Life span: 8-10 years in the UK

Personality: Playful and curious

Origins: European polecat; the ferret was domesticated by the Egyptians and originally bred to hunt rabbits.

Diet: Commercial ferret foods

Exercise: twice a day (at least)

Housing: A ferret cage and comfortable towels or shirts to lay on

Neuter/spay: A ferret should not be spayed/castrated until it is fully mature. Doing this to such a younger animal causes so much harm and prohibits the body building up the correct hormones which leads to deficiencies in its immunity system and prohibits it from maturing properly and can cause stunted growth, etc.

Visit vet: Recommended twice yearly.

Vaccines: Canine distemper, Rabies, annual boosters

Health problems: None really. Ears do produce wax that makes a ferret susceptible to ear mites; all that's required is to keep the pet's ears clean

Always provide fresh food and water.

Bananas are a favorite treat.

Clean a ferret's cage regularly.

Don't keep your ferret cooped in a cage all day.

Exercise plays an important role in a ferrets health.

Ferrets need specially made "ferret food".

Grooming is easy, bathe in a bathroom sink.

Healthy ferrets are active.

Ill ferrets may show symptoms of lethargy.

Female ferrets are called Jills and males are Hobs. Baby ferrets are Kits.

Kits are born deaf and with their eyes closes. They begin walking at around 3 weeks, at which time their eyes and ears open. By 6 weeks they are weaned on to kitten or ferret food.

Linatone is a ferret vitamin supplement.

Quiet time for sleeping is a must.

Temperatures should be between 65 and 75 degrees.

Undercoats will get thicker in the winter.

Ferrets are descendants of the European Pole Cats, they have been a working animal for a number of centuries. Their main function being the control of pests such as rats and rabbits