Ferrets Playing
Ferrets as pets
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, eating foam rubber, and other dangerous items. Fold-out sofas and
recliners 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, however many low quality foods are
not appropriate. When reading the label, the first 3 ingredients should be
meat-based, as ferrets cannot properly digest the cereal fillers used in cheaper
cat and kitten foods. Ferret food should contain between 32–38% protein and
between 15–20% fat. (The protein source of ferret food should be meat based, not
soy or whey.) While a high protein content is absolutely essential a protein
content above 38% can sometimes lead to kidney stones and urinary obstructions
in older ferrets. 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 (14 to 18 hours a day) 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 very 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 readily bite
through human skin. Once properly socialized, however, domesticated ferrets will
only very rarely bite humans.
Most kitten toys work well with ferrets. Toys made of rubber or foam should be
avoided, however, as ferrets can chew off and swallow small pieces leading to
intestinal blockage.
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. Ferrets used
to hunt rats are called 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; therefore, 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 romping togetherFerrets 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. Some ferrets are known to play
with household cats.
Grooming and Care
Ferrets have to be groomed as well. Their nails have to be clipped and their
coat brushed. Also they should be taken to a vet yearly. Ignoring the former can
cause problems, that are not easily noticed, to develop and they can hurt the
ferret without the owner being aware of it. Also if a ferret starts acting
differently than normal they should be taken to a vet to be examined.
Ferrets should also be vaccinated against canine distemper virus, which is
deadly to the species. Most states require a rabies vaccine as well although
there are no documented instances of a ferret passing rabies to a human.
The source of this article and the photo shown is
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this
article is licensed under the
GFDL
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