How Long Do Ferrets Live? Caring About Your Little Furry Friend

Ferrets are trendy pets that are very popular among many people.

They are very playful, tame, and curious animals when kept as pets. Ferrets depend on a ferret owner's care to help them survive.

Ferrets are small, albino, brown, or silver-grey animals related to the weasel family. The common ferret, or Mustela putorius furo, is the only ferret species that is kept as a pet. Ferrets have an average lifespan of five to 10 years of age. They can grow up to 20 in (50.8) in length and weigh around 2.2 lb (1 kg). Ferrets are social animals and live in groups. Ferrets give birth to young twice a year.

You may find ferrets living independently, although this is rare. Unfortunately, ferrets are pets that fall ill easily. You should consult a veterinarian before adopting a ferret as a pet. The lifespan of a ferret depends on how well its owner takes care of it. Young ferrets can die within weeks if lost in the wild.

If you are looking for more fun facts, check out these fun facts articles about animals that eat grass and animals that live in trees.

Care And Feeding Of Ferrets

Caring for a ferret is a huge task, as they require extreme care.

Ferret owners have to be careful in choosing the housing for pet ferrets. Ferrets reproduce excessively in a year, which sometimes leads to reproductive health issues. It is advised to get female ferrets neutered after they reach the age of six months old, as they can develop serious diseases like ovarian cancer and anemia.

Sometimes, spayed male ferrets are used for breeding to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the risk of diseases in female ferrets. Typically, male ferrets also smell after reaching the age of four months due to reaching the age of breeding. Ferret owners sometimes get their pet ferrets groomed to keep them clean and smell-free. However, this musky smell does not go away.

Pet ferrets should be kept in extremely clean cages which have space for them to move around in. Litter-free dark and dry areas with soft bedding for sleeping are what they need. Ferrets also need to be active during the day and need to have a separate area for use as toilets and for other activities. Their hutch should be cleaned every second day to ensure that your ferrets have dry and unsoiled bedding for sleeping on. Lack of clean bedding can cause health issues like respiratory infections, fleas, and more. A ferret should also have time for activities with its human owner to create a healthy bond.

Feeding a ferret a good diet is very important for its health. Ferrets are carnivores like cats and need to have meat in their diet. Feeding your ferret vegetables can make it fall sick. Protein from meat is vital for a ferret's overall health. Ferrets usually need to be fed eight to 10 meals a day. Ferrets can be fed cat food, bits of chicken, turkey, or lamb. You should not give your ferret any grains, vegetables, ice cream, chocolate, and especially dog food. They can also be fed ferret food, which can be bought from stores.

Helping Your Ferrets Live Healthier, Happier Lives

Ferrets depend on humans to maintain their quality of life. Ferrets live a happier life if they are taken care of properly. Some ways to help your ferret live a happy life are given below.

Ferrets should have a clean litter box as they cannot live in the smell of their own litter, which is extremely rancid. A clean cage and bedding are important to maintain a healthy ferret. Ferrets sometimes mess up their cages, which is a sign of boredom. Ferrets are playful animals; they need a range of toys to keep them engaged. A bored ferret is an unhappy pet.

Clean and fresh water is extremely important for your ferret to be healthy.

Ferrets like to stay at a cool temperature, so you should ensure that they have plenty of shade.

Ferrets need a large open space to run around and search for things. Ferrets are curious pets and love to search their surroundings. Ferrets are social animals, so they need another pet to keep them company. A cat or another pet ferret are good options for a companion. Though, some ferrets prefer to be alone and are happier that way.

Ferrets need to be taken to the vet frequently for vaccinations and checkups for disease. Spayed ferrets also tend to live more happily than the average ferret.

Ferrets are highly attached to humans, making them the best companions. Ferrets love to play with their human owners. Ferrets need to sleep for at least eight hours to maintain a stress-free life. Due to being animals with high energy, sleep is crucial to ferrets.

Ferrets also need to have a few hours a day assigned for playtime. These hours are essential for the animal as they help it maintain good physical condition.

Facts About Ferrets

Here are some interesting facts about your pet ferrets.

Ferret means 'little thief' in Latin. It is given to this animal as its name due to its habit of stealing things.

A ferret heart rate is around 250 beats per minute, and ferrets have an average lifespan of eight years.

A female ferret is only called a jill when intact; a spayed female is called a sprite. An intact male is a hob, and a neutered male is a gib. Baby ferrets that are less than a year old are called kits.

A group of ferrets is called a 'business.'

Ferrets are known to have hormonal diseases, especially adrenal disease, which is associated with hyperactivity in American ferrets who are more than three to four years old.

All kits are born with white fur and get their adult color three weeks later.

Ferrets first gained popularity as pets in the 80s and 90s. They were used to protect grains during World War II.

Ferrets' lean bodies coupled with a curious nature mean that ferrets are naturally great at getting down holes in order to chase rodents and rabbits out of burrows.

Ferret racing is a popular sport that involves competing by having ferrets race through drainpipes.

Ferrets are related to polecats.

Tests on ferrets' brains have shown that they can adjust their visual requirements with audio requirements.

Many stores sell ferrets that are injected with steroids to make them look more appealing.

Understanding Your Ferret's Needs

Your ferrets have some very basic and easy needs that need to be met by humans.

Ferrets need to be taken care of like babies and need to be kept in a clean environment. Any change in these conditions can cause your ferret to become fussy and irritated. Sometimes your ferret can even become sick or angry if not taken care of properly.

Understanding your ferret's food needs is also very important to maintain your ferret's healthy life. Ferrets can die within weeks if their diet is not taken care of properly. Litter in the cage can make your ferret seriously sick, so remember to take the litter out of the cage.

Ferrets are also illegal in some places, so do check for such news before buying one. Ferrets need to be taken to a vet regularly throughout the years.

If you understand the basic needs and follow them before buying your first ferret pet, the ferret may live up to as long as 10 years!

Do ferrets have distinct personalities?

A number of studies in the past 15 years have shown that ferrets, like other animals, have distinct personalities. There are, on average, six personalities of a ferret. These personalities develop with age. Ferrets, throughout their lifespan, have some dominant personality traits.

There are alpha ferrets who show domineering or leadership traits. These ferrets are usually the leader of the group or like to gain attention from a young age. In stores, these ones are different from the other half of the pets.

There are loner ferrets who like to live alone and rarely need a companion to play with.

Clown personality ferrets are the most popular pets, as they are affectionate and playful. These make more enjoyable pets as they are easygoing.

There are jealous or possessive types of ferrets. These ferrets make deep bonds with their humans and are often possessive, showing aggressive behavior when other pets are present.

All these ferrets' personalities are just like other animal personalities, which are different from individual ferret to ferret. Their personalities can sometimes overlap; some ferrets can be both loving and alpha. Some are love bugs and happy-go-lucky.

Your pet's personality may even change a little over the years; however, should you ever notice a dramatic personality shift, such as your lonely ferret turning into a cuddle bug overnight, take a trip to the vet to find out the issue and ensure that your ferret is not sick.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our facts on how long ferrets live, then why not take a look at our articles on scavenger animals or ferret vs. weasel.