by Megen Nelson

Created on: March 02, 2011   Last Updated: March 04, 2011

Ferrets. If you’ve ever seen one, you’ll either be completely terrified (It’s a rat!) or mesmerized (It’s so bendy!) They are wonderfully wiggly, noodle-like animals, and they are sure to infatuate anyone with a love of furry creatures.  

Ferret History.

Ferrets look like a mix between a rodent and an otter, with the small whiskered face and tiny single-color eyes of the former, and the long, flexible body and movements of the latter. They have soft fur, which comes in varying shades of white, brown, black, and grey, and they have surprisingly capable “hands”.

Ferrets are carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, or in simpler terms, the weasel family. That means that they’re related to animals like otters, badgers, martins, minks and of course, weasels. The domesticated ferret is thought to have been descended from the now endangered black-footed ferret.

Why You Should Fix and Descent Your Ferret.

Most owners don’t have to worry about fixing and descenting their ferrets, as they are usually already fixed and descented when bought from a pet store or a well-reputed breeder. But if you happen to pick up an unaltered pet, here are some reasons for why it’s so important to fix and descent your ferret:

Ferrets have a scent gland, and if they are not descented, they can actually “spray” like a skunk when they are startled or frightened. When this gland is removed, it also helps to keep the ferret’s natural odor down.

Ferrets also must be fixed—especially females. Female ferrets, when in heat (which can last up to four to six months), can become anemic due to constant blood flow to her reproductive organs. Most female ferrets can die from this if they aren’t impregnated within a month. Male ferrets excrete a “slime” to mark their territory when they aren’t neutered, so unless you want an extra smelly ferret that squirts slime on walls, fix him!

Why Ferrets Are Awesome.

Ferrets “dance” when they are happy or excited—a sort of bouncy head thrashing, often accompanied with “dooking,” which is a high pitched chirruping noise ferrets make when they are excited. But all that excitement comes at a price—ferrets sleep up to 20 hours a day! Sometimes they sleep so deeply that you can pick up an unconscious ferret without it even waking up.

Ferrets are extremely resilient animals. They have very thick skin, mostly because they have

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