An Introduction To Ferrets

The ferret is the domesticated form of the European polecat mustela putorius. Mustela is Latin for weasel and putorius comes from the Latin putor - to smell bad! This comes from the fact that polecats have glands that release a foul smelling liquid as part of their defence mechanism.

Ferrets have been bred in captivity for hundreds of years. In days gone by the upper classes were the only ones who could afford to own the hounds that were used to hunt deer, wild boar and game. For the regular man keeping hounds was not a realistic possibility so the ferret was used instead. It could be used secretly on common land and was easily housed so it became used by those who needed to poach for rabbits on the estates of the upper classes. Hence the ferret gained its association with the working classes which still stands today, especially in traditional areas such as the north of England.

The ferret has a reputation that makes is seem somewhat unsavoury. It is often considered to be smelly, bad tempered, savage and not trustful but actually nothing could be further from the truth. As long as it is handled correctly from an early age it can be fun, docile and amiable. It is not as mild mannered as a cat or a dog and will bite or nip if aggravated or handled wrongly so a ferret is not a suitable pet for a family with young kids although a child that is older and ready to begin learning about responsibility will benefit a lot from looking after a ferret.

The correct term for a female ferret is a Jill, the male is called a Hob with baby ferrets of either sex known as a Kits.

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Like most other pets ferrets fare poorly at the hands of an inexperienced owner. The website http://www.bestferretsupplies.com gives potential owners a good understanding of what they can and cannot expect from keeping a ferret. A ferret cannot be given the outside freedom of a cat nor can it be taught tricks like a dog but if you are looking for a pet that is a bit more unusual but without the hassle of preparing a special diet or the hard work involved in looking after it then a ferret would make a great choice.

These days ferrets are undergoing a new popularity as they shake off their negative image and are now being seen in their true light bringing happiness to their owners.

About the Author:

Walter Batty has bred ferrets for more years than he can remember and contributes to the ferret owners site http://www.bestferretsupplies.com

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