied weasel lookalikes that reside in some 300,000 U.S. households, are a less common pet than cats and dogs yet they've managed to rack up an equally loyal fan club nonetheless. 

Descendants of the European polecat, these famously curious and sociable critters are thought to have been domesticated more than 2,000 years ago, after being discovered as skilled hunters. Now they're mostly known for being adorably mischievous — if a little stinky — but there's so much more to the species than many realize. 

In this article, you will learn 10 little-known facts about ferrets.

About Ferrets

These cousins of the weasel are thought to have descended from the European polecat. They remain the only domesticated species in the Mustelidae family. Though they are less common than cats or dogs, there are about 6 million domesticated ferrets in the United States.

★ Physical Characteristics:

Ferrets are long and slender with small, rounded ears and a tail. Males can grow to be up to 22 inches long, including their tails, while females tend to measure around 18 inches long. Ferrets can come in many different colors, including sable, chocolate, and cinnamon. On average, ferrets live to be 6-8 years old.

★ Habitat:

Understanding your ferret’s natural habitat can help you create a more ideal living space for your pet ferret. Wild ferrets can be found in grassy plains. Because they are not very good at digging their own tunnels, they tend to live in tunnels built by other animals, such as prairie dogs. Domestic ferrets also enjoy cozy and enclosed spaces, especially when they sleep. It’s not a bad idea to provide your pet ferret with a tunnel system in or around its cage. Some ferret cages come with tunnels already attached for your ferret to explore or sleep inside.

As for the 10 little-known facts about ferrets are:

1) Newborn Ferrets Can Fit Inside a Teaspoon:

The average ferret will grow to about 20 inches long and weigh up to 4 pounds, but when they're born, the mammals are hardly bigger than the size of a teaspoon. The newborns, called kits, start at around 2 inches and weigh only about an ounce when they enter the world — blind and nearly naked, with only a layer of baby fuzz as fur.

2) Have a long history as domesticated animals:

While we don’t know exactly when ferrets were first domesticated, there is documentation about ferret-like animals that date all the way back to ancient Greece. There are also many examples of Renaissance portraits involving weasel-looking creatures. 

Notably, Queen Elizabeth has been depicted in paintings holding a white ermine, which belongs to the same family as the ferret. Cecilia Gallerani is depicted holding a creature that looks like a weasel in a Leonardo Da Vinci painting; while the painting is titled “Lady with an Ermine,” some scholars think the creature may actually be a ferret.

3) They're Notoriously Clumsy:

Ferrets have acute hearing and a sense of smell that far surpasses human (and even dog) capabilities. They also have extra-sensitive footpads, altogether making up for their poor eyesight. Ferrets are extremely nearsighted (able to see only a few feet in front of them) and have bad depth perception, the perfect cocktail for clumsiness — it isn't uncommon for pet owners to notice them running into walls or furniture.

4) They're Hard Workers:

Ferrets have a long history of being put to work. They were initially domesticated for the purpose of hunting rabbits and other vermin, but perhaps their most interesting gig has involved running wire. The animal's ability to navigate through confined spaces has been beneficial to several businesses and big events.

They were used to lay cables beneath Greenwich Park for London's Millennium Concert, for instance, and to run the wire at Buckingham Palace for the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Boeing even once employed the critters to string the wire through its planes. In the 1970s, Fermilab's Meson Laboratory used a ferret named Felicia to clean 300 feet of inaccessible vacuum piping. Eventually, Felicia was replaced by a robot.

5) They Like to Dance:

When threatened, wild ferrets and other weasels will “dance” in order to confuse their predators. They also use it to disorient potential prey. 

While domestic ferrets don’t need to worry too much about predators or hunting for their own prey, they will still perform the dance for play. They move from side to side, arch their backs, and puff their tails as a sign of excitement or happiness.

6) They Sleep Like Logs:

Many a new ferret owner has broken into a sweat upon finding their pet lying limp and motionless, unresponsive to touch or sound, refusing to wake even when they're being rolled around. This common phenomenon is known as "Ferret Dead Sleep". Veterinarian Mike Dutton told Pet Central that ferrets need this kind of comatose-like rest to recuperate from strenuous play.

7) They Can Be Trained:

Ferrets are highly intelligent animals with incredible learning capacities. They can be trained to use the litter box, sit on command, shake hands, and walk on a leash. 

Likewise, they can be trained out of their inherent bad habits, such as digging in houseplants and opening doors. Their wits are demonstrated by their perpetual curiosity, their ability to problem solve, and their premeditated antics (i.e., ploys to attract human attention).

8) Females need to mate to stay healthy:

Females that aren’t spayed can produce too much estrogen if they do not mate often enough. This overproduction of estrogen can cause estrogen toxicity, which in turn can lead to blood clotting, anemia, or even death. If you have a female ferret that isn’t being used for breeding purposes, make sure to get her spayed!

9) Can be trained to use a litter box:

Ferrets do not have the instinct to dig when they eliminate the way that cats do, so training a ferret to use a litter box is usually more challenging than training a cat to use one.

However, with time and patience, it can be done. They tend to back into a corner when they use the bathroom, so you can try placing a litter box in the corner of your ferret’s cage. When they are allowed to roam outside of the cage, it’s a good idea to place a litter box in the corner of the room to help reinforce the behavior.

10) Unlegal to own in every city or state:

If you live in Washington, D.C., New York City, Hawaii, or California, you, unfortunately, cannot keep a ferret as a pet. Individual localities may also have bans on pet ferrets. Make sure to check your local rules and regulations surrounding pet ownership before bringing a ferret home.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Ferrets have been kept as pets for centuries, and it’s easy to see why; they are fascinating, social, and intelligent creatures that can make a wonderful addition to your home. We hope that you learned something about your pet ferret in this article!

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