What Is a Ferret?

Although ferrets may look rodent-like with their long, pointed snouts and ticklish whiskers, they’re not rodents at all.

Ferrets come from the order Carnivora, which merely means “meat or flesh eating.” This order encompasses a large group of animals, from Fifi, the ordinary lap dog to the mighty African lion. Within the order Carnivora, ferrets belong to the family Mustelidae, which they proudly share with such bold critters as the badger, wolverine, pine marten, and sea otter. Included in that family are both domesticated ferrets and ferret-like wild animals such as the weasel, European polecat, steppe polecat, black-footed ferret, and mink.

The word ferret is appropriately derived from the Latin word Furonem, which means “thief.” As a new ferret owner, you’ll quickly realise just how thieving your new family member can be. As cute as this endearing trait may be at times, it has its downsides. It once took me over a day to find all the contents of my purse, which I foolishly left open in the presence of roving ferrets.

Many ferret owners call their pets a variety of nicknames. Some of the names that I use throughout this book are a ferret, carpet shark, snorkeler, furball. For more information about ferret name visit here

I know that many more terms of endearment exist out there. Don’t get confused! Before you bring a new ferret home or in the early stages of your ferret parenthood, you need to become familiar with a ferret’s physical inventory.

When I say physical, I pretty much mean all the general stuff regarding a ferret’s physical characteristics, from his paws and claws to his weight and remarkable (and not-so-remarkable) senses. Take a look at Figure 1-2 if you want to get down to the bones, literally, of examining a ferret’s physical makeup!

For information on ferret coats and colours, In the following sections, I introduce you to the physical characteristics of the ferret. My version of a ferret physical also covers other tidbits you should know, like colour combos and lifespan, because knowing how to accessorise your ferret and how long you’ll be caring for him is essential.

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