Mustela putorius furo
Ferret
Ferrets are delightful, demanding carnivores with a real talent for trouble, suited to owners who enjoy active, hands-on pet keeping.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Mustela putorius furo
- Family
- Mustelidae
- Origin
- Domesticated from the European polecat over two thousand years ago
- Lifespan
- 6–10 years
- Adult size
- 35–50 cm including tail
- Weight
- 0.7–2 kg
- Temperament
- Playful, mischievous and intensely curious
- Activity level
- Very high in short bursts, with long deep sleeps
- Social needs
- High — ferrets are happiest in pairs or small groups
- Intelligence
- Excellent problem solvers and escape artists
- Noise
- Quiet chuckling and occasional hissing
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Large multi-level cage as a base, with substantial daily free-roaming time
- Space requirement
- A thoroughly ferret-proofed room — they enter any gap wider than 4 cm
- Temperature
- 15–24°C; heat stroke occurs above 27°C
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Exercise
- Four or more hours daily of supervised out-of-cage play
- Grooming
- Minimal brushing; ear cleaning and nail trims every few weeks
Diet and feeding
Obligate carnivore: high-protein, high-fat ferret food or a complete raw diet
Behaviour and compatibility
The joyful 'weasel war dance', dooking, tunnelling and hoarding objects
- With children
- Supervised older children only; ferrets nip during play
- With other animals
- Serious risk to rabbits, rodents and birds
- Training difficulty
- Moderate; litter training is achievable with patience
Health
- Adrenal disease
- Insulinoma
- Lymphoma
- Canine distemper (fatal, vaccinate)
- Intestinal blockage from swallowed rubber
Needs a ferret-experienced vet and distemper vaccination; blockages are surgical emergencies
Special care requirements
Remove all soft rubber and foam items — ferrets swallow them and obstruct
Before you take one on
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