What Is A Ferret?

One day at work, I mentioned I have ferrets.
The children before me were very confused. 'But what *is* a ferret?'
'It's a fairly small furry animal about this big, with a long body, that I have as a pet'
'Yes... but what *is* it??'
'... it's a ferret!'


How do you explain what a dog or cat is to someone who has never seen a dog or a cat? It was like that. Explaining it was related to weasels was also no use.
The only way I could explain was to get out my phone and show photos of my two and even then, though they pronounced them 'really cute' , they didn't quite get it.

It's strange to me that though ferrets are a pretty popular pet, so much of society has never seen one, touched one, and most kids don't even know what one is.

Ferrets have been domesticated for several thousand years. Evidence suggests they were domesticated before cats were, and that ancient Egyptians had ferrets to deal with rodents, before they had cats!

Like dogs were domesticated from wolves, ferrets were domesticated from polecats. Their behaviour became more social (polecats are generally loners), and they became a bit smaller and more  silly.

Polecats, and ferrets, are part of the mustelid family, like dogs are part of the canine family. Others in that group include weasels, stoats, ermine, otters, skunks and badgers. The main thing that makes these animals related is the musk glands they have, but lots of them have physical similarities too. So if you know what those animals are, I guess I could describe them as '[that animal], but bigger/smaller/less smelly/browner/dryer'.

Unlike dogs, there aren't a whole lot of different colours and styles of ferrets. The 'usual' look of a ferret is a fur mask over the eyes, white ear tips, and a brown body with darker feet and legs and tail.

Ferrets have long canines that stick down over their bottom lips like little vampires. They are pure carnivores and their teeth prove it. They have long whiskers which help them with their tunnelling, which they love to do. Any small space is fair game to them. If their head fits in a hole, usually their whole body will too.

A ferret has a long body, which they hold up in an arch quite often.  To the uninitiated, they look really really strange because of this. It does not slow them down at all, they are very quick.

They are incredibly flexible animals, and are often to be found sleeping in the strangest positions.

Then there are the sillier ways of describing a ferret.

Carpet Sharks: Unlike water sharks, these little guys live on the carpet, and may bite your ankle at any time. (if they're naughty!)

Furry Slinkies: Seriously, it's like these guys have a slinky for a spine.

Long Cat: They look like that old meme of Long Cat. Long Cats are Long.

Cat Snake: Take away their legs, and they look like a cross between a cat and a snake. Essspecially their fangssssssssss. (and they hiss when they're annoyed).


How would you describe what a ferret is?