Ferret

This article is about the mammal. For the military vehicle, see Ferret armoured car, for the band see Ferocious Ferrets.

Terminology and coloring

Male ferrets are called hobs; female ferrets are jills. A spayed female is a sprite, and a neutered male is a gib. Ferrets under one year old are known as kits. A group of ferrets is known as a "business".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ferrets come in a variety of coat colors and patterns, the most common of which are as follows:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Colors:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• albino
• black
• black sable
• champagne
• chocolate
• cinnamon
• dark-eyed white
• sable
• silver

Color concentrations:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• point
• roan
• solid
• standard

Markings:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• blaze
• panda
• mitt

White ferrets were favored in the Middle Ages, and ownership was restricted to those earning at least 40 shillings a year (a rather large sum then). Leonardo's painting Lady with an Ermine is probably mislabled; the animal is probably a ferret, not a stoat, for which "ermine" is an alternative name (strictly applying only to the animal in its white winter coat). Similarly, the "Ermine portrait of Queen Elizabeth the First" shows her with her pet ferret, who has been decorated with painted-on heraldic ermine spots.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Leonardo - Lady with an Ermine - Stoat - Heraldic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Waardenburg Syndrome

Ferrets with a white stripe on their face or a fully white head, primarily blazes, badgers, and pandas, almost certainly carry a congenital defect known as Waardenburg syndrome. This causes, among other things, a cranial deformation in the womb which broadens the skull, causing the white face markings, but also partial or total deafness. It is estimated as many as 3/4ths of ferrets with visible Waardenburg signs (pandas, blazes) are deaf. Beyond that, the cranial deformation also causes a higher instance of stillborn ferret kits, and occasionally cleft palates. Because of this, many breeders will not breed Waardenburg-patterned ferrets.

Related Topics:
Waardenburg syndrome - Stillborn - Cleft palate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~