Description of ferrets of breed White (Albino)
Ferrets were domesticated by humans over 800 years ago. These small predators were used as exotic pets and for hunting rabbits. Nowadays, ferrets are not as popular as cats or dogs, but they are also in demand. One of the brightest representatives of the domestic breed is the white ferret.
White domestic ferret
The color of the fur of this animal can be either pure white or sable or champagne. In many ways, an albino ferret requires the same care as regular domestic ferrets, but there are still some peculiarities.
Description of the appearance of the animal
The white domestic ferret is physically similar to the representatives of the black forest breed. It was the first albino forest ferrets that served as the ancestors of the domestic animal species.
The animal has a flexible and long body, which allows it to climb burrows in natural habitat. The average size of a predator is from 35 to 50 cm. The weight of an adult individual reaches 400 g. A similar body structure can be observed in the dachshund, which is why ferrets were used as an alternative to these dogs when hunting rabbits.
The white ferret has the same physical characteristics as its black wild relative: it is fast and maneuverable, can jump high and reacts instantly to danger.
The wool of this breed of animals is distinguished by its snow-white color. This shade of hair is due to the absence of melanin in the predator's body. This element is responsible for the color of the fur and eyes of animals. It is noteworthy that white ferrets can be not only albinos. Representatives of this species have sable, pearl and champagne fur colors. Due to their unusual color, animal photos are often adorned with reference books and atlases.
White ferret puppies are always born with light, solid color. By the second week of life, he may begin to darken, and the subsequent color of the animal already depends on this.
The lack of melanin in the body is considered a recessive phenomenon, so even white ferrets can have a black puppy.
The nature of the breed
Since the ancestors of ferrets are wild forest predators, this leaves a certain imprint on the domestic breed. Nevertheless, many scientists worked on breeding this species, so the albino ferret gets along with humans and cannot survive in natural conditions.
The animal combines many character traits that require constant monitoring:
- Curiosity. The shape of the body of white ferrets allows them to penetrate into many forbidden corners of the house, so the animal must be watched. A pet always scrutinizes its territory and can make a mess if not supervised.
- Active games. Ferrets willingly play with humans and other brethren, but you should be careful: sometimes an overexcited animal can show hunting instincts in relation to the owner. The pet can bite or scratch during play. In this case, the ferret should be returned to the cage for a while.
- Love for attention.Similar behavior can be observed in dogs: ferrets require constant attention to themselves. If you do not show interest in a pet for too long, then he begins to misbehave. The animal can follow on the heels of a person in the hope of affection or play.
Conditions of keeping the white ferret
In care, you should adhere to the same principles as with the usual breeds of this animal. Ferrets are often kept like cats.
Pets can be trained to use the litter box, and predators can sleep in small shelters with warm bedding inside. Ferrets do not need to buy a housing cage, but if there are small children in the house, then you should protect the predator from them.
Cell
The ferret house should be spacious and multi-tiered. This is especially true for closed-type content. On the ground floor, a corner tray is installed in the cage. It should be washed frequently: ferrets are clean animals and will not re-use a dirty toilet. A bowl and a drinking bowl are placed in the diametrically opposite corner. A small sleeping house is installed on the second floor. It can be made from an upside-down box by cutting out a 15 cm diameter round entrance. For more comfort, a climbing pipe system should be installed. This will remind ferrets of natural burrows.
You can also hang it in a hammock cage: the animals love to rest in such structures. You can make a cage for a predator with your own hands, for this you need to watch training videos or step-by-step photos.
It is extremely important to comply with the sanitary standards for keeping pets. The cage should be clean and warm. It is impossible to locate the dwelling in a draft or in a cold part of the house.
Ferrets are very sensitive to loud noise and strong odors - you need to protect the pet's house from sources of music and do not spray air fresheners nearby. It is also important to try to protect the cage from direct sunlight. Ferrets love shaded sleeping areas, and ultraviolet light can burn the delicate eyes of albinos.
Albino ferret diet
Ferrets are predatory animals, so meat takes up most of the diet. In the wild, a rodent or bird can become a victim of these animals. For home breeds, protein foods are often mixed with cooked cereals for added nutrition. However, it is forbidden to give a lot of grain crops to a predator: they can clog the pet's stomach.
A balanced diet for a white ferret should include the following foods:
- chicken eggs;
- homemade vegetables;
- white meat;
- veal;
- fresh fish;
- vitamin supplements.
It is forbidden to give sweet and starchy foods to this animal species. In large quantities, these products can be fatal.
It is better to mix several types of meat in one meal. Ferrets should not be fed dog or cat food. Many components from this food are not assimilated by the stomachs of animals. As a result, pets begin to rapidly lose weight, they experience hair loss and tearing of the eyes.
Particular attention should be paid to vitamins and minerals. Since the albino ferret is proud of its white coat, calcium must be present in the diet to strengthen the hairline. Bone meal and dairy products well increase the level of this element in the body.
To improve the digestion of your pet, you should follow the feeding regimen. In the wild, ferrets are nocturnal animals, so they don't eat well in the morning. It is best to try to feed ferrets closer to noon, afternoon and late evening. Food should be given at the same time.
It is extremely important to check the quality of the food and wash the animal's bowl before each meal.
Ferret water should be boiled. Predators do not tolerate the increased amount of bleach in the liquid and can get sick.
Caring for white ferret fur
Ferrets are proud of their white hair. However, maintaining a well-groomed coat is difficult.Due to the activity and curiosity of the ferret, his fur coat is very often covered with spots that have a black color. White animals should be washed more often than their black counterparts. You should bathe your pet with a special shampoo at least 1 time per week. Ferrets are very good at hygiene.
To make the coat smooth and shiny, it should be combed out with a special brush. This should be done especially often when the animal is moulting. If you leave the old hair on the body of a predator, then over time it will get confused with the new one. As a result, the skin of the ferret will be covered with unkempt white lumps, in which harmful insects like to settle.
Sometimes the coat loses its whiteness due to the secretions of the males during the hunt. The ferret's sebaceous glands begin to work actively and in some places the coat may turn yellow. If the animal is not intended for breeding, then it is better to castrate it.
The snow-white coat of albino ferrets is the hallmark of this species. This breed is often pleasing to the human eye from an aesthetic point of view. A photo of a beautiful and well-groomed pet can be hung on the wall as an element of the interior, if you still cannot decide to get a real pet.