A bit of trivia:  A ferret usually sleeps for about 20 hours each day.

HAVING A FERRET FOR A PET

Physical Traits Of A Ferret  

The average length of a male ferret is 16 inches (a female ferret-14 inches).
The name for a group of ferrets is a "business".
Baby ferrets are called kits and when they are six months old they are the size of an adult.  It is interesting to note that a newborn "kit" is so small, it can fit in a teaspoon.  Typically, they triple their weight in just ten days. The average weight for a male ferret is two to four pounds, and for a female, one to two pounds. The average ferret's lifespan is five to seven years.

Basic Care Of A Ferret

Ferrets are domesticated animals that are a cousin of the weasel.  They're not in the rodent family as a lot of folks think they are.  A ferret's behavior is similar to that of a cat or a dog.  They all have different personalities in that some like to be held and played with and some are very independent.  It  will probably take about two weeks for a new ferret to adjust to a his new surroundings.  On the whole, they are a very playful, curious, and willful animals.  You can train them and they are usually very social.  Like a dog or a cat, they require a lot of sleep.  Many of them love to go places on a small harness.  Ferrets can be housed in a medium sized cage.  

However, they need a lot more care than a dog or cat.  They require a good deal of your time and attention. They can be very mischievous.  They bite a bit, love to dig and they will scratch at your carpet when allowed the opportunity. They can be very costly as well. Young ones are very accident-prone and their older counterparts can suffer from a number of illnesses requiring the attention of a veterinarian.

Making A Ferret Happy

 Ferrets are best kept in pairs or small groups. On the hole, they get along just fine with each other but a new ferret will take some time to settle into the group.

Younger ferrets can be very demanding because they are full of energy. Adult ferrets tend to be calmer and would be better suitable for a first-time ferret owner. When you are purchasing a ferret you should look for bright, clear eyes, healthy-looking skin, whiskers that are not "broken", a nice soft coat and a very curious and alert personality.

When you you keep a pet ferret, he should be in a cool area for he can very quickly die from heatstroke. Ferrets are perfectly happy in a cage or they can be kept free around the house or in an extra room. They do require socializing every day for at least a couple of hours because if you keep them locked in a cage, they can become unsociable, bite, and be very hard to handle.  They, like a lot of creatures, can also become depressed.

If you allow your ferret to run free, you must have your home "ferret proof". This means blocking all holes, locking cabinets, blocking access underneath and in back of your refrigerator and any other large appliances. Beware of heaters and air conditioning ducts. Also, breakable objects should be out of reach,  plants should be put up higher or protected with some mesh. Ferrets like to get into kitchen bins also, toilet bowls, drawers, etc. 

Ferret Needs Cage: A simple metal framed one that allows the biggest ferret to stand on its hind legs without touching the top of the cage using at least a half inch wire mesh. A door will be required to get to the food bowl and litter tray. Anything else you might like to add for your ferret is entirely up to you.  Bed: There are many different types of hammocks for ferrets that you can  purchase, but you will also want to offer old towels, clothes, blankets, etc. as long as they are clean.  Tray for Litter: You can either purchase a special litter box just for ferrets or a basic cat litter tray. The tray should be placed in a corner that is best suited for it and filled with any type of litter that won't become clumpy and does not contain any wood products. The reason for this is that when litter clumps it can retain moisture which then causes bacteria to thrive. Any kind of wood products may cause respiratory distress in a ferret.  For the most part, ferrets are able to be litter-trained, but, there are bound to be certain times when ferrets become scared or over-excited and accidents in those situations are inevitable.  Just like most pets,  reinforce the use of the tray by praising your ferret when you notice him/her utilizing it.   Toys: Toys that are made just for ferrets are, of course, the best kind. They won't have any parts that can be eaten or stuffing which might cause choking. Also, they are better because they're sturdier and are made to withstand a ferrets play habits which can be very tough to take for other toys. You can also get ferret "tunnels" that these pets love to play with! Diet As far as your ferrets diet needs go,  because this animal doesn't have a caecum which could be used to digest vegetables or any type of plant, their food should contain about one-third animal protein, one quarter animal fat, and less than five percent fiber. The aforementioned ingredients would be listed first on the label of the food. Canned ferret food is not advisable as a steady diet due to the fact that it is not firm enough get the plaque from your ferret's teeth and can invite dental decay.  Fresh clean water should always be available as well.

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Your ferret's food dish should never be placed in proximity to his litter tray. It  should also be located on a solid section of the floor. It is a good idea to purchase a  heavy bowl and a cage bottle for his/her water.

Special Treats: Ferrets really seem to enjoy "Ferratone" as a special treat.  Another treat they relish is FuroVite, which is a caramel-flavored food supplement that you can get at almost any pet store. You can use these as special treats to reward your ferret or to keep him calm at times when you require him to be still for a bit.  They can also be a great help when training your ferret.  On that subject, when training your pet ferret, never scold or hit him/her, always use the positive reinforcement method.

Ten Interesting Ferret Facts

1. Ferrets are currently the third most popular pet after cats and dogs in the U.S.

2. The ferret is a distant relative of the "polecat".  They are also relatives of the weasel, mink, otter, sable, badger, skunk and ermine.

3. Ferrets are completely domesticated and no longer in the wild.

4. The word "ferret" comes from the Latin furonem and the Italian furonem, which means thief.  They love to steal and conceal things.

5. Ferrets were once used to pull telephone wires through pipes and tight places where the human hand couldn't reach.

6.  Ferrets have been known to express their happiness by jumping around, dancing, twisting, and chuckling while in midair.

7.  Ferrets have very speedy metabolisms; food goes through them very quickly so they need to eat often; It is possible that they will eat from seven to ten small meals a day.

8. Ferrets are such sound sleepers that they have actually been mistakenly thought to be dead by their owners.

9.  Ferrets sleep in strange positions. You may find them sleeping face down across the edge of a box with their heads and front legs on the floor. Or you may see them sleeping on their stomachs with their hind legs and tails bent at a 90-degree angle up the side of a box.

10. Ferrets can actually "catch" the common cold and also several strains of human influenza.

Part 2:

History and Domestication of the Ferret: