In general use, a ferret is a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo), a creature first bred from the
wild European Polecat at least 2,500 years ago. Several other
small, elongated carnivorous mammals belonging to the family Mustelidae
also have the word "ferret" in their common names. For example, there is a rare and endangered North American polecat known as
the Black-footed Ferret.
History
No one knows exactly when the ferret was first domesticated, though archeological remains of the ferret have been dated to
1500 BCE. Most estimates place it sometime around the domestication of the cat. Some say the ancient Egyptians had ferrets, but it is more likely that Europeans visiting Egypt
saw cats, and thought using a small carnivore to protect grain stores was a great idea. The ferret was probably bred from the
European Polecat (Mustela putorius), and some use the
scientific name Mustela putorius furo. It is also possible that ferrets have the Steppe polecat (Mustela
eversmanni) in their ancestry.
Ferreting
For hundreds of years the main use of ferrets was for hunting, called ferreting. With their long, lean build and
aggressive nature, they are very well equipped for getting down holes and chasing rabbits or other vermin out of their burrows. They are still used for hunting in some countries, including the
United Kingdom and, particularly, Australia, where rabbits are a plague species
and, despite the availability of a great deal of modern technology, the combination of a few small nets and a ferret or two
remains very effective. In countries such as Portugal, where it's feared this
activity could unbalance the ecology, ferreting has been made illegal.
Ferrets as pets
In a lot of ways, ferrets act like kittens that never grow up. They have energy, curiosity, and potential for chaos all their
lives. However, they are far more people-oriented than cats, and many want to play with their owners. It has been suggested that
ferrets were bred for curiosity; whether this is true or not, their curiosity is greater than their common sense and this makes
the chances of a domestic ferret surviving in the wild very slim (many die by exploring in reclining chairs without their owners
knowing). In addition, virtually all pet ferrets are neutered, so there is no danger of pet ferrets somehow escaping and forming
a wild population.
As a pet, ferrets rank third in the US, behind dogs and cats. Ferrets are sometimes accused of being dangerous to small
children but this claim is false - proportionally, ferrets do much less harm to children than dogs or cats.
Dangers to ferrets
Ferrets are very good at getting into holes in walls, cupboards, or behind household appliances, where they can be injured or
killed by electrical wiring, fans, and other dangerous items. Fold-out sofas are very dangerous for them, since they will often
climb inside the springs and then be squashed to death. For these reasons steps are often taken to "ferret-proof" a home before
acquiring one as a pet. Ferret-proofing a house often involves removing items dangerous to ferrets and covering over any holes.
Many owners opt to restrict the ferrets to a cage at night or when there is no one home.
Diet
Ferrets are obligate carnivores. Cat food does not provide the protein or fat content needed by the ferret's metabolism.
High-quality kitten food can suffice, if ferret-specific kibble cannot be found. Ferret food should contain 35–40% protein
and 15–20% fat. Ferrets usually have fondness for sweets such as raisins and peanut butter, but such treats should be given
sparingly, as even a small amount of sugar can increase chances of insulinoma and adrenal failure. While plant products can
provide ferrets with some additional micro-nutrients and dietary variability, due to their relatively short gastro-intestinal
tract they can not derive much energy out of them, and for that reason they should only be used as supplement, not replacement,
for their regular diet.
Activity
Ferrets spend most of their time sleeping, but when awake they are very active, exploring their surroundings relentlessly.
Ferrets are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active during dawn and
dusk. If kept in a cage, they should be let out daily to get exercise and satisfy their curiosity; they need time and room to
play. Ferrets, like cats, will use a litter box with little training, but it will be necessary to have boxes in several rooms, as
they will not go far in seeking out a box.
Ferrets are also fine backyard companions and especially enjoy 'helping' you in the garden. However, they should not be
allowed to wander; ferrets are fearless to the point of foolishness and will get into whatever holes they will find, including
storm drains. Whenever they are outside they should be closely supervised, and preferably kept in a harness leash.
Play
Since ferrets are social animals, many ferrets are also very playful and will be happy to play with humans. "Play" for a
ferret can involve hide-and-seek games, or some form of predator/prey game in which either the human attempts to catch the ferret
or the ferret attempts to bite the humans' fingers or toes. Like a playful kitten, ferrets usually will not actually "bite" their
human companions but instead gently grab a toe or finger in their mouth and roll around with it. However, ferrets who have been
abused or are in extreme pain will bite a human. Ferrets have extremely strong bites and can bite clear through human skin. Once
properly socialized, however, domesticated ferrets will almost never bite humans.
Most kitten toys work well with ferrets. When ferrets are especially excited, they will perform the weasel war dance, a frenzied series of sideways hops.
Ferrets with children
Small children should be supervised around ferrets. Children often get the impression that the ferret is simply a small
stuffed animal and will "hug" it, either choking or squeezing the ferret. The animal often reacts by squirming, scratching, or,
if truly desperate, even biting. While there is nothing wrong with children playing with ferrets, all activity should be
supervised by an adult, as it should with any other animal.
In the UK ferrets are sometimes used for hunting rabbits or rats, the latter being named greyhound ferrets due to their
smaller body size and speed in confined spaces, the owners of hunting ferrets generally train their charges to be very
aggressive, hence a child that has previously had contact with a domestic ferret may be at risk when exposed to a ferret that has
been raised in a non domestic or irresponsible way, as with any animal.
Social nature
Ferrets are extremely social animals, and love to play with other ferrets. Ferrets will often pile on top of one another while
sleeping. It is advisable that when keeping ferrets as pets, the owner has at least two, preferably three ferrets at a time in
order to keep them from loneliness. However, there is nothing wrong with owning one ferret, provided that he receives lots of
play time and attention.
Other uses of ferrets
Ferrets have in more recent times been used to run wires and cables through large conduit. They have been employed in this way
at NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory and by event organizers in London. TV and sound cables were
run by ferrets for both the wedding of Charles,
Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, and
for the Millennium concert in Greenwich Park.
Ferrets are also extensively used in medical and biological research.
Ferrets as mascots
Recently, the Business Software Alliance has
chosen to use a Ferret as their Mascot, who will be used in schools to teach children
about the dangers of Software Piracy. [1] (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/12/bsa_superhero_ferret/)
Ferret biology
Like many other carnivores, ferrets have anal sacs near their anus. Secretions from
these are used in scent marking.
It has been shown that ferrets can identify whether such a mark was left by a male or a female ferret, without recognising the
individual.
Many domestic ferrets in the United States are known to suffer from several distinct health problems. Among the most common
are cancers affecting the adrenal
glands and pancreas.
Adrenal cancer is most often diagnosed by symptoms such as unusual hair loss, increased aggression and, in the case of
females, an enlarged vulva. Treatment options include surgery to excise the affected
glands, steroids and/or hormone therapy. The cause of adrenal cancer is unknown,
but some speculate that the unnatural light cycles domestic ferrets are exposed to in the homes of their owners cause or
contribute to the growth of such tumors. Others have suggested that the problem is hereditary, or even might be caused by early neutering.
Ferrets are also known to suffer from insulinoma, a cancer of the pancreas.
The growth of cancerous nodules on the lobes of the pancreas sometimes, but not always, leads to an increase in the production of
insulin, which regulates the rate at which the ferret's body metabolizes blood
glucose. Too much insulin will cause blood sugar to drop, resulting in lethargy, seizures, and ultimately death. Symptoms of insulinoma include episodes of lethargy, drooling, pawing and/or foaming at
the mouth, staring "blankly" into space and seizures. A ferret in such condition should be taken immediately to a veterinarian for treatment. If a vet is not available within a reasonable time, the
ferret may be brought out of its stupor by the application of corn syrup or
honey to its gums. This will cause a brief rise in blood glucose levels, after
which it will be necessary to feed the ferret its normal food and transported to the vet for further treatment. It is not
appropriate to give a ferret corn syrup or honey at any other time, even if it has never exhibited symptoms of insulinoma.
Treatment for insulinoma may include surgical excision of the cancerous lobes or treatment with steroids that suppress the
production of insulin. Unfortunately, the growth of the tumors cannot be stopped and the ferret will eventually suffer a
reoccurrence of symptoms.
Like adrenal cancer, the cause of insulinoma is unknown. It is speculated that the diets of domestic ferrets are too-far
removed from the natural diets of their polecat ancestors and include too much sugar and/or too many simple carbohydrates.
Terminology and coloring
Male ferrets are called hobs; female ferrets are jills. A neutered female is a sprite, and a neutered
male is a gib. Ferrets under one year old are known as kits. A group of ferrets is known as a "business".
Ferrets come in a variety of coat colors, the most common of which are as follows:
- albino
- badger
- black and white pattern
- black eyed white (onyx-eyed white)
- black sable
- black sable mitt
- blaze
- champagne mitt
- chocolate
- chocolate mitt
- cinnamon
- mixed
- silver, light
- silver, heavy
- silver, medium
- silver mitt
- sable
- sable mitt
- siamese
- siamese chocolate
- panda
White ferrets were favored in the Middle Ages, and ownership was
restricted to those earning at least 40 shillings a year (a rather large sum then). Leonardo's painting "Lady with Ermine" is probably mislabled; the animal is probably a ferret, not a stoat, for which "ermine" is an alternative name (strictly applying only to the animal in its
white winter coat). Similarly, the "Ermine portrait of Queen Elizabeth the First" shows her with her pet ferret, who has been
decorated with painted-on heraldic ermine spots.
Waardenburg's Syndrome
Ferrets with a white stripe on their face or a fully white head, primarily blazes, badgers, and pandas, almost certainly carry
a congenital defect known as Waardenburg's Syndrome.
This causes, among other things, a cranial deformation in the womb which broadens the skull, causing the white face markings, but
also partial or total deafness. It is estimated as many as 3/4ths of ferrets with visible Waardenburg signs (pandas, blazes) are
deaf. Beyond that, the cranial deformation also causes a higher instance of stillborn ferret kits, and occasionally cleft palates. Because of this, many breeders will not breed Waardenburg-patterned
ferrets.
Ferrets as pests
Ferrets (and other mustelids such as the stoat) prey on the indigenous wildlife of
New Zealand. When first introduced in 1879 to control rabbits, people were concerned that wild weasels would not
go after their intended prey, but birds instead. This did in fact happen, as New Zealand
bird species had evolved free from mammalian predators.
Ferret owners in New Zealand are quick to point out that unlike current pet ferrets, the ferrets used for release in New
Zealand were fur farm ferret/polecat crosses, to better ensure their survival in the wild. Currently, pet cats cause more damage
to bird populations than pet ferrets, which are neutered at an early age (6 to 8 weeks) and are kept indoors.
None the less, many areas around the world have banned pet ferrets due to the difficulties of New Zealand.
Legality
New Zealand
Since 2002 it has been illegal to sell, distribute and breed ferrets in New Zealand.
Canada
Ferrets are illegal in the Ontario cities of London,York, and East York
United States
California and Hawaii have laws
that restrict the ownership of ferrets. Ferrets are also restricted by individual cities, such as New York City. Opponents of anti-ferret laws claim that these laws stem from ignorance and the mistaken
idea that ferrets are wild animals. They argue that the bans make about as much sense as banning poodles because wolves are wild animals. Ferrets are also illegal in
Washington, DC; Dallas,
Fort Worth, Beaumont,
Texas, Bloomington, Minnesota and Burnsville, Minnesota and Tulsa, Oklahoma. A permit to own a ferret is needed in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Illinois.
External links
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