Ferret

Cute and curious, ferrets are small pets that have been domesticated from the European polecat. As they’re so lively and social, ferrets can make fantastic pets, but they’re not always easy to handle and they can bite when startled, which makes them better suited to more experienced pet owners.

Ferrets live for six to ten years on average, but they can live up to 15 years. Very social creatures, they’re happiest when they live with another ferret or in a small group, and they need lots of toys and enrichment activities to stay occupied.

As obligate carnivores, they should eat only meat, including dry commercial ferret food and raw meat. It’s also true that ferrets can smell a little, particularly unneutered males. This, as well as the fact that they require quite large cages, is why most ferret owners house their pets outside.