Types Of Ferrets (#10 Is Absolutely Gorgeous)

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Types of Ferrets

Though you might think that there are many different types of ferrets, there’s only one kind of ferret. However, they come in a variety of colors and patterns.

  • Lifespan: 5 – 10 years
  • Species: M. putorius
  • Family: Mustelidae
  • Genus: Mustela
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Order: Carnivora

Sable Ferrets

These types of ferrets have raccoon-like facial fur which can vary in shade. Normally, sable ferrets have a deep brown coat, a white to cream undercoat, and a light brown, speckled or ‘T’ outline nose.

Sable Ferrets
Sable Ferret

Silver-mitt Ferrets

Silver-mitt ferrets have white or light cream under-fur with black and white guard hairs. Their feet are white and they have a white bib. Normally, the white or silver coloring fades over time and they shift to DEWS (dark-eyed whites) also known as the white ferret. 

Albino Ferrets

This type of ferret is all-white with a red eyes and a pink nose. Albino ferrets are not the same as black-eyed or blue-eyed whites. Those two do not lack pigment. However, albino ferrets do lack pigment.

Albino Ferrets
Albino Ferret.

Panda Ferrets

Panda ferrets get their name because their color pattern is similar to the panda bear. They have dark legs, white feet, patches on the ears, and circles around their eyes, with white or cream under-fur. These ferrets have a high chance of being deaf.

Champagne Ferrets

Champagne ferrets have warm, milk-chocolate brown guard hair. They have black/burgundy eyes. Some people consider them to be lighter versions of the chocolate ferret.

Champagne Ferrets
Champagne Ferret.

Chocolate Ferrets

Chocolate ferrets have a medium brown color (same color as a sable ferret but lighter). Like many other ferret species they have T outline on their nose.

Chocolate Ferrets
Chocolate ferret

Chocolate Mitt Ferrets

Chocolate mitt ferrets look just like regular chocolate ferrets. However there’s one difference – they have four mitts.

Cinnamon Ferrets

Cinnamon ferrets are quite rare. They have a white or cream under-fur with reddish brown guard hair. Cinnamon ferrets have a a darker shade of reddish-brown on their legs and their noses are pink.

Cinnamon Mitt Ferret

Cinnamon mitt ferrets resemble cinnamon ferrets. The only difference is that they have four white mitts.

Black-eyed White Ferrets

Blaxk-eyed white ferrets have all white fur and black eyes. They are also known as DEW (dark-eyed white) ferrets. They actually start off with grey fur which gradually changes color at around 9 months.

Black-eyed White Ferrets
Black-eyed White Ferrets

Siamese Ferrets

Siamese ferrets have the same features as chocolate, cinnamon, or sable ferrets but they have darker fur on their legs. They also have a V-shaped mask that has a darker color than their tail and legs.

Siamese ferrets are also known as point ferrets. Sable is a color and Siamese (Point) is a pattern. You can have a Sable Point ferret or a Champagne Point but you cannot have a Sable Champagne.

Blaze Ferrets

Blaze ferrets have butterscotch white or cream under-fur, butterscotch legs, tail, mask and guard hairs. The blaze in their name refers to their pattern and not fur color. They can be sable in color, however, they would have a light stripe down their forehead, a white bib and white feet.

Blaze ferret.

Spotted and Striped Ferrets

There’s not much to say about spotted and striped ferrets. As their name implies, they are simply ferrets with spots or stripes. Most of them are black-eyed whites.

Black Sable Ferrets

Black Sable Ferrets

Black Sable Mitt

Black Sable Mitt

Dalmatian Ferrets

Dalmatian ferrets have white fur with different patterns of black spots on their back. The spots are only on the back and they have black or dark ruby-colored eyes and a pink nose.

What Is The Rarest Ferret?

Ferrets come in a variety of color patterns. Sable is the most common. However, cinnamon is the most rare ferret pattern.

What Is The Best Type of Ferret To Get As A Pet?

You have many choices when selecting a pet ferret. For beginners, it is best to start with one ferret. Male ferrets are usually larger than females (up to 2 times bigger). The most common ferret in pet stores is the sable-colored ferret. These kinds of ferrets have a dark brown coat with a beige undercoat. Their legs and tail are dark and they have a dark mask across the eyes.

Diet

Ferrets are meat-eaters and can eat high-quality kitten food, scrambled eggs, and other high-quality prepared meat. However, they tend to eat a lot due to their high metabolisms. Be sure that they have access to food at all times.

Behavior

Ferrets are docile but keep most of their natural and instinctive behaviors. They are intelligent, lively, playful, and curious. Most of all, they are not afraid of humans so they make for great pets. You can even train your pet ferrets to use a litter tray like you do with domestic cats.

What Are The Different Colors For Ferrets?

The American Ferret Association recognizes the following colors when describing ferrets:

  • Albino
  • Black
  • Black Sable
  • Champagne
  • Chocolate
  • Cinnamon
  • Dark-eyed White
  • Sable
  • Silver
  • Blue

What Are The Different Ferret Patterns?

Each type of ferret may have a different pattern in its fur. The main recognized patterns are:

  • mitt
  • badger
  • blaze
  • hooded
  • roan
  • Siamese or pointed patterned
  • panda
  • shetlands

Glossary of Terms

  • The bib is the white fur under the neck.
  • Mitts are the white fur on their feet that ends at the ankle.
  • Stockings are the white fur that goes all the way to the middle of the leg.
  • Points are fur that covers the legs, tail, mask, and shoulders.
  • Roan is the white guard hair that can be found scattered all over the coat.
  • Standard/full is the strip of solid-colored hair that exists between, and around, the eyes.
  • T-bar outlines are a strip of solid-colored hair between, and around, the eyes. It extends to the top of the head.
  • The V-outline is a thin strip of solid-colored hair that extends down the nose and surrounds each eye.

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