Ferret

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A domestic ferret

Ferrets (Mustela furo) are a species of mustelid in the genus Mustela. Technically, they are descendants of the species Mustela putorius, the European polecat, and are 'true ferrets', but a number of loosely related species with similar physical forms and lifestyles (such as the endangered black-footed ferret that also belongs to the genus Mustela which also includes other members) are known by that name.

Real ferrets[edit]

Male ferrets are known as hobs, female ferrets as jills. Spayed, male ferrets are known as hobbles, female ferrets as sprites. Young ferrets are kits, and a group of ferrets is a business.

They are known as slinky, active creatures, and have been domesticated for millennia, with the first known usage of domestic ferrets (to protect grain stores from rodents) dating back to 1500 BCE. As pets, ferrets are the third most common pet in the US (behind cats and dogs). However, some states, like California and Hawaii and other countries like Australia and New Zealand, have laws against owning them.

As carnivores, they need a diet high in fats and proteins and low in carbohydrates. A ferret's metabolism is also an exercise in extremes the common domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) sleeps from 14 to 18 hours a day, and makes their owner's life a living hell (albeit a cute living hell) for the other 6 to 10 hours.

Some ferrets work at NASA, running cables through access spaces too small for a human to go through. A ferret's speed, relative strength, intelligence, and ability to be trained makes them ideally suited for this task.

Like other mustelids, ferrets have scent glands. However, they get them surgically removed, but this practice is unnecessary.

Furry ferrets[edit]

Angelica Ferroti, a fictional ferret character in Extinctioners

In the furry fandom, ferrets generally do not sleep from 14 to 18 hours a day, but otherwise resemble their animal counterparts. In many instances, the flexibility of their real-life counterparts is taken to extremes.

The Funday PawPet Show features many ferret characters, most notably Poink T. Ferret.

In Supermegatopia, Ferret Man is the setting's premiere antihero. In this, he represents the common American misconceptions that ferrets are vicious, and unsuitable around children; Ferret Man is violent, taking no prisoners and cleaning up the city by leaving even 'mild' criminals as a greasy smear on the street.

See also[edit]

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