Linkus and Chianna (aka FERRETS!)

Quick History Quick History Domestic ferret belongs to same family as weasels, mink and polecats Domestic ferret belongs to same family as weasels, mink and polecats Have been in U.S. for over 300 years Have been in U.S. for over 300 years Used in 1800’s for rodent control Used in 1800’s for rodent control Most no longer able to survive in wild because of domestication Most no longer able to survive in wild because of domestication Only black-footed ferrets are wild and found in Arizona in small numbers Only black-footed ferrets are wild and found in Arizona in small numbers On endangered species list! On endangered species list!

Major colors Common Sable Common Sable White (can have red eyes) White (can have red eyes) Silver Mitt Silver Mitt

Cinnamon Cinnamon

Characteristics Long, slender, muscular body Long, slender, muscular body Short legs Short legs Five toes Five toes Change coats COMPLETELY twice a year (shedding) Change coats COMPLETELY twice a year (shedding) Oval-shaped heads (males have broader heads and are less pointed) Oval-shaped heads (males have broader heads and are less pointed)

Males AKA hobs Males AKA hobs Females AKA jills Females AKA jills Males usually larger Males usually larger THE SMELL!! THE SMELL!! Odor comes from anal glands Odor comes from anal glands Can be surgically removed (aka descenting) Can be surgically removed (aka descenting) Still will have some smell Still will have some smell Cannot purchase a male or female that has not been spayed/neutered! Cannot purchase a male or female that has not been spayed/neutered! Only breeders can Only breeders can

Eyesight is not good Eyesight is not good Primarily nocturnal so they didn’t need it Primarily nocturnal so they didn’t need it Highly developed sense of hearing, smell and touch Highly developed sense of hearing, smell and touch Life span 8-11 years Life span 8-11 years Have 40 teeth!! Have 40 teeth!! Hobs are inches long and 4-7lbs Hobs are inches long and 4-7lbs Jills are inches long and 1.5-3lbs Jills are inches long and 1.5-3lbs Normal temperature is degrees! Normal temperature is degrees!

Housing Housing Need to include litter box, sleeping area, and play area Make sure all latches on doors are good Make sure all latches on doors are good Ferrets try to escape a lot! They are good at it!! Ferrets try to escape a lot! They are good at it!! Need cage which is very open so they can observe what is going on around them Need cage which is very open so they can observe what is going on around them They are naturally curious They are naturally curious Can be kept outside all year Can be kept outside all year Need protection from rain and sun Need protection from rain and sun Cannot tolerate temperatures above 95 degrees Cannot tolerate temperatures above 95 degrees

Food Need high-quality dry cat or dry kitten food because of the high protein Need high-quality dry cat or dry kitten food because of the high protein High quality ferret food is now available! Better for them, but more expensive High quality ferret food is now available! Better for them, but more expensive Older ferrets may need vegetable oil added to help digestion and to maintain a healthy coat. (1/2 teaspoon per day) Older ferrets may need vegetable oil added to help digestion and to maintain a healthy coat. (1/2 teaspoon per day)

Meat scraps, fruits, red licorice, and ice cream CAN be used as treats Meat scraps, fruits, red licorice, and ice cream CAN be used as treats Too much will make them very sick! Too much will make them very sick! Never give bones as treats Never give bones as treats

Handling Grasp around the body at front shoulders Grasp around the body at front shoulders Place other hand near rear Place other hand near rear Very agile animals! Very agile animals! Will usually go limp while being picked up Will usually go limp while being picked up Can scruff them (will cause them to Can scruff them (will cause them to be still-does not hurt them) be still-does not hurt them)

Training Can be litter box trained! Can be litter box trained! Prefer to relieve themselves in the same area all of the time Prefer to relieve themselves in the same area all of the time Can learn to sit and beg for treats, sit on shoulders, sit in hood of sweatshirt, etc. Can learn to sit and beg for treats, sit on shoulders, sit in hood of sweatshirt, etc.

Diseases Canine distemper! Canine distemper! Highly contagious Highly contagious Usually fatal to ferrets Usually fatal to ferrets Need vaccination Need vaccination Botulism Botulism Caused by bacteria Caused by bacteria Symptoms: difficulty breathing, paralysis Symptoms: difficulty breathing, paralysis

Ear mites Ear mites Common problem Common problem Need to clean ears frequently Need to clean ears frequently Mites Mites Causes hair loss and skin lesions Causes hair loss and skin lesions

Reproduction Females come into heat first time around 10 months old Females come into heat first time around 10 months old Ovulation occurs AFTER mating Ovulation occurs AFTER mating Average gestation period is 6 weeks Average gestation period is 6 weeks Very protective of young! Very protective of young! Do not handle young until 2 weeks old Do not handle young until 2 weeks old Young born with eyes and ears closed, are pink and have white fuzz on them Young born with eyes and ears closed, are pink and have white fuzz on them

Average litter is 6-8 Average litter is 6-8 Female ferret will remain in heat if not bred again Female ferret will remain in heat if not bred again This can cause aplastic anemia and can kill her This can cause aplastic anemia and can kill her Symptoms: listlessness, depression, pale white gums, dehydration and fever Symptoms: listlessness, depression, pale white gums, dehydration and fever Need to breed, spay or use hormones to bring out of heat Need to breed, spay or use hormones to bring out of heat

Bathing Ferrets (do not have to write this!) Step 1: Step 1: Run some luke warm water into a basin. With the water still running, thoroughly wet your ferret's fur. Run some luke warm water into a basin. With the water still running, thoroughly wet your ferret's fur.

Step 2: Step 2: Pour some shampoo onto the fur and rub it into a rich lather. Don't forget the head - fleas love to congregate here. Make sure you use a good quality shampoo, one that is formulate especially for ferrets or for kittens. Pour some shampoo onto the fur and rub it into a rich lather. Don't forget the head - fleas love to congregate here. Make sure you use a good quality shampoo, one that is formulate especially for ferrets or for kittens.

Step 3: Step 3: Dampen a Q-tip and insert it straight down into your ferret's ear, as demonstrated. Gently rotate and remove. If it is dirty, repeat with a fresh Q-tip until the ear is clean. Dampen a Q-tip and insert it straight down into your ferret's ear, as demonstrated. Gently rotate and remove. If it is dirty, repeat with a fresh Q-tip until the ear is clean.

Step 4: Rinse your ferret under luke warm water, and gently squeeze the excess water from the fur. Pour on a conditioner or rinse and distribute evenly through the fur. Rinse your ferret under luke warm water, and gently squeeze the excess water from the fur. Pour on a conditioner or rinse and distribute evenly through the fur.

Step 5: Rinse your ferret thoroughly under luke warm water, not forgetting the head and under the chin and arms. Ensure that all traces of shampoo and conditioner are removed from the fur, because it could cause irritations if not washed away properly. Rinse your ferret thoroughly under luke warm water, not forgetting the head and under the chin and arms. Ensure that all traces of shampoo and conditioner are removed from the fur, because it could cause irritations if not washed away properly.

Step 6: Towel dry your fuzzy with a soft towel. When you set your ferret down, watch out for a mad run accompanied by ruffling fur and shaking tails. Towel dry your fuzzy with a soft towel. When you set your ferret down, watch out for a mad run accompanied by ruffling fur and shaking tails.

Interesting Ferret Facts! (write them) An unspayed female ferret is called a jill while a spayed female is a sprite. An intact male is a hob and a neutered male is called a gib. An unspayed female ferret is called a jill while a spayed female is a sprite. An intact male is a hob and a neutered male is called a gib. Ferrets have been domesticated for thousands of years; in fact, on the walls of some Egyptian tombs there are pictures of ferret-like creatures on leashes. Ferrets have been domesticated for thousands of years; in fact, on the walls of some Egyptian tombs there are pictures of ferret-like creatures on leashes. Ferrets have no inherent fear of humans. Ferrets have no inherent fear of humans. A newborn ferret is so small that it can fit into a teaspoon! A newborn ferret is so small that it can fit into a teaspoon! All ferret kits have white fur at birth. All ferret kits have white fur at birth. After kithood (6-8 weeks of age) ferrets make very few sounds. After kithood (6-8 weeks of age) ferrets make very few sounds.

The average ferret lives to be 6 or 7 years old. The average ferret lives to be 6 or 7 years old. Ferrets like to crawl into small dark spaces to sleep. Ferrets like to crawl into small dark spaces to sleep. Ferrets are members of the mink family. Ferrets are members of the mink family. Ferrets can sleep so soundly that they cannot be woken up even when picked up and jostled. Ferrets can sleep so soundly that they cannot be woken up even when picked up and jostled. A small ferret may be able to squeeze through a hole just over an inch in diameter. A small ferret may be able to squeeze through a hole just over an inch in diameter.