POLECAT- FERRET- A Comparison

Both the ferret and the polecat belong to the weasel family and look very similar but there are a number of differences that set them apart. Often known as the domesticated polecat, ferret pets are gregarious while polecats prefer to stay alone. Ferrets can be differentiated on the basis of a number of features especially smell. Polecats are known to emanate a distinctive smell that can be attributed to their secretion.

Polecat (Mustela putorius)
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another distinguishing factor between the polecat and the ferret is that the polecat can choose when it wants to get pregnant. The implantation time can be decided by the polecat. Therefore the polecat can decide when the right time is to breed. However the ferret cannot choose to control implantation.

Ferrets have small ears, a sensitive nose, sharp teeth and a long, sinuous body. On the other hand polecats have long and lean bodies with sensitive whiskers, short muzzles and rounded ears. Polecats are not known for their eyesight unlike the ferret, they make their way around with the help of their nose.

Polecats are purely carnivorous and survive on fish, fish eggs, small birds and reptiles. While ferrets are also known to be carnivorous they enjoy eating sweets like raisins, bananas, and peanut butter.

A Polecat, ferret and cat although are similar in many aspects, differ a lot in terms of temperament, dietary habits and mating patterns etc. All of them belong to the same family but basic behavioural patterns like curiosity, tenacity and gregariousness make them completely different from each other.

Ferrets make great pets and if trained properly they can shower you with all the love and companionship you need. They love sharing their space and do no get territorial. Polecats cannot be domesticated and will not make good pets because they are too solitary and hate sharing their space with other polecats even.

Since they look so similar and have so many similarities it is essential for one to know the common differences between a polecat, ferret and cat if you wish to bring one home. A ferret is indeed a great choice for a pet as they are tiny, playful and extremely lovable.

By Clint Sidney Clint is a ferret enthusiast who enjoys giving information about Polecat, Ferret.  You can learn more about taking care of ferrets the correct way at FerretCareHelp.com [http://www.ferretcarehelp.com]. Article Source: EzineArticles

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The Pros and Cons of Keeping WILD FERRETS

Is a wild ferret for you? You might have to quiz yourself well on that before you head off to the nearest forest and score yourself a brand new wild ferret to have and hold. There are many advantages and disadvantages of keeping wild ferrets, and here are some of the more major things you can expect once you decide to acquire wild ferrets.

Ferrets at play (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Advantages: 

More adventure, more fun. People who are just as interested in getting adventures out of their ferrets as much as the wild ferrets are must be open to the idea of keeping them untamed. Wild ferrets are quite exciting to behold, especially for extremists who may find themselves bored with the typical domesticated pet. The good thing about wild pets is that they are extremely resilient and able to bounce back from attacks easily with they speedy and adventurous nature. Their curiosity may also lead to bring you in some surprises you wouldn’t otherwise have had if you had them tamed.

Non-deviation from their natural genetic makeup. The genetic makeup for ferrets is that they roam free and explore unchartered territories fearlessly. Leaving them to their wild side will enable them to do just that. If you are planning to research on ferrets, keeping them wild is the best way to keep them as close to their natural habitat and actuations as possible. This way, learning about your pet is maximized.

Owners will get the chance to see wild ferrets as they are, sans modifications that can be painful for them. Seeing ferrets au naturel has its perk. Modifying ferrets for domestication such as removing their gland (a big ouch for your mammal!) that secretes the offensive musky smell can really alter your ferret permanently.

One can have to option to train them at a later time. Once you have had enough of the adventures or misadventures of your wild ferret, you always have the option to tame them at a later time.

Disadvantages: 

Wild ferrets may choose to be free from your ownership anytime. Since wild ferrets are designed to be free from any form of captivity or ownership, they will have no sense of loyalty whatsoever and will be free to roam around to places in any way they choose. If you truly want this whole thing to work, you have to be prepared to lose your ferret over anytime once they decide to break free and change their surroundings.

They have higher risk to diseases and early deaths. Wild ferrets are not regulated in any way. They will eat anything and everything that they see lying around. In fact, even domesticated ferrets still have this as a common cause of death. This risk to early deaths, lack of digestion and poisoning may be heightened. And treating them with a laxative may be all the more difficult if you have not trained your ferret even to get familiar with you to trust you.

They may pose a danger to you, especially to children. If you let ferrets be, they will remain as wild as ever and they may not be the kind of pet you would want to have around when there are many children who can get hurt. Children and ferrets are both playful and grow wild when untamed, and there is no predicting what kind of explosion may occur if you put them together in the same room and in the same condition.

Younger children are at a higher risk of getting bitten because they may not be able to regulate the way they touch your ferrets and the ferrets might interpret the child’s playful cuddling as an attack.

Once you decide to train them later, they may be most resistant to your attempts. Training wild ferrets when old may not be as easy as when you start them out young. You might have to incur additional expenses and few ferret trainers will be willing to get bitten by an old wild ferret for a fee.

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