Ferret

The ferret (Mustela furo) is a small, long and slender domesticated member of the family Mustelidae. Including a tail of about 13 cm, the average length is around 50 cm, and they weigh between 0.7 and 2.0 kg. Males are considerably larger than females.

Their fur can be black, brown, white or a mixture. Most ferrets are either albinos with white fur and pink eyes, or have the dark masked sable colouring of their wild ancestors. Fancy breeders have produced many other colours and patterns.

Ferrets are kept as household pets and as working animals for hunting rabbits. They are also widely used in biomedical research, and in the UK ferret racing is a feature of some rural fairs and festivals.

Ferrets were domesticated from the European polecat, most likely from a North African lineage. Studies of mitochondrial DNA suggest this happened around 2,500 years ago. The idea that the ancient Egyptians were first is thought unlikely, as no ferret remains or hieroglyphs have been found. The original reason for domestication is uncertain but may have involved hunting.

Ferrets were probably used by the Romans for hunting, and Genghis Khan is recorded using them in a huge hunt in 1221. For thousands of years their main job was ferreting: chasing rabbits, rodents and moles out of burrows. In England a law of 1390 limited the use of ferrets for hunting to the relatively wealthy. White ferrets were favoured in the Middle Ages because they were easy to see in thick undergrowth.

Ferrets reached the Americas in the 17th century and were used to protect grain stores from rodents. Feral colonies have since formed in places such as the Shetland Islands and New Zealand, where ferret-polecat hybrids have harmed native birds. The name comes from Late Latin furittus, meaning little thief.

Ferrets sleep 14 to 18 hours a day and are most active around dawn and dusk. Unlike their solitary polecat ancestors, most ferrets live happily in social groups. They are territorial, like to burrow and prefer to sleep in an enclosed space.

When excited they may do the weasel war dance: frenzied sideways hops and leaps. Despite the name it is not aggressive but a joyful invitation to play, often with a soft clucking noise called dooking. Scared ferrets hiss, and upset ones squeak softly.

Ferrets have scent glands near the anus used for scent marking and recognising each other. They can release this scent when frightened, but it is much less potent than a skunk's and fades quickly. In the UK, de-scenting is considered an unnecessary mutilation.

They are obligate carnivores with short digestive systems and quick metabolisms, and they largely cannot digest plant matter.

The average lifespan is 7 to 10 years. Among the most common problems are cancers of the adrenal glands, pancreas and lymphatic system. Insulinoma is the most common form of cancer, most often seen between 4 and 5 years old, and lymphoma is the most common malignancy.

Adrenal disease is often noticed through unusual hair loss, increased aggression, or difficulty urinating or defecating. Its causes are speculated to include unnatural light cycles, processed diets and neutering before puberty, and there may be a hereditary part.

Viral diseases include canine distemper, influenza and ferret systemic coronavirus. Ferrets can also suffer hairballs and dental problems, and often chew and swallow foreign objects, which can cause bowel obstruction. Unspayed females not used for breeding can have health problems.

Many ferrets with white markings such as a blaze, badger or panda pattern have congenital deafness, similar to Waardenburg syndrome in humans. As many as 75 percent of these are estimated to be deaf. Most albino ferrets are not deaf.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

How long do ferrets live?

The average lifespan is 7 to 10 years. They become sexually mature at about 6 months and are called kits until they are one year old.

When are ferrets awake?

Ferrets sleep 14 to 18 hours a day. They are crepuscular, meaning most active around dawn and dusk.

Do ferrets smell?

Ferrets have scent glands used for marking, and they can release the secretion when startled. The smell is much less potent than a skunk's and disappears quickly.

Do ferrets live alone or in groups?

Unlike their solitary polecat ancestors, most ferrets live happily in social groups. They are also territorial and like to burrow.

What is the weasel war dance?

It is a burst of sideways hops, leaps and bumping into things. It is not aggressive but a joyful invitation to play, often with soft dooking noises.

Is a ferret the same as a black-footed ferret?

No. The domestic ferret is often confused with the black-footed ferret, which is a different species native to North America.

A male ferret is a hob and a female is a jill. A spayed female is a sprite, a neutered male is a gib and a vasectomised male is a hoblet. A group of ferrets is called a business.

Queen Elizabeth I's ermine portrait shows her with a pet ferret decorated with painted-on ermine spots. Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine probably shows a ferret too.

Ferrets are an important animal model for human influenza. They are induced ovulators, and females may have two or three litters a year of usually three to seven kits.

Ferrets can imprint on their food at around six months old.