White Ferrets: Description and Care Tips

The white ferret is a domesticated animal and belongs to the mustine family. Such animals lend themselves well to training and are friendly towards humans.

What features of a white domestic ferret can be distinguished? How to care for an animal? What do professionals advise? We will talk more about this in our article.

First of all, it should be noted that the white ferret has a very unusual body shape. So, the body of the animal is often compared with the body of a dachshund: the body of the animal is quite elongated, and the legs are small and short. If we talk about accurate indicators, the body length does not exceed 40 centimeters (and it is important to note that the body of males is much longer than the body of females). The mass of the animal is quite impressive and can reach 3 kilograms.

It should be said that if a ferret has a white coat color at birth, this does not mean at all that he will remain so until the end of his life. As a rule, with age, the cubs darken, their fur acquires a sable underton, and the so-called mask appears on the muzzle.

However, there are exceptions. Thus, albino ferrets can appear in nature, which are completely white and remain so throughout their lives.

However, do not be afraid of this phenomenon. On the contrary, albino ferrets are considered more valuable, and therefore are more expensive. The most unique combination is the black-eyed albino ferret. Many breeders dream of finding just such a beast.

It is also important to note that ferrets themselves live not only at home, but also in the wild. However, it is worth noting that the life span of an animal, depending on its habitat, can be dramatically different. So, zoologists say that in the conditions of the house a white ferret can live for about 10 years, and in nature - no more than 5. This difference is due primarily to the fact that under natural conditions, ferrets often become victims of larger and more predatory animals.

As for the habits of the animal, it is important to say that since the Middle Ages they stood out for their ability to catch rodents, namely rats and mice. In addition, in fluffy animals, the instinct for following (for a person, mother, or even toys) is quite pronounced. That is why even an inexperienced breeder or child will be able to handle such a pet pretty easily.

The younger the animal, the more active it is. This is especially true when ferrets live in groups - they constantly play and chase each other. With age, activity fades, so adults sleep most of the time. The sleep itself is quite deep and can last 15 hours a day.

The white albino ferret, like any other pet, has certain characteristics that must be taken into account if you plan to keep a similar animal in your home.

However, it should immediately be taken into account that animals are endowed not only with positive characteristics, but also with negative traits. That is why you need to carefully weigh and think through everything before becoming the owner of an unusual pet. If negative traits do not repel you, feel free to head to the zoological store.

However, first things first. First of all, consider the benefits of the white ferret as a pet.

In general, the main positive feature of domestic ferrets is their behavior. Animals are quite curious and playful. Especially this feature will appeal to young children, who often become the initiators of the purchase of such a pet. Ferrets are not only fun and interesting to play, but also funny to watch.

The obvious advantages of a pet include the fact that ferrets cohabit well with other pets (e.g. cats or dogs). Thus, a fluffy animal can be wound up even if other animals live in your apartment (or house). The ferret will get along well with them and they will play among themselves.

However, in addition to the positive features, there are undeniable disadvantages. Consider the negative aspects of keeping a ferret at home in more detail. So, one of the most significant shortcomings of a ferret is its odorous glands, due to which the animal can emit a rather unpleasant smell for humans. As a rule, an animal uses such glands only if something scares him.

However, exceptions are not uncommon. In this regard, if you decide to start a ferret, then you need to remember that its "companion" is an unpleasant odor. Moreover, this fragrance can absorb your clothes, skin and hair, so people around you will also know that you are the owner of a furry animal.

In addition, the ferret content is usually accompanied by high financial costs. An animal requires a lot of attention and money: regular vaccinations, high-quality and expensive food, a leash, a reliable cage, etc. Therefore, in your family budget, you should foresee a new expense item in advance.

The ferret’s behavioral traits (despite their general positive orientation) can also cause you great inconvenience.So, the owners of ferrets note that animals tend to create a variety of "hiding places". This means that in the apartment the animal will find some secluded place where it will hide a wide variety of things - toys, leftover food and much more. It will not work to wean a ferret from this habit, and unpleasant odors will often come from a secluded place.

In order for your little pet to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, he needs to provide all the necessary conditions for maintenance. First of all, this concerns the arrangement of the home, the provision of high-quality nutrition and compliance with the necessary hygiene procedures.

A spacious cage is the ideal home for the white ferret. So, in its dimensions, it should be no less than 60 cm wide, 80 cm long and 45 cm high. The gap between the rods should not be more than 5 cm. It is better to give preference to cells made of durable materials (for example, metal). Otherwise, the pet may destroy its home. The ideal option is to choose a cell with several floors and with a large variety of tunnels.

The internal arrangement of the cell also plays a huge role. So, without fail inside it should contain such elements as:

• place for the toilet;
• feeding trough and drinking bowl;
• several doors;
• equipped place to sleep.

However, remember that no matter how well the cell is equipped and how spacious it is, The ferret needs regular walks. Therefore, it is worth letting run around the room, as well as walking on the street with a leash.

Nutrition is an important part of keeping a pet. The diet plays a huge role in the life of the white ferret. Ferrets are often fed with special dry food. However, this should not be limited. So, there is a certain list of food products that must be included in the ferret's diet. These include:

• chicken eggs (they must be given once a week in raw form);
• milk;
• cottage cheese (this product must be fat-free);
• bananas
• meat (suitable turkey, rabbit or chicken);
• fish.

On the other hand, there are also products that should be avoided. This applies in particular to fatty meats (e.g. pork). Also, you can not oversaturate the animal's diet with fruits and vegetables.

In order to maintain the health of your pet, you must follow all instructions and recommendations of specialists. Otherwise, a variety of negative consequences may occur in the form of diseases or even death.

The white ferret needs thorough and regular hygienic procedures (which becomes clear from the name of the animal itself). The fact is that the white fur of the animal is rather quickly polluted. Therefore, the ferret should be bathed often. This should be done in warm water using special shampoos intended for ferrets. Similar care products can be found in almost any zoological store.

It is important to note the fact that hygiene procedures for the female are much simpler than for the male. The fact is that the male body contains special sebaceous glands, the work of which can affect the coat color - it will turn yellow.

Moreover, hygiene procedures in this case will not help. That is why it’s important to immediately decide whether you want to breed and breed ferrets. If not, then the male can be safely castrated. In this case, the whiteness of the wool will soon come back.

To ensure maximum comfort of the animal, as well as to make the final decision on whether you are ready to start a ferret, you should familiarize yourself with practical advice from professionals (veterinarians, zoologists, and experienced breeders).

• If children of preschool age live in your house, then you should postpone the purchase of the animal. The fact is that by its nature, the ferret is a predator, so it can bite a baby who will try to play with the animal.

• Small things (especially expensive ones) should be hidden from the ferret. First of all, this applies to those periods when you let your pet run around the apartment. Otherwise, the animal can drag them into its hiding place.

• In order to avoid the ferret destroying your furniture, as well as household items, it is necessary to create a place for the ferret in which he could dig holes. They can be an ordinary bucket with expanded clay.

For how to care for white ferrets, see the next video.