Linkus and Linkus and Chianna (aka Chianna (aka FERRETS!)FERRETS!)

Quick HistoryQuick History Domestic ferret belongs to same Domestic ferret belongs to same

family as weasels, mink and family as weasels, mink and polecatspolecats

Have been in U.S. for over 300 Have been in U.S. for over 300 yearsyears

Used in 1800’s for rodent controlUsed in 1800’s for rodent control Most no longer able to survive in Most no longer able to survive in

wild because of domesticationwild because of domestication Only black-footed ferrets are wild and Only black-footed ferrets are wild and

found in Arizona in small numbersfound in Arizona in small numbers On endangered species list!On endangered species list!

Major colorsMajor colors

Common SableCommon Sable

White (can have red eyes)White (can have red eyes)

Silver MittSilver Mitt

CinnamonCinnamon

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Long, slender, muscular bodyLong, slender, muscular body Short legsShort legs Five toesFive toes Change coats COMPLETELY twice a Change coats COMPLETELY twice a

year (shedding)year (shedding) Oval-shaped heads (males have Oval-shaped heads (males have

broader heads and are less pointed)broader heads and are less pointed)

Males AKA hobsMales AKA hobs Females AKA jillsFemales AKA jills Males usually largerMales usually larger THE SMELL!!THE SMELL!!

Odor comes from anal glandsOdor comes from anal glands Can be surgically removed (aka Can be surgically removed (aka

descenting)descenting) Still will have some smell Still will have some smell

Cannot purchase a male or female Cannot purchase a male or female that has not been that has not been spayed/neutered!spayed/neutered! Only breeders canOnly breeders can

Eyesight is not goodEyesight is not good Primarily nocturnal so they didn’t need itPrimarily nocturnal so they didn’t need it

Highly developed sense of hearing, Highly developed sense of hearing, smell and touchsmell and touch

Life span 8-11 yearsLife span 8-11 years Have 40 teeth!!Have 40 teeth!! Hobs are 16-20 inches long and 4-7lbsHobs are 16-20 inches long and 4-7lbs Jills are 12-14 inches long and 1.5-3lbsJills are 12-14 inches long and 1.5-3lbs Normal temperature is 101.8 degrees!Normal temperature is 101.8 degrees!

HousingHousing

Need to include litter box, sleeping area, and Need to include litter box, sleeping area, and play areaplay area

Make sure all latches on doors are goodMake sure all latches on doors are good Ferrets try to escape a lot! They are good at it!!Ferrets try to escape a lot! They are good at it!!

Need cage which is very open so they can Need cage which is very open so they can observe what is going on around themobserve what is going on around them They are naturally curiousThey are naturally curious

Can be kept outside all yearCan be kept outside all year Need protection from rain and sunNeed protection from rain and sun Cannot tolerate temperatures above 95 degreesCannot tolerate temperatures above 95 degrees

FoodFood

Need high-quality dry cat or dry kitten Need high-quality dry cat or dry kitten food because of the high proteinfood because of the high protein

High quality ferret food is now High quality ferret food is now available! Better for them, but more available! Better for them, but more expensiveexpensive

Older ferrets may need vegetable oil Older ferrets may need vegetable oil added to help digestion and to added to help digestion and to maintain a healthy coat. (1/2 teaspoon maintain a healthy coat. (1/2 teaspoon per day)per day)

Meat scraps, fruits, red licorice, Meat scraps, fruits, red licorice, and ice cream CAN be used as and ice cream CAN be used as treatstreats Too much will make them very sick!Too much will make them very sick!

Never give bones as treatsNever give bones as treats

HandlingHandling

Grasp around the body at front Grasp around the body at front shouldersshoulders Place other hand near rear Place other hand near rear

Very agile animals! Very agile animals! Will usually go limp while being Will usually go limp while being

picked uppicked up Can scruff them (will cause them to Can scruff them (will cause them to be still-does not hurt them)be still-does not hurt them)

TrainingTraining

Can be litter box trained!Can be litter box trained! Prefer to relieve themselves in the Prefer to relieve themselves in the

same area all of the timesame area all of the time Can learn to sit and beg for treats, Can learn to sit and beg for treats,

sit on shoulders, sit in hood of sit on shoulders, sit in hood of sweatshirt, etc.sweatshirt, etc.

DiseasesDiseases

Canine distemper!Canine distemper! Highly contagiousHighly contagious Usually fatal to ferretsUsually fatal to ferrets Need vaccinationNeed vaccination

BotulismBotulism Caused by bacteriaCaused by bacteria Symptoms: difficulty breathing, Symptoms: difficulty breathing,

paralysisparalysis

Ear mitesEar mites Common problemCommon problem Need to clean ears frequentlyNeed to clean ears frequently

MitesMites Causes hair loss and skin lesionsCauses hair loss and skin lesions

ReproductionReproduction Females come into heat first time Females come into heat first time

around 10 months oldaround 10 months old Ovulation occurs AFTER matingOvulation occurs AFTER mating Average gestation period is 6 Average gestation period is 6

weeksweeks Very protective of young!Very protective of young!

Do not handle young until 2 weeks oldDo not handle young until 2 weeks old Young born with eyes and ears Young born with eyes and ears

closed, are pink and have white closed, are pink and have white fuzz on themfuzz on them

Average litter is 6-8Average litter is 6-8 Female ferret will remain in heat if Female ferret will remain in heat if

not bred againnot bred again This can cause aplastic anemia and This can cause aplastic anemia and

can kill hercan kill her Symptoms: listlessness, depression, pale Symptoms: listlessness, depression, pale

white gums, dehydration and feverwhite gums, dehydration and fever Need to breed, spay or use hormones Need to breed, spay or use hormones

to bring out of heatto bring out of heat

Bathing Ferrets (do not have Bathing Ferrets (do not have to write this!)to write this!)

Step 1:Step 1: Run some luke warm water into a Run some luke warm water into a

basin. With the water still running, basin. With the water still running, thoroughly wet your ferret's fur.thoroughly wet your ferret's fur.

Step 2: Step 2: Pour some shampoo onto the fur and Pour some shampoo onto the fur and

rub it into a rich lather. Don't forget rub it into a rich lather. Don't forget the head - fleas love to congregate the head - fleas love to congregate here. Make sure you use a good here. Make sure you use a good quality shampoo, one that is quality shampoo, one that is formulate especially for ferrets or for formulate especially for ferrets or for kittens.kittens.

Step 3: Step 3: Dampen a Q-tip and insert it straight Dampen a Q-tip and insert it straight

down into your ferret's ear, as down into your ferret's ear, as demonstrated. Gently rotate and demonstrated. Gently rotate and remove. If it is dirty, repeat with a remove. If it is dirty, repeat with a fresh Q-tip until the ear is clean.fresh Q-tip until the ear is clean.

Step 4: Step 4: Rinse your ferret under luke warm Rinse your ferret under luke warm

water, and gently squeeze the water, and gently squeeze the excess water from the fur. Pour on excess water from the fur. Pour on a conditioner or rinse and a conditioner or rinse and distribute evenly through the fur.distribute evenly through the fur.

Step 5: Step 5: Rinse your ferret thoroughly under Rinse your ferret thoroughly under

luke warm water, not forgetting luke warm water, not forgetting the head and under the chin and the head and under the chin and arms. Ensure that all traces of arms. Ensure that all traces of shampoo and conditioner are shampoo and conditioner are removed from the fur, because it removed from the fur, because it could cause irritations if not could cause irritations if not washed away properly.washed away properly.

Step 6:Step 6: Towel dry your fuzzy with a soft Towel dry your fuzzy with a soft

towel. When you set your ferret towel. When you set your ferret down, watch out for a mad run down, watch out for a mad run accompanied by ruffling fur and accompanied by ruffling fur and shaking tails.shaking tails.

Interesting Ferret Facts! Interesting Ferret Facts! (write (write them)them)

An unspayed female ferret is called a An unspayed female ferret is called a jilljill while a spayed female is a while a spayed female is a spritesprite. An . An intact male is a intact male is a hobhob and a neutered and a neutered male is called a male is called a gibgib. .

Ferrets have been domesticated for Ferrets have been domesticated for thousands of years; in fact, on the walls thousands of years; in fact, on the walls of some Egyptian tombs there are of some Egyptian tombs there are pictures of ferret-like creatures on pictures of ferret-like creatures on leashes.leashes.

Ferrets have no inherent fear of humans.Ferrets have no inherent fear of humans. A newborn ferret is so small that it can A newborn ferret is so small that it can

fit into a teaspoon!fit into a teaspoon! All ferret kits have white fur at birth.All ferret kits have white fur at birth. After kithood (6-8 weeks of age) ferrets After kithood (6-8 weeks of age) ferrets

make very few sounds.make very few sounds.

The average ferret lives to be 6 or 7 The average ferret lives to be 6 or 7 years old.years old.

Ferrets like to crawl into small dark Ferrets like to crawl into small dark spaces to sleep.spaces to sleep.

Ferrets are members of the mink Ferrets are members of the mink family.family.

Ferrets can sleep so soundly that Ferrets can sleep so soundly that they cannot be woken up even they cannot be woken up even when picked up and jostled.when picked up and jostled.

A small ferret may be able to A small ferret may be able to squeeze through a hole just over an squeeze through a hole just over an inch in diameter.inch in diameter.