The idea of keeping a pet ferret is gaining more popularity as more people discover how friendly and curious they can be. As ferrets can be comfortable around humans, they make good pets. They love to find hiding places for their tidbits and toys, and this is how they got their name. They were called 'thieves' or 'furoneum' in Latin, describing their furtive behavior when storing their possessions. However, bear in mind that you will need equanimity when trying to litter train them.

Ferrets were domesticated as few as 2,500 years ago. Since then, they have always included humans as part of their social group. They were the favorite pets of the royalty in the Middle Ages for their friendly nature and unique looks.

Ferrets are part of the weasel family, which can include a lot of members. The weasel family are mustelids. They have over 65 different species of cousins in the weasel family, including otters and badgers. If you were to closely observe a ferret, you will begin to understand how similar they are to these creatures instead of the rodents they are usually contrasted with. With their sleek bodies and their short fur, they can come in a variety of brown colors with black highlights. There are albino versions of ferrets as well that have white fur and pink eyes, which is what you would expect from an albino animal.

Male ferrets are usually about 18 inches and 2-3 pounds, while females are a little smaller. No one knows why ferrets take toys and food to hide them for later on. It could have started off as a method of saving food during the cold winters, quite similar to the behavior observed in squirrels. This is probably where the behavior started, but it definitely continues to this day.

Ferrets are commonly blamed unfairly for being odorous. This is not the case. They do have a slightly dank smell about them due to their natural oils, however, you can take away these glands that are responsible for such odors. Most of the time, if your ferret smells, it is a result of their cage being dirty or their owner not taking proper care of them. If you forget about your ferret's litter box or cage for a few days, of course they are going to stink!

Ferrets will require some help to make sure that they don't smell and stay in excellent shape. Unfortunately, they are prone to a number of ferret diseases and their already too-short lifetimes can become even more shortened. The diet of the ferret should be very high in fat and protein. They need about 35% in protein about roughly 15% in fat to stay at their healthiest. For the first few years of a ferret's life, you will have to be very careful about what you feed them to make sure that they grow up strong.

Of course, if you are in a tight spot, you may give your ferret cat food, however, this cannot continue over long periods of time. After all, cat food doesn't have all of the vitamins and nutrients that ferrets need.

Ferrets are very intelligent and can be trained to do some tricks, although this will require some patience. They have an innate liking for holes as they were originally bred to chase rabbits from their burrows. They are descended from polecats and love to sleep. An average ferret can sleep up to 18 hours a day, but when they are awake, you will definitely know it! These pets are fun, loyal and smart, making them great animals to have around.