Pets: everything you need to know about ferrets

Being a domesticated animal more than 2,000 years ago, the ferret It is an alternative when looking to adopt a pet. In addition to having a cute appearance, this species usually forms direct bonds with its owners, they are happy and easy to train.

However, it is important to know its main characteristics and the type of power supply it requires be able to extend their life expectancy, which remains between 6 and 10 years, depending on various variables.

Belonging to the mustelid family (also includes the weasel and the otter), the ferret has the distinction of having been domesticated by man, and today it is common to see it as a pet in various homes.

Its name, “ferret” in English, comes from the Latin furonem, meaning thief. At the time, these animals were known to steal and hide anything they could find within their reach.

One of the main characteristics that made them tamable was their ability to sleep: They can spend at least 18 hours a day sleeping. However, their few active hours really keep them hyperactive, happy and playful. Furthermore, they tend to adapt their sleeping hours to those of the people they live with.

It is estimated that their average lifespan is between 6 and 10 years, although it will depend solely on the animal, its lifestyle and its daily diet, among other factors.

According to the portal “Uron.org”, specialized in this animal, “although 6 to 10 years of life may seem short compared to other pets such as dogs or cats, in reality the lifespan of a ferret is much longer” . of many other species of mustelids or rodents such as: hamsters, skunks, mice, among others.

“For a domestic ferret to have a better life expectancy, nutrition is essential; it ensures that the animal has a healthy and enjoyable life. Due to the large amount of energy that this animal invests, it is important to keep the ferret on a balanced diet with proteins and fats,” he adds.

Fun facts about ferrets

The “20 Minuti” portal shared research on ferrets, which highlights some particular characteristics of the animal that allow it to be an option as a pet, although it also stands out for being solitary:

• They have rather poor eyesight, they do not calculate distances well (it is dangerous to have them in high places because for them a fourth floor is a perfectly skippable distance), but they make up for it with their sense of smell and good hearing, which are very developed.
• They have been domesticated for almost 2000 years, but in many countries they are still not recognized as pets.
• The way to keep a ferret still is to offer him a nice treat to distract him, although, like cats, you can hold him by the scruff of the neck (like their mothers do) and put him into a relaxed state.
• Ferrets’ digestion is very fast because they have a very short intestine. They are carnivores and do not tolerate vegetables well, although they may enjoy a raisin or fruit from time to time.
• A ferret’s coat color can change dramatically throughout its life, likely due to environmental factors, neutering, age, etc.