Friday Fun Facts About Ferrets
I’ve never had a ferret for a pet but know many people who have. They seem to be good pets for the most part. One person I used to work with brought his ferret to work. They were a little fragrant as I remember.
Perhaps it was just his.
We if you have had a ferret for a pet or just wondered if you might want to bring one home here are a few facts that might help in your decision.
Fun Facts About Ferrets
- Ferrets are part of the weasel family along with minks, otters, badgers, polecats and sables.
- They are also related to the skunk family and can give off an odorous smell when excited or afraid. Some owners have them de-scented. Not sure if that hurts or not.
- Ferret is from the Latin word fur meaning “little thief.” They love to steal and hide things.
- Ferrets are the only members of the weasel family that have been domesticated to become household pets.
- A ferret’s sleep is known as “ferret dead sleep.” They sleep 15-20 hours a day in four-hour blocks and experience high amounts of REM sleep.
- Ferrets were domesticated thousands of years ago to flush rabbits, rats and mice from their holes. Giving us the expression, “ferreting out.”
- The black-footed ferret was thought to be extinct but was recently rediscovered in America.
- Ferrets can be trained to use a litter box but it takes a little longer than cats.
- It’s illegal to own a ferret in California, Hawaii, New York, and Washington, DC. Some communities in other states also prohibit ownership.
- There are about 5-7 million pet ferrets in the US.
- Why am I writing about ferrets? A group of ferrets is known as a “business.”
- The ferret is the most popular companion mammal in the US behind the dog and cat.
- They are more closely related to cats and dogs than rodents
- The ferret’s lifespan averages about 6-10 year with some living to 15 years old.
- Ferrets are colorful. You can pick from sable, chocolate, cream, cinnamon, silver, or albino. All are born white then reach their adult color about 3 months of age.
- Ferrets are born both deaf and blind and begin to see and hear after about a month.
Some Final Thoughts
So are you ready for a ferret? Or are you still a dog and/or cat person. The jury is still out for me. I doubt a ferret would be well received by our current animal population of three dogs, a cat and two birds.
I guess if we are unlucky enough to attract rabbits, mice or rats I guess we will have to consider a ferret. What about you? Ferret in your future? Comments below.