Understanding Your Ferret

While experienced ferret owners are well versed in the quirky behaviours that come from their pet; those who may not know their ferret well - or are thinking about getting a pet ferret, can benefit from a few tips. Learning the general behaviours a ferret is likely to exhibit saves the owner worry and aids in the bonding that goes on between a pet and its owner.

One of the first things people notice about ferrets is the boundless energy. While it is amusing to watch them dance about upon leaving their cage from a good nap, new ferret owners can mistake the jumping, tapping happy feet as an angry pet. This is just not the case. When their energy level is high and they are feeling happy, a ferret will jump, roll and chase you throughout the entire house. When you see this behaviour in your pet ferret, you can know that he is happy and wants to play.

On the other end of the spectrum is when your ferret is dead. No, not literally dead; but dead to the world asleep. Ferrets are very sound sleepers, and can often sleep 18 out of the 24 hours in a day. A sleeping ferret can be picked up and will droop over your hands like a big wet noodle. You can pinch his ears, his nose or his toes and still not rouse the sleeping beauty. This is the nature of a sleeping ferret. As long as you can lay a hand upon your ferrets chest or belly, and feel that his body is nice and warm, he is just fine.

When you arrive home at the end of the day, you may notice that when you initially release Mr. Ferret from his cage, he shakes and shivers at your feet or in your hands. You didn't have to run to the thermostat to make sure the air conditioner wasn't on all day. This is just your ferret's way of dealing with excitement. You will notice that once you play with him for a few minutes and he has done his little dance to release pent up energy, the shivering goes away.

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Your ferret will talk to you. And if you learn to speak his language, you will be able to know what he is saying. "Dooking" is a sound that comes from a happy ferret, usually during times of play in which he is excited. This noise can sound like a chuckle and can range from a low, soft sound to one that is a bit noisy. That will depend upon the personality of your ferret and just how excited he is. Ferrets also whine or cry when they feel they need to be close to you. They may even cry when you put them in their own bed at night, since sometimes they like to sleep with you. And when it comes to noises, no one can mistake the sound of a hiss. In ferret-speak, a hiss is the same thing as in cat-talk. A ferret will often make this warning sound when he is angry, or when other ferrets or even a cat is around. This warns them that he is not necessarily in a friendly mood at the moment.

About the Author:

Scot Reinheart is a ferret enthusiast and author. He resides in Centerville, MD. He spends his time teaching others how to raise and properly care for ferrets. For more tips on ferret care visit his site by clicking here

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