Facts about Ferrets

Ferrets are surely lovable and cute pets. They have average life of 8 years but may live up to 11 or 12 year. The male ferrets are known as jills and the female ferrets are known as hobs. The babies are known as kits. In North America, the castrated females are many times called sprites and the neutered males are known by the name of gibs. What do you call a group of ferrets? It is really interesting, the group of ferrets is known as a “business of ferrets.” These pets are neutered at a very young age in America.

This animal is highly active and playful, thus you will love to watch them roaming and moving here and there. They do have poor eyesight but strong sense of hearing and smell. They are outstanding in these two senses.

Are Ferrets Domestic Animals?

In this context, there are so many misconceptions around but the most probable answer is that the ferrets are surely domesticated animals. They have been domesticated for the last 2000 years. They were brought to US as pets 300 years ago. In various places and countries they are not identified as pets because of the laws concerning keeping the animals as pets and in captivity. Pet ferrets are, sometimes, confused with their wild cousins, the black footed ferrets.

Are the ferrets odorless?

Ferrets have the status of being smelly. This is truly undeserving. It is a fact that they do have a separate and distinct odor but this is not, at all, overpowering or offensive in any sense. It does not matter whether the ferret is neutered or not but this odor is present due to the skin glands. You can give them occasional baths to clean them but you should never indulge in regular bathing activity because this will maximize the odor problem in ferrets. Their skin will become dry and the skin glands will secrete more oils in order to overcome the problem of dryness. The scent glands of the ferrets are typically removed in North America. This work is now being questioned because the fragrant odor of the ferrets is not due to the presence of scent glands. If they are threatened they will release the scent but will not spray it. The smell of their scent vanishes quickly and can be washed in a simple manner.

Some unknown facts about Ferrets:

The term ferret has been derived from a latin word furonem that means “thief.” This meaning is true in all ways because ferrets will steal away everything that comes under their paws.

This pet animal is from the family which also includes polecats, black footed ferrets, weasels, mink, otters, wolverines and badgers.

The scientific name of the ferrets known world wide is Mustela putorius furo but the recent scientific studies have developed another name of their own that is Mustela furo.

The ferret masters have wide variety of their pet names like furballs, carpet sharks, fuzzies, ferts and so on.