People sometimes plant wild inhabitants in their dwelling. The ferret at home is easy to care for and clever animals. But, deciding to take responsibility for the health and life of a small and brisk beast, you need to learn more about it.
What does the ferret look like?
This predatory mammal, quick and mobile. Ferrets in adulthood have the following parameters:
- elongated body, flexible and squat due to short legs;
- limbs - muscular and strong, due to which the animals perfectly swim and quickly move by leaps;
- The fingers of the paws end in long and strong claws, which help the ferrets dig deep holes and quickly climb trees;
- length of the body reaches 50 cm, weight - up to 2 kg;
- the ferret has a flexible, long neck, a neat oval head, small rounded ears, an elongated muzzle. It has a characteristic pattern, like a black mask;
- fluffy tail - the object of pride of ferrets, in length it reaches 18 cm;
- fur consists of a soft, thick podpushi, ostevogo hair, wool beautifully shines.
The colors of ferrets
The color of the animal's fur can range from light sand tones to practically black or white. It depends on the classification of the animal. Types of ferrets:
- Steppe. It has a light brown color of the back, a mask on the muzzle and a milk belly, legs, a podpush, is known as white.
- Forest. The main color is black-brown, paws, tail, dewlap and throat are almost black.
- Home. Also called "fretka". This is a domesticated forest animal. Color - monophonic (white, brown, black) or combined.
- Golden. The Russian bred breed has a pile with black ends and a red podpushyu.
Ferret - pluses and minuses
It is an exotic animal, a predator, requiring a special approach. Before the home ferret appears in the dwelling, learn the pros and cons of the animal, in order to know what difficulties will be encountered. Pluses:
- playful, cheerful beast;
- the ferret walks into the tray like a domestic cat;
- compact and lightweight, easy to transport;
- the ferret at home is adjusted to the life cycle of the owners, betrayed by them as a dog;
- wool is not an allergen;
- smart, get along with other animals.
Disadvantages:
- The ferret skin has a musky smell, which some do not like;
- if frightened, then uses stinking prianal glands, but the heavy spirit quickly disappears;
- ferrets dig, flowers will be spoiled, it is impossible to wean from it;
- tear the buckets;
- The ferret penetrates into the narrowest cracks, from where it sometimes can not escape;
- have the feature of "getting confused" under their feet.
The contents of the ferret at home
In an apartment, women can live in cages or at large. The last option is preferable, but this does not mean that he will not need a house. A cell is needed, even for a short stay. Ferrets are active at home, care and their maintenance at large must be prepared:
- in the apartment it is important to eliminate all the cracks and holes - they will try to climb there;
- From the access zone of ferrets, flowers, wires, objects, which they can spoil, must be removed;
- they can not be allowed into the kitchen (they can climb on the included stove), on the unglazed balcony (drop out).
Live in captivity frets up to 12 years. For ferrets at home, you need to follow, know where he is. They are fragile animals, they must be protected from injuries - they see badly and can fall off a chair or table. The animals are smart and are anywhere - under the blanket, behind the closet, where they can step on or sit down. It is better to create conditions for the animal to be constantly in the same room, where to equip it with a soft couch, put a bowl, a drinking bowl. Most of the day they sleep, activity begins in the evening.
Ferret Cage
For those who are afraid to let the forest animal into a free life, a house will be needed. The ferret cage should be spacious, from a building net, which can not be gnawed through. Places in it it is necessary so much that the animal freely ran and was not crowded - approximately 1 square meter. Inside the house there is a bowl with food, a tray, a drinking bowl. It is necessary to build a "hole" closed from prying eyes, inside to cover it with rags.
Ferrets love labyrinths of pipes, boxes. But do not all of them heavily clutter up. If the ferret in the apartment lives in a cage, it needs to be released at least an hour or two per day. With him you can play catch-up, hide and seek - little animals are good companions, like to communicate with people. If you have two individuals, the ferrets enjoy running and playing with each other. The cell is cleaned once a week, covered with rags.
Harness for a ferret
Fretka loves to explore the territory. The conditions of the ferret contain obligatory walks, but not in frosty weather. The harness will become an important assistant on the go. Forest ferret - bright and active, climbing trees, holes, cracks - a special strap will help keep the situation under control and not lose the animal. The harnesses are equipped with special Velcro t-shirts, which facilitate dressing and warming the pet. A convenient addition is the bell - it will help to find the lost animal.
How to care for the ferret?
Special care for such a small animal does not deliver - they do not need combing and haircuts. Care of the ferret at home includes several mandatory procedures:
- Bathing. Keep the animal clean. Wash the animal with a canopy under a stream of water at 37 degrees with special or children's shampoos. Some of them like to swim. After the procedure, the animal must be wiped with a towel to dry it. Regular bathing solves the problem with the nutmeg odor from the ferret wool.
- Mandatory vaccination. It is necessary to make him the basic vaccinations and to withstand quarantine.
- Tray. Like a cat, a small animal at home should be taught to use the toilet. First, put the tray where he goes in need, to praise the use of the vessel. The ferret quickly gets used to the procedure.
- Mowing claws. It is held every three weeks with special forceps.
- Cleaning the ears. It is necessary every two months, carried out with a cotton swab.
How to feed a homemade ferret?
To the animal was healthy and full of energy for pranks, we must take care of its nutrition. It is important to know what ferrets eat, because they are predators in nature. The main part of the diet should be proteins, fats and carbohydrates, vitamins are needed. A ferret at home eats natural food:
- Meat. Fits an idea, chicken, beef, rabbit, duck, goose. Occasionally, low-fat pork is given;
- As additional protein, quail eggs or chicken eggs (cooked) are used;
- Dairy products - cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, kefir.
Vitamins and minerals are additionally purchased in the veterinary pharmacy. The food of small ferrets in the feeder should be constant, adult animals are fed twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. Dry rations are an alternative to natural food. For such animals suitable special food for ferrets or small kittens . The product must be not lower than premium quality .
Castration of the ferret
It takes place in males in 6-8 months. During this period, a small ferret acquires full breeding organs and it has the instinct to mark the territory. The operation is performed under anesthesia, passes without pain and negative consequences for the ferret. After it the animals change - they cease to be aggressive, do not mark corners, do not bite. The ferret will become peaceful and calm. Lethargy and obesity, as in the case of cats, does not threaten the animal. Soon after castration, he will become playful, cheerful, and even more nimble than before.
Sterilization of ferrets
During the operation, the female is removed from the sex glands, as a result of this, the estrus stops and the ability to reproduce the offspring disappears. If a ferret lives in an apartment and no animal breeding is planned, then it is better to conduct a planned sterilization of the animal, it can be done at 5-8 months old. The operation is carried out during the estrus. To her, the girl must be prepared in advance. Eight hours before surgery, it can not be fed, two before manipulation - not to drink.
Sterilization is done under general anesthesia for 20-30 minutes. In the animal, the uterus and ovaries are removed, seams are placed from the absorbable material. The wound remains small. The female soon regains consciousness, the scar heals a week. After a few hours, the ferret can be fed and drunk. After sterilization it is necessary to follow the animal's chair, if it is not for two days - give 2 ml. vaseline oil. Ferrets can not be washed for seven days so as not to wet the seam. A special diet is not required, after sterilization the animals do not grow stout.
Petting in ferrets
The physiology of forest animals is different from other pets. They reach sexual maturity in 5-8 months. At the ferret at this time there is the first heat, in the body hormonal changes occur. Irregular mating negatively affects the health of the female. The animal is getting bald, anemia appears. A female can die from hemorrhage, because her estrus ceases only after mating. If there is no breeding of animals in the plans, the competent care of the ferret is to carry out sterilization. It will save the life and health of your pet.