Basic Ferret Facts: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

Welcome to the Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Ferrets! This is Chapter 3: Basic Ferret Facts

If you already have a solid understanding of unique ferret anatomy, you can skip to Chapter 4 (though I’d recommend doing a quick scroll to see a giant ferret).

For everyone else, this chapter will help you learn some very important facts about ferrets.

How Big Do Ferrets Get?

Ferrets vary greatly in size and weight depending upon breeding, gender, and whether or not they are altered (neutered/fixed).

Females can weigh anywhere from 1lb to 3.5lb when they are fixed. Including the tail, females usually measure around 18 inches long.

Neutered male ferrets weigh 2lb to 3.5lbs. Unaltered (not neutered) males can weigh up to 6lbs (!). Including the tail, males can measure up to 22 inches long.

Fun Fact: Ferrets are known to put on some extra weight in the winter, which many of us ferret owners affectionately refer to as ‘winter chub’. According to Ferrets for Dummies, some ferrets will gain up to 40% of their weight in the winter (and then lose it in the Spring).

That’s Not My Belly Button…

To somebody new to ferrets, it may be a little confusing to tell whether you are holding a male or a female. One of the most common mistakes a new owner can make is misidentifying their ferret’s gender.

Most ferrets are fixed or neutered before they are sent to the pet store, so there are usually no obvious anatomical signs such as prominent testicles.

Not to worry! You can still determine the gender of a ferret by taking a look at their underside -specifically the lower belly area.

You will notice in the illustration above, female ferrets (left) have no ‘belly button’ between their nipples, whereas male ferrets (right) have a noticeable (but tiny) ‘belly button’ between their nipples.

The truth is, that ‘belly button’ is actually your male ferret’s penis and it’s the easiest way to determine if your ferret is male or female.

***IMPORTANT: You will also notice in the illustration above that both male and female ferrets have nipples so don’t be fooled!

How Long Do Ferrets Live?

In our opinion, not nearly long enough! The truth is that a ferret’s lifespan can vary greatly depending upon genetics, diet, and lifestyle.

Our ferret Moose during an outreach presentation

A typical ferret from Petco or any large pet retailer usually lives anywhere from 5-7 years. Unfortunately, improper diet and breeding practices have caused ferrets to suffer from an incredibly high incidence of diseases such as Insulinoma, Adrenal Disease, and many others. These illnesses can severely shorten the life of a ferret.

A privately bred ferret can live up to 12 years old, provided they have strong genetics and are cared for properly.

Did these Basic Ferret Facts surprise you? You’re not alone!

Are ferrets actually smarter than dogs? Find out in Chapter 4.