Ferret Pictures – Showcase your Favorite Little Pet
The ferret is an animal very similar to the polecat and is one of the most popular pet animal especially in the Western world. This furry animal comes in various colors with brown being the most common. It is carnivorous by nature and is not allowed as pets in some countries due to its predatory habits.
Physical Characteristics
A ferret grows to a length of about 20 inches from nose-tip to tail tip. The tail is about 5 inches long. It gets to around 5 inches in height and a full grown ferret could weigh anything from 1 to 5 lbs. The male ferret is larger than the female. A female ferret gives birth to 3 to 7 kits after a gestation period of 42 days. Normally there are 2 to 3 litters in a year. A baby ferret becomes independent in about 3 months and sexually mature in about 6 months. Normal life span of a ferret is 7 to 10 years.
All ferrets are covered entirely by fur with the males getting a heavier coat. Most ferrets are brownish in color but you will also find quite a few black, white or mixed colored ferrets. There are some ferrets with chocolate, silver, sable or even cinnamon colored fur. You could also see a ferret with a white head like a panda or one with black feet and tail like a Siamese cat. A ferret has thirty four teeth which include four long and very sharp canine teeth that are used for killing its prey.
Behavioral Patterns
If you get a ferret as a pet you will see that it sleeps almost throughout the day for about 18 hours. But when it is awake which is mostly at dawn or dusk it gets into a frenzy of activities. A ferret in its natural habitat spends most of its waking hours in hunting and eating and some of it in procreating. A domesticated ferret which will not be able to perform its natural duties is normally very charged up and aggressive in a playful manner. It will spend most of its waking time prancing around and chasing imaginary prey. This little animal is vey intelligent and can be trained very easily.
Health and Diet
A ferret is a very delicate animal that can get affected by a number of diseases from cancer to viral infections. Ferrets are prone to a number of types of cancer. These animals also have a weak digestive system. Some of the diseases infecting ferrets often prove to be fatal. Ferrets are carnivores and prefer to eat meat.
A ferret is a very lovable pet. This hairy little thing is very photogenic too. The best time to take pictures of a ferret is in the early morning as it is waking up. It is a slow starter and you will get some beautiful pictures before it is wide awake as once it is really awake it gets so active that it will be virtually impossible to get any pictures.
Ferret Care: Six Things to Keep in Mind
A ferret is a mammal that belongs to the family of Mustilidae. They require constant human care and attention. The commonly found ferrets have black, brown, white or mixed fur.
Housing your Ferret
Your new housemate needs your attention to be happy and comfortable in your home. A large sized cage is required for them to roam around freely. It would be help if you buy a cage that has separate feeding and sleeping areas or you can get a multi-level cage too. Usually a multi-level cage is equipped with hammocks and ladders.
Ferret Health
A ferret is like a newborn baby that needs warmth and care along with fresh food and water. Its cage needs to be cleared off litter routinely. Naturally, ferrets sleep for most part of the day and tend to be active at dawn and dusk but with training, they learn to adapt to your time schedules.
Ferret Food
Ferrets are essentially carnivores. Therefore, they lack the ability to derive nutrition from plant matter. A ferret’s diet should be rich in animal protein, high in fat and low in fiber. It must also contain dry food along with constant supply of water. The pellets of dry food help to clean the ferret’s teeth and gums but you must soften a baby ferret’s food with enough water. Ferrets have an active metabolism and so it requires supply of food every 3 to 4 hours.
Combat the Odor
Ferrets are crowned to have a distinct musky odor about them. It is due to the presence of the skin glands and does not depend on the castration. So, occasional baths are recommended but frequent bathing worsens the situation as the glands secrete more oils to balance the dryness of the skin.
Toys for Ferrets
Although ferrets can play with almost everything available, it is important to buy toys that are non-hazardous to ferrets. Toys must be inspected for loose parts or sharp ends regularly. It is better to avoid toys made of rubber. Large ferret balls with holes in them for the ferret to move in and out, hanging parrot toys, hard plastic balls and teething rings make some of the interesting choices for ferrets.
Joys of Being Healthy
Common cold and flu is one of the common illnesses that you could pass on to your. Your pet needs vaccination for canine distemper and rabies. A series of three shots at 8 weeks, 11 weeks and 14 weeks are to given in the first stage of distemper vaccination. The ferret is vaccinated against rabies at 12 weeks of age. Both the vaccinations are required annually thereafter. Consult a veterinarian for the good health of your ferret.
It is indeed easy to train ferrets with healthy habits with right information. There are scores of magazines, websites and specialist ferret veterinarian clinics available for help. Grooming competitions and a host of other events also take place for ferrets at ferret clubs.
