Ferret Breeds – A brief look at the popular types
The Ferret is a small mammal scientifically called as mustela putorius furo. The ferrets belong to the genus Mustela, subgenus putorius. One way of classifying the different kinds of ferrets is at the subgenus level. According to this classification, there are only three species in the sub genus – the European polecat; the Siberian polecat and the black-footed ferret.
European ferrets – These ferrets are found in large numbers in the forests and meadows. The European ferret is considered by the scientists as the ancestor of today’s domestic ferret.
Siberian ferrets – They are believed to be very similar to the black footed ferret. They inhabit the great grasslands and the arid regions of Central Asia that is today’s Russia, China and Siberia.
Domestic pet ferrets – These domesticated ferrets are much like the other mammals that man has reared for his necessities. In the colder climates they are used mainly as hunters.
Today the domestic ferrets are bred by commercial and private breeders more as pets and also for hunting of rabbits. This has resulted in a variety of ferrets of several exotic colors. Naturally the ferrets occur in a few colors of brown, white, grey and mixed colors. A distinct feature of the ferrets is the dark circles around their eyes, called as bandit masks, which is also used as one of the aspects for differentiating the different ferret breeds.
The domestic ferrets are categorized into different types based on the following parameters:
• The bandit mask
• The guard hair
• The undercoat hair
• The color of the eyes
• The color and zone of the nose
1. Sable colored ferret – has a bandit like mask around the eyes, and the guard hair is deep warm and brown. The undercoat is generally white changing to a golden tint. The color of the eyes varies from brown to a light brown color. The noses are generally of the T outline type and are either mottled or speckled.
2. Black sable colored ferret – These ferrets too have a bandit mask. The guard hair is black. The under coat of these black sable colored ferrets varies from white to cream color. The eyes are black colored. The nose is mottled and is generally ash, blackish brown.
3. Chocolate colored ferret – mask is similar to that of a bandit. The guard hair is a milky chocolate brown and warm. The undercoat could be white or a golden. The eyes are brown with a pink nose.
4. Champagne colored ferret – resemble the chocolate colored ferret but with black or burgundy hair. Guard hairs are tan brown. Undercoat is white to cream color. Nose is ‘T’ outline in beige, pink, beige and light brown.
5. Cinnamon colored ferret – Similar to the champagne ferret but is reddish tinged.
6. Silver colored ferret – is white and silver. The eyes are black. Charcoal or silver gray guard hair is the highlight here. The undercoat is white. These ferrets do not have a mask and have a black nose.
These are but a few of the popular domestic ferrets that are reared as pets or for hunting of rabbits in certain climates.
