Are Ferrets, a Polar Animal, Suitable as Pets? Price, Lifespan and How to Keep Them
The pet ferret, also known as the Angora ferret, comes in many varieties. Because its body size is similar to that of a domestic cat, many people like to keep one, but the pet ferret belongs to the vole family, so you must master the techniques when raising one. So are ferrets suitable as pets? How much does one generally cost? How long can they live? How should you keep them?
Are they suitable as pets?
Ferrets are absolutely suitable as pets, because the pet ferret is a fairly intelligent animal, with an intelligence level similar to that of a 4-year-old human, and its lifespan is also relatively long, generally reaching more than 10 years, making it absolutely a good choice to accompany you. Moreover, pet ferrets have very good living habits and do not take up too much of their owner's time. They are naturally quiet and do not like to be noisy like cats and dogs, and they do not need to be taken out for walks. They can also obediently use the toilet by themselves, making them good little babies that need hardly any worrying about.
However, it is worth noting that when buying one, you absolutely must not buy it from a pet shop, because pet ferrets are all bred on farms now and pet shops cannot breed them. Also, every pet ferret must undergo surgery to remove the scent glands and to be neutered when purchased, otherwise the ferrets' odor may make you very uncomfortable.
Price range:
Like cats and dogs, pet ferrets come in different breeds and different coat colors, and these are the main factors determining the price of an Angora pet ferret. Angora coat colors are subdivided into more than 40 types. Ordinary pet shops will not have such a complete range, but better pet shops can order them, and the price varies from 1000 to 20000 depending on the coat color. For example, the Albino has white fur all over its body, with red pupils, and no stray hairs of other colors are allowed. In fact, this coat color is a kind of albinism, and the number is relatively scarce. So it is expensive and not easy to keep.
How long do they generally live?
The average lifespan of a pet ferret is 10~12 years, and it is said that the longest can reach 15 years. Because the pet ferret's digestive tract is relatively short, it is strongly recommended to feed it special ferret food.
The lifespan of a pet ferret is like that of cats and dogs, and it can accompany its owner for more than ten years. Young ferrets are naughty and lively, and naturally active. After the age of 5, they begin to become quiet. But even when quiet, they still like to play with their owners and will ask their owners for more affection. They will climb onto your lap while you are watching TV, let you stroke their belly, and sleep soundly.
Some people also say that the average lifespan of a pet ferret is 6~10 years, while some can live even longer. Pet ferrets need canine distemper and rabies vaccinations every year, and regular veterinary checkups. In some areas where mosquitoes are rampant, heartworm disease requires extra attention. Other common problems include intestinal obstruction (caused by swallowing foreign objects or hairballs), kidney disease (causing itching or patchy hair loss), insulinoma and some other intestinal diseases. Pet ferrets can also catch human colds and the fleas of cats and dogs. At six months of age, ferrets should be neutered to avoid health and body odor problems.
At present, the common pet ferrets in China are mainly the Angora ferret introduced from Denmark, as well as the Marshall ferret from the United States, but because the numbers are very small, their market share is quite low. The lifespan of these pet ferrets is also between 8~12 years.
Notes on keeping them:
1. The structure of a pet ferret's digestive system is completely different from that of cats and dogs. Their digestive tract is very short, and for this reason they urinate and defecate fairly frequently; moreover, owners must never let them eat cat food or dog food for a long time.
2. Keeping a pet ferret costs more than 100 yuan a month. Pet ferrets are carnivores, and steamed buns and rice will not satisfy them. Eating ferret food, using bathing supplies and so on costs 120 yuan~150 yuan a month.
3. Ferrets have good memories and love cleanliness, so when they are young, concentrate on training them. Use a litter tray specially made for ferrets and fill it with ferret litter, and it will not be difficult to achieve the result you want.
4. Young pet ferrets are naughty and lively, and naturally active. Angora ferrets can be tamed, and their intelligence is higher than that of cats and dogs, with a cleverness even equivalent to that of a two-and-a-half-year-old child. Normally you can teach them to do many difficult tricks, such as rolling on the ground and spinning in circles.
5. Angora ferrets love cleanliness like cats and like to curl up their bodies to sleep. They are clever and bright. At the same time, they are affectionate toward people like dogs, and like to follow their owners running around everywhere. In particular, they are full of curiosity about everything, neither shrinking back nor sulking, and full of a spirit of exploration, adding endless fun to their owner's life.
6. Pet ferrets should receive immunization between 8 weeks and 12 weeks after birth. According to relevant national regulations and the principles of animal protection, ferrets should at least receive rabies vaccination immunization. If you want the ferret to be healthier, then receiving canine parvovirus and canine distemper vaccine immunization is also a good practice. After that, they should be immunized regularly every year to ensure the ferret's bodily immunity level.
7. Pet ferrets must not eat foods such as milk, chocolate, plants and raw meat.
8. Because food takes only 23 hours to pass through a ferret, it is recommended to follow the principle of small, frequent meals, dividing the feed into two feedings, morning and evening. Young ferrets eat even less each time, so dividing it into 5~8 feedings is better. Young ferrets under half a year old should preferably not be fed dry food, because their teeth and stomach and intestines are not fully developed. The feed can be soaked in water before feeding, so that the nutrients can be absorbed better.
9. The pet ferret is a kind of polar animal. It is relatively tolerant of cold, but it has no sweat glands and its heat tolerance is poor. To this day they are still very sensitive to heat. Generally speaking, 25 degrees Celsius is a temperature they find comfortable, and the maximum temperature must not exceed 30 degrees Celsius. High temperatures may cause them heatstroke, heat exhaustion, or even death. Owners should try to avoid placing the ferret's cage or nest in a place with exhaust vents or direct sunlight, and also avoid placing it near an air conditioner or heater. For ferrets, the suitable humidity should be kept at 50%~70%.