How long do ferrets live at home and how to extend this period?

Why is it dangerous for humans?

Wild ferret
In nature, a wild ferret can be found quite rarely, despite its extensive habitat. Ferrets are distributed throughout Eurasia, North America, Central and Central Asia.

Wild ferrets are bold and aggressive animals. They pose no danger to humans unless disturbed. They will not attack without reason. If you try to catch a ferret and drive it into a corner, it will defend itself, hiss and attack.

If you are close to a ferret’s home in which there are cubs, the female can become aggressive and attack, protecting her offspring.

Wild ferrets are also carriers of dangerous diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Ferrets can suffer from rabies, which is dangerous both for the carrier and for humans. The disease quickly affects organs and leads to death.

domestic ferret

Domestic ferrets pose virtually no danger to humans. The ferret, the so-called domestic species of ferret, has an easy-going disposition and is peaceful.

Some individuals may still show aggression. Such a ferret can bite or scratch painfully. Ferrets' teeth are sharp and slightly curved, so the wound is torn and painful. Scratches are not particularly dangerous. Ferret claw marks can be compared to scratches from a cat or dog. They are usually not deep and heal quickly.

Domestic ferrets need to have their nails trimmed once a week. Carefully cut off the tip of the claw, trying not to touch the blood vessels.

To get a tamed individual, it is better to purchase a ferret from breeders. Since childhood, they have already become accustomed to humans and trained. When purchasing a ferret, in a pet store, from hand or on the market, there is always a risk of getting an aggressive and untamed animal.

At home, a ferret can only be dangerous if it is scared. Then he uses his weapon - he secretes a secretion with an unpleasant odor from the paraanal glands. The ferret also hisses and arches his back when in danger. At this point it is better to walk away and leave him alone. In order not to frighten the animal, you should avoid loud sounds and noises, including those from the TV. You should not attempt to catch or handle a frightened ferret.

It is also not recommended to put your hands into the cage of an unfamiliar ferret, for example, at a party or at the zoo. Ferrets are able to remember their owner and family members. He may be afraid of a stranger and mistake him for an enemy.

If you purchase a young ferret or engage in breeding, it is worth considering that the cubs bite painfully. They usually play with each other and bite. Since ferrets have thick and durable skin, they are not as sensitive to each other's bites as they are to humans. From an early age, it is necessary to train your ferret and let him understand that biting is not allowed.

Your own place in the apartment

Just like a human, a ferret needs to have a safe haven, a place where it can hide if it wants to be alone. This is especially important for ferrets kept in free conditions, i.e. walking freely around the apartment. Such a place could be a cat house with a blanket or any other type of shelter where there is somewhere to burrow - after all, the ferret is a burrowing animal and is at peace in its burrow.

If the ferret lives in a cage, then it is very important to properly and competently arrange his “apartment”. The cage must be large - at least two square meters with a ceiling height of at least a meter. The walls of the cage should be made of metal mesh; under no circumstances should you put a ferret in a cage with ordinary bars - the animal chews on them and breaks its teeth. The space should be divided into 2-3 floors so that there is enough space for games and climbing.

How long do ferrets live at home?

Note that in the wild, domestic representatives of this species will not survive at all. Such animals are simply not adapted to exist in the steppe. How long do ferrets live at home? With proper care and a balanced diet, their life expectancy is 10 years. Although some representatives lived to be 15-18. This is how long domestic ferrets live. There are factors that can reduce the lifespan of an animal by five to six years. These include acquired or hereditary incurable diseases.

But we can say with confidence that keeping animals at home does not shorten the lifespan of animals. Now you know how long ferrets live at home. Of course, all the data given above are statistical averages. Therefore, a lot depends on conditions and nutrition.

We figured out how long a ferret lives. Now we need to highlight the main conditions for the long life of this beast. A lot here depends on nutrition. It should be as balanced as possible. You should always remember about the individual characteristics of your pet. When giving any new product, it is necessary to observe the animal’s reaction. Note that ferrets eat almost everything, but do not forget that they are predators. Therefore, the basis of the diet is meat. You can give these animals beef, offal, chicken, and horse meat. Some types of fish are also allowed, of course, without bones.

If you do not give your pet meat for a long time, then as a result his immunity will decrease, the digestive system will also be disrupted, and it is possible that his hair will fall out.

You can supplement your diet with special vitamin and mineral complexes. You should definitely consult a veterinarian about this. Of course, hygiene also affects the life expectancy of a pet. Ferrets love cleanliness and order. Their cage needs to be cleaned daily, rags and bedding changed. The home should always be warm and, of course, dry. Bowls and drinking bowls must be washed daily.

Feeding

The question of what a domestic ferret eats is extremely important. The condition of the animal’s coat and its overall health depend on this. The diet can be based on feeding natural food or using dry food. It is quite difficult to create a balanced menu of natural products, taking into account all the vitamins and other nutrients necessary for the animal. Therefore, if you are an amateur in breeding trochees, then it is better to opt for drying.

You can purchase special food for ferrets at a pet store or feed your pet premium dry food intended for cats. The nutritional needs of these animals are very similar. It is preferable that the product contains poultry meat and is intended for kittens up to one year old or pregnant cats. Additionally, you can give your ferret treats in the form of special “chews” and “crunchies” from the pet store, as well as fruits and vegetables. Do not forget that your pet always has access to fresh water in unlimited quantities. There is no need for vitamins and other food additives when feeding by drying. The food contains all the components necessary for full development.

If you have chosen natural food, then your pet’s daily menu will consist of the so-called “farshekashi”, which is meat and offal, cereals and vegetables minced through a meat grinder.

The mixture should include:

• Meat - beef, veal, chicken, turkey, lamb - can be eaten raw, it is very important not to remove cartilage, veins and skin from the meat.
• By-products – heart, kidneys, chicken giblets, liver.
• Fish – trout, flounder, herring, horse mackerel, mackerel, cod (grind with head and bones).
• Cereals – millet, rice, buckwheat, oatmeal.
• Chicken eggs must be boiled, quail eggs can be given raw.
• Low-fat cottage cheese.
• Cheese (only as a treat).
• Vegetables and fruits - no more than 2% of the total food.
• Vegetable oil.
• Fish fat.

Products prohibited for ferrets:

• Citrus.
• Nuts.
• Apples and carrots.
• Onion and garlic.
• Sweet and floury.
• Sausages and smoked products.
• Salty foods.
• Fish – haddock, hake, blue whiting, pollock, pollock.
• All dairy products, except cottage cheese, cheese and goat milk.
• Dog food.
• Economy class cat food.
• Any food from the human table.

Many ferret owners are interested not only in the question of how to feed their ferret correctly, but also how many times a day. The famous expert on these animals, the author of many books about ferrets, Kim Schilling, writes in her works that horis are not dogs or cats in order to eat food strictly on a schedule. He recommends that there is always food in the animal's bowl. As a rule, animals eat about 7 – 10 times a day, but little by little.

On average, an adult female eats up to 200 grams per day. “farshekashi”, male – up to 270 gr. The minimum portion for sexually mature individuals is 160 g. A pregnant female or breastfeeding female needs a portion of food from 200 to 350 grams.

For the harmonious development of a domestic ferret, mineral and vitamin supplements must be regularly added to natural food. This is especially true when feeding puppies, pregnant or lactating females. The exact dosage of beneficial supplements should be checked with a veterinarian.

Many owners of trochees also practice a third method of feeding - giving their pets whole carcasses of chickens and mice, cockroaches and mealworms. Thus, they create a kind of illusion of feeding, close to nutrition in wildlife.

Ferret: main characteristics

Strictly speaking, ferrets are not exactly rodents, but mammals that hunt these same rodents: mainly mice. They belong to the mustelidae family and are close relatives of the weasel and mink. They are found almost everywhere: 3 species are observed in North America and Eurasia, and 2 in Russia: dark (forest) and light (steppe). Interestingly, in South America, the ferret was made a pet a long time ago and was used instead of a cat, as well as during rabbit hunting.

In their natural environment, ferrets live alone, so it is also better to keep them separately in a cage. The steppe species hunts not only mice, but also hamsters and gophers, as well as birds, which also indicates certain rules for keeping an animal in an apartment. Lifespan in the wild rarely exceeds 3-4 years due to external factors. However, as for how long ferrets live at home, the numbers here are also small: 5-7 years. Rare individuals live up to 8-10 years.

At the same time, the apartment usually contains a dark (forest) ferret, as well as a furo - a very light ferret, similar to an ermine. Little is known about the origin of the latter: it is called a hybrid of forest and steppe, their domesticated form, and some are inclined to think that it is an absolutely independent breed. True, in terms of the chromosome set, the furo is still close to the forest ferret, as well as in terms of morphological features. The lifespan of furo is, accordingly, the same - 5-7 years in an apartment.

How to determine age

There are several signs by which you can determine the age of this representative of mustelids:

When choosing a pet, inspect the teeth.

• coat condition;
• teeth;
• behavior;
• state of vision and hearing.

The small, one and a half month old puppy has gray baby fur. When the ferret is 2-3 months old, the true color is already showing.

Compared to adults, puppies' fur is soft and pleasant to the touch. In adults it is rougher. A comparison with the condition of human hair—child and adult—is appropriate here.

As for the teeth, ferrets have milk teeth up to one month of age, molars will erupt a little later, and real snow-white fangs will appear by three months and will remain like that for up to a year.

If the tips of the fangs turn yellow and become translucent, we can assume that the animal is between one and a half years old and two and a half years old. The teeth of 3-4 year old individuals will become even more transparent and over a larger area.

The teeth of adult ferrets look as if they are chipped.

Older pets are characterized by completely yellowed teeth. In addition, several teeth may already be missing in the lower jaw. It is more difficult for animals to gnaw and chew food.

The behavior of a ferret can also tell about its age. Young animals are very playful and even hyperactive. Adults are less mobile, get tired faster and therefore sleep more. In an elderly ferret, the muscles lose tone, the coat becomes thin, the fur thins out, and baldness appears, especially often on the tail.

Older individuals may have vision problems. When buying a female ferret, be sure to pay attention to her behavior.

Often, unscrupulous sellers try to foist off an adult, passing it off as a three-month-old puppy.

Average advanced age (four to six years) can already be revealed by poor eyesight (or even blindness) and poor hearing (or even deafness).

The adrenal glands and the heart are also already affected by various ailments.

How many years do ferrets live at home?

Owners protect their pets from various unfavorable factors, and with good care, pets have a much longer life expectancy.

Pets can reach this age only with proper care, proper feeding, and systematic veterinary care. There have been recorded cases of ferrets living up to 18 years.

Domestic ferrets need to be neutered. The procedure must be carried out after 6–8 months from the date of birth. A spayed male will not go into rutting season, and females will not go into estrus. The rut in males approximately begins at 5–8 months and lasts about six months. These deadlines may change.

During this period, males have a distinctive feature: they develop an unpleasant odor. Ferrets' behavior also changes. They become aggressive and restless, and begin to mark their territory. The structure of the coat changes: it looks dirty and sticky, and may thin out. A number of diseases of internal organs appear that can lead to the death of the pet.

A distinctive feature of females is that estrus does not stop when deprived of mating. It can last for several months, and this leads to a deterioration of immunity. If left untreated, it will lead to the death of the pet. After sterilization, the behavior of animals changes: they become calm and non-aggressive. It has been proven that in animals that have not had offspring, sterilization leads to an increase in life expectancy.

Being in the same home with members of the household, the ferret quickly becomes a favorite pet, giving with its presence a good mood and a lot of positive emotions

Therefore, it is important for owners to extend the life of animals, taking into account their lifestyle, character and living conditions

Little ferret

What affects life expectancy Why is this necessary What happens if you don’t listen to the recommendations Spacious housing Spacious housing is important for an animal. The cage should have everything necessary for living: a feeder, a drinking bowl, a tray, and “simulators”

Small housing has a negative impact on the pet, causing stress. Balanced diet The ferret is a predator. It feeds on chicken, turkey, horse, and fish fillets. Boiled carrots, zucchini, cabbage, chickpeas are useful. Millet, buckwheat, barley. The treat is a freshly caught mouse. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Pure water in large quantities Drink 20 times during the day. A large volume of fluid prevents the body from overheating “thanks to” high mobility. Dehydration of a pet leads to death. Vitamins Your pet needs vitamin complexes; you should consult a veterinarian. Baldness of parts of the body, poor health. Physical activity For the ferret, all kinds of “simulators”, hammocks, and climbing equipment should be freely available. The young animal is hyperactive and needs to maintain “physical shape.” A sedentary lifestyle leads to poor health for your pet. Freedom of movement For a comfortable life, the animal needs to move throughout the apartment and find secluded corners. Stress, which provokes refusal to eat, baldness of the tail. Ensure safe movement around your home: swallowed small things cause death for the animal. Cage Hygiene The ferret is a clean animal. The cages must be cleaned daily: change the bedding, wash the drinking bowl and feeder. The pet's home should be warm and dry. Poor health of the pet. Psychological comfort They gladly accept care and affection from their owners. The animal should not be shouted at or left with unfamiliar pets. Behavior different from usual: often hides, does not go out to household members. Vaccinations For a full, long life, regular vaccinations are necessary, which your veterinarian will tell you in more detail. Diseases that will lead to death.

Om-Nom-nom

Diseases

Keeping a ferret is often associated with various diseases. The immunity of an animal living at home is susceptible to viruses and infections. The animal is not able to talk about its condition, so the owner must be attentive and notice any deviations in the baby’s behavior for timely help.

Diseases that ferrets are susceptible to are:

• Diarrhea is the result of poor nutrition;
• Worms. Infection occurs through contact with the environment. For treatment, anthelmintics are used;
• The mite appears under unsanitary cell conditions;
• Rabies and plague are serious diseases; timely vaccinations are mandatory;
• Infectious diseases, etc.

Historical reference

The first mention of the ferret is found in the works of the Greek satirist Aristophanes. He lived from 448 to 385. BC e. and in his plays he described a certain marten-like animal that was a pet. Another Greek historian, Strabo, described the fret's hunt for rabbits that flooded the Balearic Islands. There is also evidence according to which Genghis Khan himself in the 13th century, while in Afghanistan, used ferrets for hunting.

In Russia, the history of keeping ferrets begins in 1971, when a pair of furos was given to Soviet zoologists Dmitry and Yulia Ternovsky from the Prague Zoo. The ferret began to spread as pets only in the mid-90s. In 2002, the first clubs for domestic ferret lovers were organized.

Factors influencing life expectancy:

1. The very first and most important factor, which, unfortunately, is not under your control, is heredity. If your ferret's parents died of natural causes at the age of 5-6 years, then there is a huge chance that your animal's genetic code has the same life span. Club breeders aim to increase the life expectancy of their offspring by selecting genetically healthy animals for mating, so, as a rule, their ferrets live somewhat longer.
2. As I said above, a lot depends on the owner himself, on his care for the animal. Improper diet and care, indifference to the health of the animal, constant cage housing without physical activity, all this negatively affects the life expectancy of the ferret. You cannot feed your ferret soups, bread and other “food from the table”; he is a predator, so his diet must contain meat ingredients in predominant quantities. Read the corresponding article about nutrition and care. In addition, the ferret needs active muscle exercise to prevent the development of a disease such as muscle anemia. Therefore, walk him outside every day and let him run around the apartment for several hours.
3. I often meet breeders who do not close the kitchen, where there are many open food sources, and some even feed their ferret with prohibited foods. Thus, they get various gastrointestinal diseases, which significantly affect not only their future quality of life, but also their duration. Remember that even a small piece of chocolate can lead to the death of a student, no matter how much he asks you to treat him to it. They will be happy to taste everything, but this could turn out to be a disaster for him, at best poisoning. It is better to completely block the animal’s access to the kitchen, and, as reward or pampering, give only permitted treats, and then in small quantities. Read the relevant article on what you can treat your ferret to.
4. In 5-6 year old choreas, malignant formations – cancer – are very common. Unfortunately, scientists cannot yet indicate the specific reason for its formation, but there is an assumption, confirmed by test results, that ferrets fed dry food, which has a high presence of carbohydrates, are more susceptible to cancer, which is the causative factor. Animals that eat natural food are less susceptible to this disease. Draw conclusions.
5. Some breeders are either unaware or deliberately spare money on annual ferret vaccinations against rabies and canine distemper. This cannot be done, unvaccinated animals get plague in 60% of cases, and rabies in 10% of cases, even if you avoid contact with other animals, there are plenty of sources of infection. Even your outdoor shoes can become a source of infection, or a mouse. Do not neglect vaccination, it is also in your interests.

Perhaps I did not give such a comprehensive answer about how long ferrets live in captivity, maybe I missed something important. But by observing everything that I described above, you will avoid many unpleasant situations that in one way or another can affect the ferret’s lifespan or lead to its death

And death is the final stage of life, the end of its term. Take proper care of your pet, closely monitor all its actions, do not expose it to physical harm, then your ferret will live a long and happy life.

How long does a ferret live? To answer this question, you need to study the topic in more depth.

First I would like to say that there are domestic ferrets and wild ones. You must understand that these animals are completely different, they have a different chromosome set. They were even given two separate Latin names: “policat” and “ferret”.

Biologists claim that before the ferret became domestic, gradual changes occurred in its code (chromosomal) for quite a long time, as a result of which this animal became a friend of man and was able to get along at home. I would like to note that a wild ferret that is caught in its natural habitat cannot be tamed. It's like bringing a tiger into your house and calling it a house cat.

Diseases

The following diseases are characteristic of furo:

Infectious:

• Flu.
• Plague of carnivores.
• Rabies.
• Aleutian mink disease or viral plasmacytosis is a severe and difficult to diagnose viral infectious disease, is rare, affects the nervous system (incurable, there is no vaccine).

A domestic ferret must be regularly vaccinated against plague and rabies, otherwise the animal may die.

Non-communicable diseases:

• Rickets is usually caused by poor nutrition and is more common in puppies.
• Hypovitaminosis and avitaminosis can be caused by an incorrect diet.
• Hyperadrenocrticism is a severe disease of the adrenal glands.
• Aplastic anemia - develops in females in heat in the absence of mating.
• Eosinophilic gastroenteritis - occurs as a result of excessive feeding of plant foods.
• Congestive cardiomyopathy is a disease of the cardiovascular system caused by a lack of the amino acid taurine in the ferret's body.
• Urolithiasis is also caused by an excess of plant foods in the diet.
• Stomach ulcers - causes: stress and poor diet.
• Urocystitis is an inflammation of the bladder (occurs as a result of hypothermia).
• Cataract is a hereditary, post-traumatic or old-age disease.
• A prostate cyst or abscess is common in castrated males after two years of age.
• Skin tumors, including malignant ones.
• Cancer of the lymphatic system.
• Insulinoma is the formation of excess insulin in the blood, which leads to hypoglycemia (low glucose levels).

Parasites:

• Otodectosis (ear mites) is a non-contagious disease for humans, transmitted through contact with a sick animal.
• Fleas – The ferret can be attacked by dog, cat fleas or human lice.

How to care for an animal after castration

After surgery, the ferret is wrapped in a blanket or blanket to provide him with a comfortable environment and help him adapt faster.

Ferrets recover from anesthesia very quickly, but for several hours they cannot control their actions: pets can rise to their paws and immediately fall to the side, shaking their heads. Within a day, the ferret's condition returns to normal.

Sutures are treated with chlorhexidine or another agent prescribed by a veterinarian.

You should not expect a drastic change in behavior from your ferret. The animals become calmer a couple of months after the operation, and over time their temperament gradually evens out.

Feeding your ferret after sterilization

After sterilization, the metabolism changes somewhat, and some processes in the animal’s body slow down.

To maintain a normal balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, special food is needed not only for sterilized ferrets, but for all ferrets. Ready-made professional food should be purchased only from premium and super premium manufacturers with an impeccable reputation.

Bosh Totally Ferret ferret food is a complete, super premium ferret food. This food contains easily digestible proteins, vitamins and minerals that make your pet's coat smooth, shiny and silky. This food is even used in the diet of ferrets that are preparing to participate in an exhibition.

Natural enemies

Many of their natural enemies live in the same territory as ferrets, such as:

• Foxes and wolves that are capable of hunting ferrets, especially in winter, when they do not particularly have to choose victims for food.
• Birds of prey, in the form of night owls and golden eagles.
• Wild cats, for whom catching a ferret is not a problem at all.
• Large snakes, although they are not always able to cope with such a mobile animal.

An equally dangerous enemy of the ferret is humans, who cause serious harm to the population of these useful animals, not only exterminating them, but also surviving from their natural habitats.

Interesting fact! To protect itself from natural enemies, the ferret emits an unpleasant odor, which is generated by special glands located at the base of the tail.

As a result of human economic activity, populations of small animals that are part of the diet of these predators are declining, which threatens the existence of ferrets no less than other problems.

Life expectancy of ferrets

Here it is worth drawing a clear line: whether we are talking about a domestic ferret or one that lives in the wild. The latter faces dangers, diseases, malnutrition and larger predators. The average duration of their existence is 2 years, and the most resourceful and cautious ones sometimes live up to four.

And what, in four years, this sweet and beloved baby, who appeared in your house and is exploring the surrounding space with such interest, will simply die! No, nothing like that, if you take good care of it and carefully monitor that your pet has enough of everything.

Eighty percent of the exact figure will depend on what the owner feeds his pet, how he cares for him and whether the ferret has any hereditary diseases. With a good diet and proper maintenance, the average lifespan of an animal at home will be 8 years, but you can try to make sure that the animal lives with you up to 15 years; such cases are not uncommon.

REFERENCE: a ferret or, using another name, a ferret, is a mammal that belongs to the order of predators, the mustelidae family. Even 800 years ago, ferrets were domesticated and served humans in the same way as hunting breeds of dogs still serve, but rabbits became the ferret's prey. Only much later did people appreciate the ferret’s quick wit and intelligence, let him into their homes, and his place became directly next to a person, which ferrets do not object to at all to this day.

In wild nature

The wild forest ferret is the most nimble, most attentive predatory of the representatives of its order. They live in the European part and in the North of Russia

It is very important for a ferret to have a body of water nearby, even if it is a simple stream. When the winter is snowy and cold, they move closer to people's homes.

The animals feed on small rodents, such as voles, hamsters, moles, and water rats. They do not disdain birds; they eat fish and vegetables with less pleasure. Many people hunt for the forest ferret - owls, foxes, wolves, and even snakes. It is not surprising that its life in the wild is so short.

ATTENTION! The ferret is a fast animal, but it cannot compare with the ermine and weasel. An adult can easily catch up and grab the animal, but you shouldn’t do this

In a moment of danger, the animal activates a defensive reaction - it sprays a strong-smelling liquid from the secretion of the anal glands towards the enemy, and besides, in the wild, ferrets are angry and quite aggressive, catching him can result in severe bites and scratches.

At home

At home, the ferret is playful, affectionate, can learn commands if she wants, of course, she is accustomed to a tray and harness, and quite easily finds a common language with cats, dogs and small inhabitants of the house. An additional bonus for allergy sufferers is that ferret fur does not cause allergies. Well, for those who spend a lot of time at home, breeding ferrets can be a good income, especially since tinkering with baby ferrets is an incomparable pleasure.

How long will a sterilized animal live?

If you are not going to engage in breeding, then it is better to sterilize the ferret - this will significantly prolong its life and improve the health of your pet. At 6-8 months, the so-called rutting period begins for little ones - the hormonal background changes, the character changes, nature takes its toll and demands procreation.

If at this time you do not provide the opportunity for reproduction or do not sterilize the animal, then it will become aggressive, nervous, restless, there will be a failure in the hormonal system, first baldness will occur, then problems with internal organs will arise and your pet will quite possibly die. If the ferret is sterilized, then all this can be avoided and the animal may well live up to 15 years, while the average lifespan of a ferret is 8 years.

Lifestyle and habits

The ferret belongs to the mustelidae family. He has a long flexible body, covered with beautiful and dense fur, short legs, and a fluffy tail. There is a contrasting pattern on the muzzle. Domesticated horis living in human housing have an individual character. However, all animals, without exception, are playful, friendly, funny and curious. The animals quickly get used to their owners and willingly play with the inhabitants of the house.

Important! The ferret's character deteriorates during the breeding season: the animal becomes irritable, sometimes even aggressive. Veterinarians strongly recommend spaying and sterilizing the animal.

Ferrets are predators by nature, so they are nocturnal, even living at home. The animals like to hide in secluded corners, hide in shoes and stir up the soil in flower pots. If small toys and food are found in a secluded place in the apartment, this is the pet’s doing.

Information! The ferret gets along well with cats and dogs, but living together with rodents and birds is contraindicated.

Pets usually easily learn to go to the litter box and respond to their name. A healthy animal is hyperactive, does not sit in one place, and the idea arises that there are several ferrets in the apartment. For an animal to live comfortably, proper upbringing and training is necessary.

Life at home

At home, the American ferret can live on average from 9 to 15 years. However, there are several cases known in which animals died at the age of six.

Various diseases, improper living conditions, insufficient nutrition, and lack of vaccination can affect the life cycle of an animal. These factors shorten the pet's life.

Experienced specialists identify a number of reasons why an animal may die. Let's take a closer look at the main reasons for the shortening of a ferret's life.

Genetic predisposition and heredity

If the pet's parents died at an early age, then the black-footed ferret may also die after 6 years. Therefore, most professional breeders approach animal breeding with great responsibility. To do this, they select healthy individuals whose parents lived to be 15 years old. As a rule, most representatives live in a new litter for more than 10 years.

Care

The lifespan of a ferret depends on the owner

Particular attention must be paid to caring for your pet. The most important thing is diet, vaccination and regular care.

The animal's menu should not include products from the common table. Its carnivorous nature requires a high-protein menu. To do this, the owner needs to stock up on low-calorie varieties of meat and fish. For feeding, choose turkey, chicken or rabbit.

In order for muscle tone to always be at its best, the animal needs regular physical activity. To do this, it is enough to purchase special equipment at a veterinary store. Some breeders prefer to walk their furry pets using special leashes. At one time the animal is able to cover more than 3 km of path.

Gastrointestinal disorder

Most breeders prefer to give their black-footed ferret complete freedom. To do this, they release the predator outside its cage. The animal moves independently throughout the living space and is often subjected to gluttony from the common table.

The predator actively eats fatty and salty foods. Subsequently, he was tormented by problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Everyone at the veterinarian's office has probably encountered a sick ferret who has been diagnosed with diarrhea or prolonged constipation. This phenomenon can be prevented by regularly monitoring the pet’s movement around the apartment.

Oncology

Most American ferrets are diagnosed with actively growing cancer cells by the age of 6 years. Tumors are located in the head, abdominal or pelvic region of animals.

Scientists have not yet figured out the main cause of these diseases. However, there is an opinion that unbalanced nutritional compositions can provoke cancer. They contain the maximum amount of protein, which negatively affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The animal does not have time to spend the energy received, as a result of which the remaining food rots in the intestines.

Surely every breeder has noticed flatulence in an animal after the next meal. Therefore, most veterinarians recommend feeding animals food that contains a large amount of fiber. This substance reduces the animal’s appetite and stimulates the gastrointestinal tract.

Wrong vaccine

Experienced breeders regularly vaccinate their ferrets against rabies. In fact, the emphasis should be on the plague vaccine. An animal raised in artificial conditions is considered susceptible to microorganisms. It is enough not to wash outdoor shoes, but to leave them in the same room with an animal for it to pick up a virus. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out regular wet cleaning in the house.

What to do to extend the life of an animal

In order for your pet to live for many years, you need to provide it with proper care. Domestic ferrets live longer than their wild counterparts precisely because of human care and protection. Those who are planning to get a ferret need to study the basic aspects of keeping domestic predators:

• Nutrition. It is necessary to carefully select products and pay attention to the animal’s diet. The ferret is a predator with a special intestinal structure and a specific composition of digestive enzymes. Because of this, plant foods are not suitable for him. This does not exclude the use of special concentrated feeds, but the basis of the diet should be raw meat.
• Vitamins. To maintain proper health, your pet needs to be given vitamins regularly. Due to a lack of useful organic substances and minerals, the ferret's activity may decrease and its fur may become dull. The vitamin complex is sold at a veterinary pharmacy or pet store. Before using nutritional supplements, you should consult with a specialist.
• Hygiene. The animals are clean and suffer from unsanitary conditions. The ferret's home should be dry and warm. Every day they change the bedding and clean the cage. Don't forget about bathing with a special shampoo. This procedure will prevent the appearance of skin parasites and get rid of unpleasant odor. It is not recommended to bathe your ferret more than twice a month. Once every 2 weeks, the ferret’s ears are cleaned of wax using special swabs.
• Physical activity . These animals are characterized by increased mobility, especially at an early age. You cannot deprive the animal of the opportunity to frolic and play; it is not recommended to keep it in a cage all day. Physical activity is vital for a ferret, otherwise muscle atrophy develops. The animal needs to run around the apartment at least a couple of hours a day.
• Safety. The ferret is a nimble, agile, extremely curious and smart animal. Therefore, the room where it is located must be carefully checked: make sure there are no cracks or holes where the animal can penetrate and get stuck. It is important to exclude access to piercing and cutting tools and electrical appliances, and remove small objects that the ferret can swallow.
• Communication. The animals become emotionally attached to the owner and require his attention. Ferrets surrounded by care and love increase their lifespan.

What does a ferret look like: differences between male and female

First of all, ferrets have very clear differences between females and males in size. Males are much larger than females. However, let's take a closer look at their differences.

Female

Girls are much smaller than ferret boys. They grow 37-39 cm in length. Growth in females stops by 6 months, while males grow up to 10 months.

Girls are slimmer and more graceful in appearance. They have a graceful and more pointed muzzle. They are active, smart, quickly learn tricks and sometimes show great intelligence. However, they are also more aggressive. Females are less attached to people and can organize their leisure time independently.

Difficulties in content

• The ferret has an odor and is not suitable for people who are sensitive or allergic to animal fur.
• Irrepressible temperament, activity and stubbornness.
• They love to dig holes, so they can damage homemade flowers in pots.
• The ferret's body is absolutely not adapted to food from the human table, and can die from such food.
• Males mark territory during sexual activity.
• Often gets underfoot, suffers from kleptomania, and can hide food.
• He loves order and cleanliness, so he chews and spoils things he finds.
• Does not tolerate high temperatures and direct sunlight. Could die if left locked in a car without air conditioning.
• In veterinary medicine there are few competent specialists in the health of choreas.
• She sheds twice a year in the off-season and at 20 weeks of pregnancy. Lasts from 7 to 20 days.

Males and females differ from each other in size and behavior. Males are 1.5 - 2 times larger, they have thicker fur, larger paws and a wider head. Females are more elegant and graceful. They are also more playful and active, but less dependent and attached to the owner.

How long does a ferret live at home and what causes this?

On average, a pet in a cage or enclosure can live up to 9 years. This is a long time for a rodent. This life expectancy can be ensured by 5 main factors.

1. The animal eats ready-made food, which greatly reduces the load on the digestive system, and therefore most of the energy spent on digesting food is now spent on the functioning of the body’s protective functions. The ferret grows stronger and stronger.
2. Living conditions also affect life expectancy. In a house or apartment there are significantly fewer viruses and bacteria that can provoke various diseases. The ferret gets sick less often, but if the animal gets sick, it will immediately be treated with ointments, tablets and injections, which can get the pet back on its feet within a week. In the wild, the animal fights illnesses on its own, which takes a lot of strength and energy.
3. Vitamin supplements. In the forest or steppe, the ferret produces food on its own and receives all the necessary micro and macroelements, but they are often not enough (especially in winter) for the normal functioning of the body, and the animal weakens. The owner can add vitamin supplements to the food at any time, and the animal will not feel a lack of certain elements.
4. Nature forces ferrets to constantly mate and reproduce, which takes a lot of energy, especially for females. A sterilized domestic animal has no need or inclination to reproduce, which allows it not to waste nutrients on offspring.
5. A wild ferret must constantly expend energy digging burrows, searching for food, and avoiding enemies. Such actions greatly wear out the muscles and heart of the animal, which is why the life expectancy of the ferret in nature is greatly underestimated. In an apartment or in a private house, there is no need for these actions, which is why the pet is able to live much longer.

As has already become clear, ferrets live much longer at home, but why do these numbers differ among different ferret owners? It's all because of the conditions of detention.

OUTDOOR GAMES

Walking a ferret on the street or keeping it only in an apartment is a personal matter for each breeder. But walks in the fresh air can significantly strengthen your pet’s immunity.

You can take a ferret outside only if it is vaccinated against most dangerous diseases, and if the walk is in a place safe from wild animals.

Due to the fact that ferrets are inquisitive and impressionable animals, playing with fallen leaves, in the sand or in snowdrifts will bring your pet a lot of pleasant experiences.

Video: useful information about your pet

Ferrets are delighted with digging holes and tunnels in the snow, but the animal must be accustomed to the cold gradually, in doses, starting with 10-15 minutes of being outside and excluding sudden temperature changes.

If you provide your ferret with tasty, varied and healthy food, quality living conditions and give him at least a little attention, then your pet will be strong and healthy, and will be able to remain your devoted and faithful friend for many years.