What Is a Ferret?
     Named after the Latin word for thief, furonem, Ferrets are among the most popular of household pets today. Like cats, they can be both curious and friendly, and with some effort can be trained. They're very social animals and prefer to be in groups.

     Often, humans are a part of that social group. Ferrets have been domesticated pets for possibly as long as 2,500 years. They were a favorite among royalty in the late Middle Ages.

     As members of the large weasel family, they are cousins to 65 different species, including badgers, otters, ermine and mink, and - of course - weasels. They're sleek, with short fur and come in a variety of brown colors with black highlights. There's even an albino form, with all white fur and pink eyes. Males are typically around 18 inches and 2.5 lbs, females slightly smaller.

The Latin name is appropriate since ferrets will often take toys, food or other small objects and hide them. No one has a definitive answer on why, but like squirrels and others it probably derives from the need to hoard food. That behavior helps them feed through lean times, especially winter.

Often mistakenly believed to have an unpleasant odor, they do give off a natural musky scent from glands. Those glands are often removed by commercial ferret vendors, but the odor is just as often a buildup of smells from improper care. Many pet stores and some ferret owners will simply put a few ferrets in a cage with food and water - sometimes with a litter box - and then forget about it for days.

Reality Check For Potential Owners Of Ferrets

     Owning an exotic pet is a big decision for anybody and should be given a deep thought before it’s taken. There are many constraints which should be considered like expenditure, permit, laws, care, time devotion, etc. The owner should not take a step forward unless one is able to make a lifetime commitment. There are chances that the owner might simply get bored of taking care of the pet and even the animal can develop behavioral patterns which are dislikeable later on. If the pet is adopted very late, it would be difficult for it to accept the new owner. If the owner is tired, it would be really difficult to find a new owner and setting them free is also not advisable as it is dangerous and will put the animal’s life to risk.

     Firstly, what species of exotic animals you want to adopt as pet should be decided upon. Then, understand the qualities, needs, and problems related to the particular animal like humans are different from the other, so are animals. A brochure or a website might give a generalized view. But only when an in-depth study of the individual animal is done its true personality can be determined. The owner should also understand that some animals even after perfect training grow up to be more aggressive and undisciplined and on the other hand sometimes abused animals grow up to be perfect pets.

     The owner and family members must question themselves whether they will become responsible owners or not. The size of the animal, when it is young and when it is fully grown should also be considered, as this is important factor deciding upon the environment to be provided to the animal. Initially potential owners portray a picture of cuddling and playing with the pet. This sure is feasible only if the exotic animals do not grow very big. If a household exotic pet is desired, its fully grown weight should range from eighteen to forty pounds to be adopted as a pet. Some exotic animals become more of a threat when they grow and the owners decide to confine them to a cage due to this reason. This results in pet missing sleeping with the family members and also missing the freedom of moving around the place.

     When a potential owner does research before buying the pet, he will surely come across conflicting views. On one hand there will be animal rights activities who will sound completely in love with the animal and will go on and on and paint a beautiful picture. But on the other hand, there will be testimonials of owners who write down about the problems they had faced with the animal. The potential owner should choose the more realistic information. If time permits, potential owner should work voluntarily with some organizations which deals with the animals you want to have as a pet. This real time experience will be a true lesson.

     Owning an exotic animal is very costly. Costs such as buying, legal work, feeding, habitat building, and veterinary costs should be jotted down before adopting a pet. The smaller the animal the more affordable it is. Bigger animals grow more rapidly and so will the cost associated with it.

     After the decision is made, the next step is the law regarding the adoption of the pet. The potential owner should study the federal, county, city and state laws about the ownership of that particular species. The endangered species status should also be checked for the desired pet because of legal issues. Additional permits if necessary would have to be issued. Also the laws and legislations change from time to time, which should be kept track of. If the situation arises, the owner should also be ready to fight for the custody of the pet. In some places, owing an exotic animal is banned.
 

Where Do Ferrets Come From?

The history of one of our favorite domestic pets is still awhirl in controversy. Some points are generally agreed on, but much is still shrouded in mystery.

References to ferrets, or at least very similar animals, goes back many centuries. Though not identified exactly, something very like ferrets is mentioned in a play by Aristophanes and essays by Aristotle over 2,500 years ago. More certain are the many pieces of evidence to ferrets, both in writing and paintings, in the late Middle Ages.

   There are references in the 13th century to ferreters who were part of the 'staff' of the Royal Court in England. Between 1200AD and 1400AD ferrets were a favorite pet of royalty. But, 'pet' has a slightly different meaning when applied to an animal many centuries past.

   Animals were expected to 'earn their keep' in times past. They were probably bred for that very purpose. With the growth of rabbit and mice populations, and the increase in grain stores and agriculture, an animal that would hunt down those who fed on them was helpful. Ferrets were very adept at sliding into burrows and flushing out rabbits. They could also easily chase out a mouse to waiting cats.

Which type of ancestor is difficult to pinpoint precisely. Because their tiny bones decay so thoroughly, it's hard to find fossil evidence to trace their exact history. The leading theory is they were descendant from Western European polecats.

Scientists have numerous clues to work with in trying to verify that. They can examine general body characteristics (so called 'morphology'), and compare with other species. They can look at teeth and make good guesses about diet, which helps them narrow down location and type. They can examine fat distribution within the body and compare to genetic cousins. And, they can examine actual DNA and make careful comparisons and distinctions with known species.

Scientists have assigned ferrets, like most animals, a Latin name as well. They're part of a family called 'mustelids', which derives from the Latin 'mus' (for 'mouse'). But they are not rodents. The full name is Mustela Putorius Furo. Putor refers to their odor and furo is derived from the word for thief. The last suggests that even centuries ago ferrets had been commonly observed to snatch items and hide them.

Gradually, through the 19th century, they evolved more and more as working companions. They have even been trained to string cables through pipes in the North Sea and to run wires through small conduits in jets. By the time of the 1970s and later, they became purely pets for millions of people. That is, animals were kept around solely for the joy of their company.

And, that may be the best answer of all to 'Where Do Ferrets Come From?'. They come from our desire to interact with these funny, friendly and fantastic creatures.

Preparing Your Home for Ferret Life

     For the sake of your ferret's safety and your sanity, it pays many times over to take a careful look at your home. Ferrets are active and highly exploratory animals. They're also extremely slender and agile. They can get into the most unlikely places. Examining your home inside and out for all the ways a ferret can get into trouble will save both you and your ferret a lot of grief.

     First, try to imagine that you are a busy, curious ferret. Get low down to the floor and look at everything low enough or having holes large enough for you to investigate. Rest assured your ferret will! Recliner chairs, couches, beds and a whole lot more that are common around houses are spaces that a ferret can and will seek out.

     But those spaces can easily turn a curious adventure into a lethal catastrophe. A ferret that winds up under a chair or fold-out bed that is suddenly jerked open or closed can suffer serious injury or death. It will take considerable ingenuity to keep them inaccessible. When you can't, be extra aware of where your ferret is before making any sudden moves.

     Staircases are another possible danger. Ferrets can easily make their way up to the second floor and dash off between the rails. Unlike cats, ferrets that fall may be fatal. Either child-proof the rails or put up gates at any entrance to keep them off the steps entirely.

     Ovens or stoves, dryers, even refrigerators can represent a fascinating new world for your ferret to investigate. But if they wind up there without your knowledge they are likely to get harmed. Even when you don't accidentally turn on the device, getting caught inside an appliance can be harrowing for ferret and human. Keep anything low enough to be accessible off limits.

     Since they're so exploratory even closed cabinets are a likely place to find your ferret when you least expect it. If the cabinet is low, they'll roll over and claw the bottom to open it. Then, in they go!

     Unfortunately for the health and safety of your companion, most of the things in those cabinets are harmful. Keep cleansers, sponges and other items out of reach by employing a locking system of the sort familiar to parents with infants.

     Any hole small enough to fit a head through is irresistible to (and accessible by) a ferret. They were bred to chase rabbits out of burrows. But they can make their own holes too. Sharp teeth and claws mean the ability to get through a screen when they're motivated. Consider an add-on section that makes the lower portion impervious.

     The most important element is simply being aware of where your ferret is. That can be harder than keeping track of a two-year old human. But your peace of mind and the safety of your friend depend on it.
 

 Ferrets make great pets, but one must remember that they need stimulation as well.