Ferret’s friendly personalities and fun behaviors make them truly enjoyable pets to have. They are great for urban environments or apartments and have become a great alternative to traditional pets.
Ferrets were domesticated of 2,000 years ago. Despite some state and cities definitions of ferrets, they are domesticated animals. The ferret descend from the European Polecat and were bred to help their owners in hunting rabbits. Their small size and long shape made them perfect for chasing rabbits out of burrows and holes. Their reward was often some of the days take of rabbit meat. This rabbit hunting is still practiced in some parts of Europe.
Ferrets are carnivores. They are bred to eat meat and meat products and not grass or vegetables. They will even eat some of the bones of their prey after they finish the meat. Many ferret foods today contain a high percentage of grain or vegetables which isn’t very good for a ferret. A ferret needs a high amount of protein to remain healthy.
Ferrets have scent glands that produce an odor. This is due to their origins. Getting a ferret descented is a good idea but it won’t remove the scent completely. Some people try to wash the odor away with frequent baths. This isn’t recommended because the ferret’s body will then produce extra oils to protect their skin and this will make the odor worse.
Ferrets are often trained to walk on a leash. Not all ferrets are good at walking on a leash but many will go about it the same way as a dog does. Some ferrets have too much energy to walk this way and will end up bouncing around and rolling in the grass instead of walking with you. Just make sure you have a harness that fits snugly on your pet before taking him or her for a walk.
Male ferrets can grow up to three times the size of female ferrets. During their evolution, it has been advantageous for females to be smaller while the males have benefited from being larger and capable of taking down larger prey. This would also help in defending themselves and the females.
Ferrets are very interesting animals and are great pets for small places. Their cute personalities and funny antics make them entertaining to watch and fun to play with. Just make sure you know what you’re getting before you bring a ferret home for a pet.
