Ferrets
Definitions
Under fur – shorter fur
 Guard hairs – longer fur
 Mitt – Fur on feet area
 Bib – Fur below chin and throat
 Mask – Coloring around eyes
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Varieties
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Common Sable – light-dark fur with mask
or hood on face, black nose
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White – White fur Red eyes
Silver Mitt – Under fur white/off white,
guard hairs black and white, White feet
and bib
 Sterling silver - more white guard hairs, no
mitts or bib
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Characteristics
•Long slender body
•Furry Tail
•From the weasel family
•Scientific name translates to mean “stinky little thief”
•Small mammals weighing less then 5 pounds
•Used for controlling rodents
•Have anal glands that produce a strong musky smell
•It is illegal to own a ferret in NYC, California and
Hawaii
•http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/press_archive99/pr36-629.shtml
Housing
Ferrets should have a large cage with
levels
 Ferrets like to burrow
 Ferrets should have a hammock
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Feeding
Ferret food from pet store
 Food: Need high protein diet (similar to
cats)
 Treats should be specifically made for
ferrets from the pet store
 Not a good idea to provide sugar treats
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What foods should I not feed my
ferret?
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Ferrets should not eat sugary cereal, peanut
butter, grains, corn, rice, carbohydrates, raisins,
bananas, other fruits, vegetables, dairy products,
chocolate, other sweets, or any food with sugar.
All of these items are loaded with complex
carbohydrates and a ferret's strictly carnivorous
digestive tract cannot process these foods. Diets
high in carbohydrates may lead to intestinal
problems and some types of cancer.
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http://www.ferret.org/read/faq.html
Information
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Life span: 8-11years
Food: Need high protein diet (similar to cats)
Sexually mature 10m
Gestation 6-8w
Litter size 6-8 kits
Weaning age 6 weeks
Sexing: Anogential distance
Health Problems
adrenal disease are tumors on the adrenal
glands which are located in front of the
kidneys
 most common symptoms of adrenal
disease include: hair loss usually
beginning at the end of their tail (though it
can appear anywhere on your ferret),
muscle loss and/or a potbelly appearance,
and weight loss.
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Health Problems
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Insulinoma – disease of the pancreas that
causes dangerously low blood sugar
The most common early sign of insulinoma is
"staring into space", blank expressions, etc.
Other signs and symptoms include: depression,
weight loss, foaming and pawing at the mouth,
lack of appetite, difficulty in using hind legs, and
in severe cases seizures
Health Problems
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Flu/cold – They can catch it from you
Should be vaccinated for canine distemper and
rabies
Physical injuries – can get into small places and
get hurt
Foreign Bodies – eat something that they should
not have
Diarrhea – If it continues more then 3 days you
should have ferret examined by Vet
Handling
Handling: One hand around chest, one
around butt
 Restraint: Scruff and hold in air, Nutrical
can be used to distract animal
 Sexing: Anogential distance
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http://www.ferretuniverse.com/health/adrenal.asp#flow
 http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/part5.html#
common_diseases
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