In this article we want to talk about a creature that has wild origins, similar to those of the domestic cat, but that has earned its place in the home of many pet lovers for a long time. It is the ferret and it has become the third favorite pet in the United States, after dogs and cats.
the ferret
The ferret or Mustela putorius furo, is a subspecies that belongs to the polecat family. It is said that its domestication occurred at least two thousand five hundred years ago and there was a need for it because a species that could end an infestation of rabbits was required, so the reasons for its domestication were utilitarian. The average ferret reaches about 38 cm and weighs between 0,7 and 2 kilos.
History
According to the corresponding archaeological investigations, the first fossil discoveries of ferrets date back to about 1.500 years BC. C. But there is no precise idea of the moment in which it began to be domesticated to carry out very specific tasks, such as ending pests in buildings and places. It is thought that it was a process very similar to that of the cat.
It has been argued that the ancient Egyptians kept ferrets as pets, but what is more likely is that Europeans visiting Egypt at the time saw cats, and concluded that using a small carnivorous animal to guard the grain stock was an excellent idea. . This is the conclusion reached when no mummified ferrets or hieroglyphic representations of them were found.
What is known is that around the year 6 a. C., Emperor Caesar Augustus ordered that ferrets or mongooses, which were called viverrae by Pliny the Elder in his writings, be sent to the Balearic Islands near Hispania, in order to control a plague of rabbits.
The ferret is most likely descended from the polecat (Mustela putorius), which is why the most widely used scientific name for this animal is Mustela putorius furo. Although the possibility that ferrets have among their ancestors the steppe polecat (Mustela eversmannii) is not ruled out.
Hunting
For hundreds of years the main use for which ferrets were employed was hunting lagomorphs (rabbits). Because they have a long and thin body, it was the perfect animal, which was adapted to enter the burrows and hunt the animals that were inside.
Ferrets are still used to hunt in several countries, particularly in Australia, where rabbits are considered a pest and, although modern technology is available to do the job, it turns out that the mixture of a few nets and a couple of ferrets is still absolutely effective.
In Spain, the possibility of using ferrets for hunting is regulated in each autonomous community, although in most of them, as in the Balearic Islands, they prohibit their use for that purpose by law. But in other autonomous communities, despite that hunting with ferrets is prohibited, they are allowed to do so if a permit is obtained from the corresponding Autonomous Council, because it is recognized that there is a plague of rabbits.
Ferrets as Pets
Ferrets are the animals that happen to be more dog-like than cat-like, particularly from a veterinary standpoint. In Spain, it is mandatory that they have a passport with a chip and vaccinations according to the regulations, including, although not in all communities, it is required that they be vaccinated against rabies.
These are animals with a lot of energy, very curious and they like to play with their masters. It is claimed that humans came to domesticate ferrets due to their curiosity. Whether this is true or not, ferrets' curiosity outweighs their survival instinct and this has the consequence that their survival options in the human environment are severely restricted.
According to the reports that have been made, ferrets are the third most common pet in the United States, after dogs and cats, and they learn to live with them and adapt to the rules of the house. It has been shown that, in terms of proportion, ferrets cause less damage than dogs and cats. And they even have a world day, it's October 10.
Household Hazards for Ferrets
One of the specialties of ferrets is that they are experts at getting through holes in cabinets, walls, or behind appliances, but in those places it is easy for them to be injured or even killed by electrical installations, fans and other dangerous items.
Believe it or not, folding chairs are a real death trap for ferrets, because they frequently climb on them, folding them later and can be crushed to death.
Due to what we have explained, before you decide to buy a ferret as a pet, you are required to take some measures in your home, such as removing or protecting any furniture or device that is going to be dangerous for the animal, or make disappear the probable holes that can be found in the house. The measure that multiple owners have taken is to lock their ferrets in cages at night or when they are away from home.
Food
The feeding by nature of ferrets is carnivorous. The food for cats, if it is a high quality product, is much better than the food for ferrets that can be found on the market, because almost all of them are made of cereals that are very harmful to the health of the cat. ferret.
When you go to buy food for ferrets, make sure you read the label and that it says that the three ingredients with the highest concentration are meat derivatives, because ferrets are not capable of digesting the compounds made with them in the correct way. cereals that are used by ferret food brands that cost less.
The ideal ferret food should contain 32% to 38% protein and 15% to 20% fat, but the origin (the protein source of the ferret food should always come from meat, never from soy or of similar plants). It is true that the desirable thing is that the food has a high protein content, that is an absolutely necessary requirement, but if it is in a concentration higher than 38% it could cause kidney stones and urinary obstructions in older ferrets.
Raisins and malt are not recommended in the diet of ferrets, because although it is a tiny amount of sugar, it could be the origin of abnormalities in the functioning of the pancreas, which is the organ in which insulin is generated. On the other hand, vegetable products do not contribute anything to the diet of ferrets, who, being strictly carnivorous, have very short intestines, which prevents them from being able to assimilate vegetable proteins.
Activity
Ferrets are very lazy, they sleep for a long time, about fourteen to eighteen hours a day they are sleeping, but in the hours they are awake they are very active animals, which are dedicated to exploring their entire environment in a very exhaustive way. Ferrets are animals that have a twilight behavior, that is, their activity is concentrated in the periods of dawn, dusk and part of the night.
If they are locked in cages, they must be taken out daily, so that they can exercise and satisfy their curiosity: They require at least an hour of exercise and a place to play. Ferrets, in the same way that cats do, can use a box, preferably in a corner, to relieve themselves if we give them a little training, although it is necessary to have boxes in different rooms, because they will not look for them if they are far away.
Ferrets will also be happy in a backyard and like to be accompanied in the garden. But it is not advised that they be allowed to roam freely, because ferrets are reckless and do not assess danger, they tend to explore any hole they can find, which includes rain gutters and people's bags. When they are outside, make sure you keep them well guarded, and preferably on a leash that has a two-section harness.
Games
Ferrets are very extroverted animals, they really like to play with humans. The game, from the animal's perspective, can be something that resembles hide-and-seek or more similar to a way of representing a hunt, in which the human must capture it, or it must try to bite the humans on their limbs.
Just like in playful cat play, ferrets don't actually bite their human playmates most of the time, but gently latch onto a finger or toe with their mouths and then roll away. around him. But, if it is an animal that has been abused or is injured, of course they will bite humans very firmly.
Ferrets have fairly strong teeth and are easy to break through human skin, let's not forget carnivores. But if they have been well educated, ferrets are very unusually temperate to humans. The vast majority of toys on the market for cats work well with them.
However, avoid those that are made of rubber or foam, because ferrets can chew them and swallow small pieces that will cause intestinal obstructions. Another peculiarity that you will be able to observe in them is that when the ferrets are especially excited or stressed and excited by the game, they are likely to execute a weasel war dance, in which you will see a series of frantic lateral jumps that are accompanied by a characteristic cry resembling a dok, dok, dok.
Ferrets and Children
Young children need to be watched when they encounter ferrets, as they are likely to think of them as a simple stuffed animal that they can squeeze all they want, without realizing that they are actually strangling it. The usual thing is that the ferret reacts by twisting, scratching, or, in case it is absolutely desperate, it bites very hard.
There is nothing wrong with children playing with ferrets, as long as they are supervised by an adult who can anticipate dangerous situations and warn the little ones what to do and what not to do with these pets. But it is advice that is not only applicable to ferrets, but to any other type of pet, because we must remember that children are just that, children.
In the UK, ferrets are often used as hunters of rodents that infest homes. These mouse and rat hunting ferrets are also known by the name of greyhound ferrets, due to their shorter length and their ability to move quickly through narrow spaces.
Ferret owners sometimes train them to show very aggressive behavior, for this reason, if a child has had previous contact with domestic ferrets they may be in danger if they come into contact with one that has been raised non-domestic or simply irresponsibly, as can happen with any other animal.
social nature
Ferrets are highly social animals, they like to socialize and play with other members of their species. It is common for them to pile on top of each other when they are sleeping. In the event that they are kept as pets, it is recommended that they be two or more, preferably three at a time, so that they do not feel alone.
Although there is nothing wrong with having one alone, as long as it has its due rations of time, attention and games from its owner. It is common for some ferrets to also play with other pets such as house cats.
Other Uses of Ferrets
Lately ferrets have been used to carry cables through long conduits. Those who have used them for these purposes have been NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and by companies that organize events in London. The truth is that the television and sound cables to transmit the wedding of Charles of England and Diana Spencer, and for the Millennium concert in Greenwich Park were installed by ferrets.
Another use in which they have been used, with which many people do not agree, along with many other animal species, is in experiments, which are also often very controversial, for biological and medical research.
Ferrets are also frequently used as assistance animals in hunting, to remove prey from their burrows, which are places that dogs cannot access, but placing a metal collar around their necks so that they cannot eat. or kill the prey.
Ferret Biology
Like other carnivorous animals, ferrets have scent glands located next to their anus. The liquids they excrete are used to demarcate their territories. It has been possible to show that ferrets are capable of identifying whether a mark is made by a female or a male. Just like skunks, the ferret can use its perianal glands in moments of excitement or fear, but its scent quickly wears off.
Likewise, the glands perform the function of lubricating their stools, which helps them not suffer from rectal prolapses or other conditions. In the United States, most ferrets sold as pets have had these glands stripped away, but this results in the animals losing the ability to lubricate their feces.
However, it is fair to say that it is not true that removing the perianal glands removes their odor, it is only an invention. The resource to make the smell that ferrets expel disappear, especially when they are in heat, and usually in males, is to castrate them, either surgically or chemically.
But removing these glands, which, on the other hand, excrete a natural lubricant for the feces that turns out to be very necessary in the case of ferrets, will only harm them, because it is a very delicate and dangerous operation, it is not required. .
It has been proven, thanks to the studies carried out, that it is not necessary to remove these glands, since the gases that they secrete very occasionally, when they are in a situation of stress or fright, are quickly extinguished, and the true cause of the smell of ferrets is a series of glands that are located, above all, at the base of the neck, although they have many more scattered throughout the body, which excrete an oily substance that helps them protect their fur and that produce a more intense odor during times when they are in heat.
A situation that is worrying is that in the United States it has been found that many ferrets suffer from multiple health problems. Of these, the most common are those related to cancers that afflict the adrenal gland, the pancreas and its lymphatic system.
adrenal disease
Adrenal disease, which results in unusual growth of the adrenal glands that is usually the product of hyperplasia or cancer, is usually diagnosed by symptoms such as thinning of the coat, increased aggressiveness, and, in females, enlargement. of the vulva.
Even if it is a benign growth, it can generate hormonal variability whose effects are usually very serious for the health of the ferret. Removing affected glands and giving steroid or hormone therapy have been suggested as valid treatment options. The origin of adrenal disease is not yet known, but some specialists think that the cycles of artificial light to which ferrets are exposed create alterations in the photoperiod and may cause or contribute to the growth of these tumors.
Others suggest that it is a hereditary inconvenience, there are studies that have collected the incidence of adrenal disease due to the genetic line of origin of the ferret, and it has also been widely affirmed that it may have its origin in castration at a very early age. , before six weeks of life. On the other hand, there is scientific research that has shown the existence of a direct relationship between adrenal disease and castration, regardless of the age at which the castration is performed.
insulinoma
Another ailment that ferrets are known to suffer from is insulinoma, which is a type of pancreatic cancer. It is known that it begins with the growth of cancerous nodules in the lobes of the pancreas, sometimes, but not always, also causes an increase in the production of insulin, which is what regulates glucose metabolism.
Too much insulin in the body causes a drop in the sugar level, which normally causes lethargy, seizures and finally death in animals. Symptoms of insulinoma include lethargy, drooling, snorting or foaming at the mouth, staring into space, and seizures.
The cause of insulinoma is also unknown. The diet of domestic ferrets is thought to be very different from the natural diet of their ancestors, including too much sugar or carbohydrates. Insulinoma treatment includes removal of cancerous lobes, pharmaceutical treatment with steroids that suppress insulin production, supplemental dietary changes, minimizing carbohydrates and sugars, or a combination.
Viral diseases
Epizootic catarrhal enteritis, ECE, is a viral disease that first appeared in the northeastern United States in 1994. It is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the intestine. In ferrets, this condition presents as severe diarrhoea, which is usually bright green in color, along with loss of appetite and significant weight loss.
The virus can enter ferrets through fluids and indirectly between humans. Although it was initially fatal in many cases when it was discovered, ECE is today less of a threat, as long as it begins to be administered, is identified in time and the appropriate treatment is administered.
Another virus of concern is the one that causes Aleutian disease (ADV), which is a disease that was found in the early XNUMXth century in mink in the Aleutian Islands. In ferrets, this virus affects the immune system, causing them to lose the ability to produce effective antibodies, and affects many internal organs, mainly the kidneys.
Unfortunately, there is no cure or vaccine for this disease, and it is possible for the animal to be a carrier of this virus for months or years, without showing external symptoms. As a result, many ferret protection organizations, as well as pet dealers, recommend that owners have their pets tested for this disease from time to time as a preventative measure and that they be separated from pets. other ferrets if it happens that the result is positive.
Types of Ferrets
There are ferrets of different colors. Ferrets have a wide variety of colors and shades, taking into account that the base color is the one they exhibit on the head, shoulders, legs and tail, excluding the rest of the body, the most common being the following:
- Albino
- Black
- saber black
- Champagne
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon
- White with black eyes (not albino)
- Sand
- Silver
- Tricolor
Likewise, they can present different color patterns, which are:
Standard: they present an appreciable difference, but little, between 10% and 20%, between the color zones that define the base coloration and the rest of the body.
Color point or Siamese: they have a difference between the color points and the rest of the body greater than 20%.
Roano or Marbled: in this case the difference between the color zones is between 50% and 60% of any color and between 40% and 50% of white, without areas of defined colors.
Solid or uniform: they do not present color distinction between the different parts of the body.
Ferrets can also be differentiated by white markings or patterns, and are called:
- Gloves (Mitts): at least one of the legs is white.
- LLamarada (Blaze): they present a continuous white line from the nose to the chest.
- Bib (bib): they have a white spot on the chest.
- Tip: when the tip of the tail is white
- Panda: in this case, they have white hair all over their heads, down to their shoulders, although they may have a kind of slightly marked mask, white feet, a bib and, sometimes, the tip of their tail is also white.
White ferrets were highly prized in the Middle Ages, as they were easy to spot in areas of dense brush, and ownership was restricted to only those earning more than 40 shillings a year. , which was a very important sum of money for that time.
The painting called The Lady with an Ermine, painted by the great Leonardo Da Vinci, actually represents a ferret and not an ermine as such (Mustela erminea). The error in the designation of the painting is due to the fact that at that time that name was used for a type of coloration and not for a specific animal species. Similarly, the portrait of Queen Elizabeth with an Ermine shows Elizabeth I of England with her pet ferret, on which heraldic ermine spots have been drawn.
Waardenburg syndrome
You should pay attention to this section of the article, because ferrets that exhibit stripes or a totally white head, which are known by the names of llamas or pandas, are absolute carriers of a congenital defect that has been called Waardenburg syndrome.
This syndrome is the origin, among other things, of a malformation in the vault of the skull, which becomes larger and is what produces the white marks on the head, but also causes total or partial deafness. It is thought that up to 75% of ferrets with visible signs of the syndrome are deaf.
In addition to this, the malformation of the skull is the origin of a large number of puppies being born dead, as well as some cases of cleft palate. For that reason, many keepers do not breed ferrets that exhibit the symptoms of Waardenburg syndrome.
Ferrets as plague
Ferrets, like other mustelids such as the stoat, are predators of New Zealand's endemic fauna. They were first introduced in 1879, as a measure to control wild rabbits. Ferrets began to cause great concern among New Zealanders when they began to hunt birds instead of their more typical prey.
This situation was favored by the fact that New Zealand birds evolved without having had contact with predatory mammals, and for this fact, they are much easier prey for ferrets.
The owners of ferrets in New Zealand justify themselves by stating that, unlike the current ferrets that are normally kept as pets, the animals that were released in those days were crosses between a ferret and a polecat, which is the European wild ferret, which came from fur farms, in order to ensure their survival in the wild.
Likewise, they affirm that domestic cats currently cause more damage to wild bird populations than ferrets, since the latter are usually castrated at a very young age, between 6 and 8 weeks of life, and are kept in seclusion in the houses of their owners. However, many places around the world have banned the possibility of keeping ferrets as pets, based on the problems in New Zealand.
Legal Regulation in America
In America, these countries have regulations on keeping ferrets as pets:
Argentina: You can have a ferret as a pet, but as long as it is fed properly.
Chile: It has very strict regulations, governed by the SAG (agricultural and livestock service), which is the one who directs and regulates the possession and reproduction of exotic animals in Chile. However, you do not need to be licensed or meet any requirements to purchase them.
Colombia: Its reproduction or internal commercialization is prohibited. If you own a ferret, it must be kept in captivity and it is legal, although its entry into the country must be registered in the Health Information System for Import and Export of Agricultural and Livestock Products (SISPAP), which is governed by the Colombian Institute ICA Farm.
The corresponding documentation is required prior to boarding the animal. It is also required that in the country from which they come they are subjected to deworming procedures and have an Official Sanitary Certificate. Once they arrive in Colombia, they are subjected to a quarantine process under observation, with a minimum of 30 days. If parasites are found within that period, entry into the country may be denied or the animal may be euthanized. The regulation is found in Resolution 842 of 2010 of the ICA.
United States: California and Hawaii have laws that limit the ownership of ferrets. In California, some residents petitioned to make it legal to keep ferrets in that state, but the petition was rejected by a government committee in mid-2005. All other states have no limitations on the breeding, possession, and sale of ferrets. .
Ferrets are also restricted in some cities such as New York, Washington DC, Beaumont (Texas) and Bloomington (Minnesota). While a special permit is required to keep them as pets in some areas such as New Jersey and Rhode Island. Ferrets were legalized in Dallas (Texas) as of August 2005.
Mexico: The Regulation of the General Law of Wildlife, requires all those who sell ferrets in Mexico, the possession of a special marketing permit obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, which is the institution that regulates the management, marketing and security of wild and exotic animals until the sale to the final buyer.
Regulation in Oceania
Australia: it is illegal to keep ferrets as pets in Queensland and the Northern Territory. In Victoria and Canberra a special license is required for this.
New Zealand: It has been illegal to sell, distribute or breed ferrets in New Zealand since 2002, due to concerns about the impact they have had on wildlife in that country.
Regulation in the European Union
There are no limitations in most countries. But in Portugal and France the use of the ferret to hunt animals is prohibited, as it is considered harmful to the environment, but keeping it as a pet is absolutely allowed, except in the Portuguese country, until recently.
In Portugal, the possession of ferrets was recently legalized, but only for the purpose of treating them as pets or companion animals.
Curiosities about ferrets
- The name ferret ferret (ferret in English) the native of the Latin furonem, which means thief. This should not surprise you, since everyone who owns a ferret knows that it is a well-deserved nickname, because they like to steal and hide anything that is within their reach.
- These are very lazy animals, because they sleep, on average, about 18 hours a day. Although they are crepuscular animals, they have managed to adapt to the schedules of the people with whom they live.
- They are blind, because they have very poor vision, they cannot calculate distances well, so it is dangerous to keep them in high places, since for them twenty meters will be a distance that they can jump, but they compensate with their sense of smell and a sense of smell. highly developed ear.
- They have been domestic animals for more than 2.500 years, but there are countries where they are not well known as pets.
- Ferrets have a very strong body odor, which many owners try to get rid of with baths. But this practice is counterproductive, because if they are bathed too often, their skin will dry out and a sebum layer will form, which is the main source of their peculiar smell, to lubricate it. They should be bathed at most once a month.
In the United States it is a common practice to remove its scent glands to reduce its aroma, but this procedure, as we have explained before, is under discussion and is unnecessary, because it does not fulfill the purpose it pursues.
- The way to calm a ferret is to offer it something that they really like to eat to distract it although, as in the case of cats, you can also grab them by the fur on the back of the neck, which is what their mothers of puppies do, and They remain in a state of relaxation.
- The digestion of ferrets is very fast, because their intestine is very short. They are carnivorous and do not digest vegetables well, although they can enjoy some fruit from time to time.
- A ferret's coat color can change dramatically throughout its life, likely due to environmental factors, castration, or age.
- To feed them, there are already several brands of special food for ferrets, although they can also be fed with some cat food. Remember that they are carnivorous animals, so their ideal diet is one that contains animal protein. In any case, we already explained in a previous section of this article how to choose the right food for a ferret.
- Ferrets, as well as many other pets, are being used in therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders because they are restless, playful and sociable. But it must be a specimen that has been proven to be very docile and enjoys the company of people.
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