Are Ferrets Rodents or Felines?
Ferrets are playful, curious creatures. People love them as pets because every day brings a new adventure. Yet, many mistake ferrets for rodents. They do look a bit like a long rat, and they’re quite clever. But ferrets aren’t rodents, and they’re not felines either. They actually belong to the mustelid family, often called the weasel family.
You’re about to discover some interesting ways ferrets differ from other animals.
Are Ferrets Rodents?
Some folks think ferrets are a type of rodent. This happens because of their body size and general look. At first glance, you might confuse a ferret with a rodent. But ferrets have many distinct features that set them apart from animals like mice, guinea pigs, or hamsters.
Look at their evolutionary history, body shape, and family characteristics. You’ll quickly see that a ferret is very different from a rodent.
Different Animal Classifications
Ferrets and rodents are both mammals. However, they belong to separate orders. Ferrets are part of the Carnivora Order. This group includes animals that eat fresh meat. They also have sharp canine teeth and claws.
Because of this, a ferret is more closely related to cats, dogs, bears, and raccoons. They are not close to rats or hamsters. What links ferrets with carnivores are their meat-eating habits and their tooth structure. Think of them like distant cousins within the same big animal group.
Mice and similar animals are in the Rodentia Order. All rodents share specific physical traits:
- They have one pair of long incisors in each jaw.
- There’s an empty space behind these incisors.
- They do not have canine teeth.
- Their teeth are built specifically for gnawing.
- They possess a bone in their penis, called a baculum.
Ferrets simply don’t have these rodent characteristics. Animals that truly belong to the rodent family include beavers, gophers, squirrels, and chipmunks. Many people don’t realize this.
Ferrets are Mustelids
Ferrets are small animals known as mustelids. They share features with badgers, otters, minks, wolverines, and skunks. Some experts simply call these animals members of the weasel family.
Most mustelids have similar attributes:
- They are usually small-to-medium sized animals.
- They have short legs, round ears, and elongated bodies.
- Mustelids are often active at dawn and dusk, being nocturnal or crepuscular.
- Not all mustelids hibernate, but their body processes slow down when it gets cold.
- They are heavy sleepers, resting twelve to eighteen hours a day.
- Most prefer meat, but they can eat plants if needed.
- They have thick fur. This protects them from harsh weather and helps control their body temperature.
While all weasel-like creatures share these traits, only ferrets have been tamed. Otters, minks, and wolverines live in the wild. Those in captivity usually help with breeding. Mice and other rodents do not match the characteristics of mustelids.
Pungent Scent: A Particularity Among Ferrets
A specific feature that makes ferrets different from rodents is their musky smell. Many animals in the weasel family produce a strong odor, like a skunk. Ferrets have a more manageable scent. You can lessen it with good cleaning and care.
Ferrets have many sweat glands on their face and body. These glands release an oily substance. This keeps their skin and fur healthy. It’s also what causes their unique aroma. If you’re not used to it, the smell might surprise you at first. It’s just a musky scent. Some describe it as smelling like old popcorn or stale tortilla chips.
The smell gets stronger as ferrets age and can reproduce. Sex hormones play a big part in how strong the scent is. This aroma helps them attract a mate.
Ferrets also have anal glands. These can release a very foul smell if the ferret is scared or mating. This strong odor, however, only happens rarely. Neutering your ferret can greatly reduce its scent. It also lowers the chance of many health problems as they get older. So, ferrets do not share attributes with rodents. They are small and cute, but that’s about it.
Are Ferrets Rodents or Felines?
Ferrets are not like rodents. But, they are related to cats and other felines in a distant way. Ferrets and felines share common ancestors in the evolutionary tree. Both belong to the Carnivora Order.
Animals in this group are mostly meat-eaters, or sometimes omnivores. They have similar teeth structures. Specifically, they have canine teeth. They also have three incisors in both their upper and lower jaw. They usually don’t have a third molar. This jaw helps them tear apart meat without needing too much force when they bite. Many animals in this group are good hunters. They often prey on smaller creatures.
Aside from this evolutionary link, ferrets and felines don’t have many other shared features. Their body shapes are different. They are in separate animal classes. Also, their personalities are not alike. So, ferrets are connected to felines through their ancestry. But, they look and act differently from one another.
Where Do Ferrets Live?
Many people mistakenly believe ferrets are wild animals. But a ferret is a creature that was domesticated a long time ago. It cannot survive if set free. They were bred from their ancestor, the European polecat. Now, human homes are truly where ferrets belong.
People often mix up domestic ferrets with the black-footed ferret. These are two distinct species. Your pet ferret is known as Mustela putorius furo. The black-footed ferret is Mustela nigripes. This endangered animal comes from the United States.
Both are biologically ferrets. But your pet is a domestic animal. The other one lives in the wild. Because of this, rules that limit keeping ferrets as pets don’t make much sense. Domestic ferrets cannot last a single day on their own. They need people to care for them. They rely on human care to live a good life.
