How long do ferrets live: the number of years at home and wild, how to determine the age

The ferret belongs to the genus of mammals of the weasel family. The animal has a calm, non-aggressive character. Under natural conditions, it is found in the forests of Eurasia, North America and Russia. There is no single answer to the question - how many years do ferrets live, since this parameter is influenced by several factors (diet, permanent habitat, genetics).

The lifespan of ferrets

Diet, living conditions in captivity or in the natural habitat are different. Therefore, the life expectancy of ferrets will vary.

In nature

The most common are two types of ferrets: forest dark and steppe light. Males grow 45-50 cm long, females - 35-40 cm. The predator weighs 1.3-1.6 kg. The ferret belongs to predators and preys on small rodents, mainly mice-voles. Ground squirrels, hamsters, and pikas can be prey for the steppe ferret.

Adult predators lead a solitary lifestyle and, if settled near human habitation, can hunt small poultry. But, in any case, food for a wild animal is not easy to get.

Under natural conditions, the life expectancy of an animal is 2-4 years, since lack of food, illness, various injuries and injuries significantly reduce the life span. In addition, ferrets are often preyed upon by larger predators.

In captivity at home

Of course, the pet is provided with comfortable living conditions, balanced nutritious food. Therefore, manual predators live longer - 6-10 years. If timely vaccination is carried out, then the life expectancy of castrated animals will be 10-14 years.

Of course, such operations have an impact on the behavior of pets, lifestyle.

Sterilized ferrets are more calm, affectionate. The procedure is recommended for animals aged 6-8 months. Neutering has been shown through research to lengthen the lifespan of a furry pet.

What can affect the life of an animal

The lifespan of any animal is determined by a number of factors. Several indicators affect the life span of a ferret:

• diet. Since pets are predators, the main element of food is meat. It is not recommended to feed fruits and vegetables to the animal, since the digestive system of the ferret is not adapted for the absorption of plant foods;
• an important factor is genetics (the life expectancy of the pet's parents);
• complete care, creating comfortable living conditions significantly lengthen the life of the animal.

It is impossible to exclude the factor of diseases that can shorten life expectancy. Therefore, it is advisable to constantly examine the pet, pay attention to deviations in behavior or suspicious symptoms.

Is it possible and how to extend the life of a ferret

Given the factors affecting the life expectancy of the animal, you need to adhere to the rules of its maintenance:

• Because ferrets are mobile, you need to provide them with constant access to drinking water. Regular dehydration of the body contributes to a reduction in life expectancy;
• food is fed in small portions 3-4 times a day;
• periodic vaccination is a reliable way to prevent infection with dangerous deadly diseases (rabies, plague);
• cages are constantly cleaned, bedding changed daily;
• to prevent injury or poisoning, it is recommended that owners, during their absence, place pets in cages equipped for rest.

Ferrets are predators, so it is important to exclude the following foods from the diet: dry cat or dog food, milk, table food (fried, s alted, sweet foods), canned food, citrus.

How to determine the age of an animal

On average, ferrets at home live 6-7 years. Therefore, when purchasing an animal, it is advisable to determine its age in advance. To understand how old the fluffy is, you need to carefully examine his physical data. Veterinarians recommend paying attention to the condition of the teeth.

Young, nimble pets will have shreds white, bright and strong. Visible changes are observed in predators aged 2-4 years: the ends of the fangs turn slightly yellow and become transparent. By the age of 6, small teeth may be missing on the lower jaw, the surface of the canines becomes yellow.

Attentive attitude, a good diet, comfortable living conditions are factors that affect the life expectancy of a pet. The animal belongs to exotic pets. Therefore, before you get a pet, you need to read the recommendations for its content.

Recommended