General Ferret Facts

Hobs (males) weigh between 3 lbs and 5 lbs on average and are usually between 17" and 24" in length

Jills (females) weight between 1 lb and 3 lbs on average and are usually between 12" and 16" in length

Lifespan is an average of eight years although up to thirteen years has been recorded.

Background
Ferrets are members of the Mustelid family which also includes weasels, stoats, polecats, martens, mink, badgers and otters. Ferrets are a domesticated species of polecat originally intended for the control of vermin. They may have been kept by the Ancient Egyptians over 3000 years ago and were possibly brought to Britain almost 2000 years ago by the Romans.

Like other members of the Mustelid family ferrets are lively, intelligent, fun-loving animals with a highly developed sense of curiosity. These much maligned little animals are not the vicious, smelly creatures of music hall jokes - rather they can make affectionate pets.

Ferret Colours
True albino ferrets have white or very pale coats and pink eyes. Less common are the dark-eyed whites. Silver ferrets are pale coated with darker tips to each hair, giving a silvered, frosted appearance. Often with very dark eyes they are striking ferrets.

Polecat ferrets are so called because they have markings similar to those of a wild polecat - a dark mask across the eyes and dark coloured limbs and tail. The body colour may also be dark but may just have dark guard hairs over a light undercoat.

Silver-mitt ferrets are recognised by their white socks. Some have white bibs and some may have pale face markings or a blaze like a badger.

Sandy ferrets can range from pale to deep gold, sometimes with a polecat style mask.

Coat colour has little to do with character, personality or working ability. Albino animals of all types are often said to be more gentle and docile although there is little supporting evidence. Sometimes albinism is related to poor vision and/or hearing deficiency and this might explain the apparent docility of these animals. But on the whole coat colour is just a matter of preference. A healthy ferret will be a lively, fun-loving and affectionate companion whatever the colour.

Hob or Jill?
There is little difference in temperament between the sexes. Hobs can be twice as large as jills and can seem lazier and more placid. Jills may be daintier, little quicksilver creatures, but there is probably more variation between individuals than there is between the sexes.

RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP

Neutering and Spaying - Highly Recommended
Hobs have a definite smell and intact they will often fight. Neutering greatly reduces the smell and allows two or more two live peacefully together.

Jills come into season each spring and STAY in season until mated. If allowed to remain in season they develop a form of anaemia and can become very ill and die.

Most vets advise that jills are spayed when they are not in season. It is easy to tell if a jill is in season as the entrance to the vagina swells very noticeably until it is the size of a small hazelnut. It will stay like this until she is brought out of season. This swelling makes her prone to infection and is another reason for spaying her.

There are two alternatives to spaying. The first is to ask your vet to give your ferret a 'jill jab' which is a hormone injection. Unfortunately the jabs will need repeating making it an expensive way of keeping your jill healthy. The second alternative is to mate your jill to a vasectomised hob. This will bring her out of season but finding someone with a vasectomised hob may be difficult. There is also the problem of mixing your ferret with a strange animal.

From the jill's point of view mating is a rough business and few escape without being bitten, often quite badly, on their necks and backs.

Time and Attention
Before deciding to have ferrets please remember that it is quite a responsibility. They live almost as long as cats and you need to ask yourself if you are prepared to give them care and attention for perhaps ten years or more.

You will need to make arrangements if you go on holiday. There are some boarding kennels which accept small animals. Alternatively check if you have a reliable friend who will feed, clean and check your ferrets daily.

PLEASE! if you find you cannot keep your ferret try to rehome him responsibly. Do not dump him or "let him go" into the wild. FERRETS ARE NOT WILD ANIMALS AND CANNOT SURVIVE ALONE. Released ferrets that are not picked up by rescue agencies face a long, slow death from starvation or are attacked and killed by other animals.

Have Fun!
Have fun with your ferret - or ferrets. Like all animals ferrets respond well to kindness and affection and will more than repay you by becoming gently, entertaining and mischievous companions.