Stealing many a scene on the silver
screen, ferrets most certainly hold
top awards as the comedic clowns of
the small animal world. With an
otter-like love of frolic and fun,
the ferret is an amazing little
animal that is sure to put a smile
on even the most serious of faces.
Of course, with such a rowdy and
rambunctious rascal in your home,
you need to be extra careful and
very responsible. Interested in what
it takes to own a pet ferret or
wanting to see if a ferret is the
right pet for you? Check out these
helpful hints to see if you and a
ferret are the perfect match:
 What Are Ferrets?
The ferret is a domesticated
cousin of animals such as the
weasel, otter and mink. Originally
trained for the purpose of flushing
rabbits up out of their burrows,
their numbers dwindled significantly
when this practice was outlawed.
Fortunately, their merit as a
household jester saved them and the
ferret soon became known as one of
the more unique (and mischievous)
choices that one could find in
family pets. Today, the number of
household ferrets continues to grow
and, where they were once considered
an unusual pet, it is not uncommon
to find ferrets of all different
shapes, colors and sizes throughout
the world today.
Contrary to popular belief, the
ferret is not a rodent but is, in
fact, somewhere between the cat and
dog on the taxonomical scale. Highly
intelligent, these little creatures
can be taught to use the litter box,
walk on a leash, and can even do a
variety of tricks. Do they seem like
the perfect pet? Well, in all
honesty, ferrets are not for
everyone. First of all, they are
highly mischievous (this cannot be
said enough) and will get into
anything and everything. Because of
this, ferret owners must be
extremely responsible and practice a
ritual that many teasingly refer to
as “ferret-proofing the home,” or
they risk their ferret coming to
harm, as well as losing numerous
trinkets to thieving hands.
Additionally, many places require
ferret owners to have licenses or
permits in order to keep ferrets
and, in some extreme cases, some
areas are known as “ferret-free
zones,” where ferrets are banned and
having one in your possession is
considered illegal. While the ferret
has been domesticated for more than
2,500 years, this is often the
result of their being grouped in
with wild animals or exotics, or the
common misconception that they carry
rabies. Like dogs and cats, ferrets
receive regular booster shots to
keep them safe from harmful
diseases. |
