The throat of the glove-colored Angora ferret is white, and there are obvious gloves on the limbs and feet. The rest of the fur is dark or has obvious silver reflection. There is no fluff and the nose is allowed to have nasal polyps.
The domestication of modern pet ferrets began over two hundred years ago, but ferrets that were kept as pets were already present in Egypt around 3000 BC. They were bred alongside European Persian cats. Subsequently, during the Crusades in the 11th century, ferrets were brought to Europe as a species of practical value. In the 16th century, ferrets were shipped from Europe to America and were used to control the growth of rodents. People would let them out of their cages to chase field mice that were hiding.
It is recommended for small pet enthusiasts to keep Angora ferrets. The most distinctive characteristic of Angora ferrets is their curiosity and cheerful personality. They like to play with people. Due to their endless curiosity and adventurous spirit, they are always active and often climb into furniture or go under it to explore new things. They collect anything they like and hide it in hidden places. They also establish their own activity territory. They are affectionate, playful, and intelligent, making it easy for them to get close to people. They always want to play with their owners. They especially enjoy going in and out with people, so they can be put on a harness like a dog or taken for a walk after being placed in an outdoor cage.
Angora ferrets are social animals. Although they like to be close to humans, they prefer to play with their own kind. As long as there is enough space, it is not a big problem to keep multiple ferrets together. If they are isolated for a long time and do not feel lonely, or if their activities are reduced, causing them to lack exercise, they will feel stressed and become obese or even get sick. Therefore, do not keep ferrets in cages all the time and let them come out to play and exercise regularly. Because they are lively and active, there are various ferret-specific toys available on the market to keep them entertained.
1. Overheating
The pet ferret will become tired when the ambient temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius, and they are easily prone to heatstroke when the temperature is above 30 degrees Celsius. High temperatures increase the likelihood of heatstroke. To avoid this problem, you should always ensure a fresh water source and place their cage in a well-ventilated area. Avoid drafts, and try not to use air conditioning for them. If the pet ferret shows signs of heatstroke, such as panting, red gums, protruding tongue, weakness, trembling, lethargic or unconscious twitching, you should immediately place their cage in a cool and ventilated place, and put the ferret in warm water (do not use cold water). Contact a veterinarian immediately. Remember to put a bottle of icy mineral water in their cage regularly.
2. Hairball
Pet ferrets have some habits similar to cats, such as grooming themselves, so they can also get hairballs. Using Marshall Ferret Lax Hairball & Obstruction Remedy can solve this problem. It can lubricate and dissolve the tangled hair, and help them eliminate the hair from their stomach.
3. Intestinal obstruction
Sometimes pet ferrets may swallow soft pet toys, shoe heels, erasers, chair cushions, headwear, or rubber bands and other rubber materials, leading to this rapidly fatal problem. Therefore, you should keep small rubber products that are easily swallowed by pet ferrets out of their reach, and pay attention to their eating and chewing behaviors to prevent it in advance.
4. Ear mites
If you find that your pet frequently shakes its head, scratches its ears, and screams, it is likely that ear mites are causing trouble. These parasites can make the ferret's ear canal extremely dirty and cause great suffering to the pet ferret. Therefore, you should regularly clean their ear canal to reduce the likelihood of mite infestation. If ear mites are really present, although it is not a serious problem, you should still take them to see a veterinarian.
1. The following are precautions:
1. If your Angora ferret is under one year old and over four months old, you can feed them dry food, but don't feed them too much as their stomachs cannot temporarily digest it.
2. If your Angora ferret is under four months old, they can only eat staple food. Other foods such as nutrition cream, hair removal cream, and snacks are strictly prohibited. And the staple food should be soaked and fed, preferably ground into powder and mixed with water to form a paste. If the food is soaked directly, it is difficult to soften and nutrients can easily be lost, only causing water and not nutrition.
3. Ferrets can only eat ferret food, specialized snacks, nutrition cream, water, hair removal cream, specialized fur care products, and probiotics.
2. Forbidden:
1. Absolutely do not feed them dairy products, no matter what. Ferrets cannot digest them and do not need them. Drinking milk can easily cause vomiting and dehydration.
2. Absolutely do not feed them fruits, vegetables, or snacks for human consumption, as they cannot digest sugar and fiber.
3. Absolutely do not feed them products containing salt, as salt can cause dehydration and should not be fed.
4. Absolutely eat less meat. Generally, the nutrition in staple food is already sufficient for ferrets, and they do not need meat. Moreover, many functions of pet ferrets have already degenerated.
Living environment: Because ferrets have been domesticated by humans for a long time, they have lost the ability to survive in the wild. As responsible owners, we should keep them indoors and make sure they have nowhere to hide.
Temperature and humidity: The ancestors of ferrets originally lived in cool underground caves, so they cannot tolerate hot and humid environments. High temperatures can cause heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and even death. Owners should be cautious and avoid placing the ferret's cage or nest near ventilation outlets or in direct sunlight, as well as keeping them away from air conditioners or heaters. The suitable humidity for ferrets should be maintained at 50% to 70%, which is beneficial for fur growth.
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