Did you know a female ferret could die if they don’t mate? As simple and adorable these creatures may look their lives are really complicated. Here are some really bizarre female ferret facts that you probably didn’t know.
Ferrets are not rodents and very different from rats and rabbits, they actually resemble weasels. In fact, their scientific name, Mustella putorius furo means ‘stinky weasel thief.’ While they look ridiculously cute and can pass through even 1 inch spaces, they need to be adopted with caution as they can spread some really contagious diseases.
Not just spread they can die of overheating. Ferrets mating is an important stage for the female to stay alive. The male and female ferret behavior varies. The male ferret can get extremely aggressive during the mating season. But for the female it is a life and death situation.
A female ferret becomes sexually mature in just 4 to 6 months. On reaching sexual maturity the ferret is in heat. And they stay in heat until they mate. This increases the estrogen in the body. These high estrogen levels cause aplastic anaemia in female ferrets which can lead to their death. Luckily now veterinarians can treat this and bring a ferret out of heat.
You don’t have to be worried if you are thinking of adopting a ferret. Most ferrets are neutered beforehand so that these situations don’t arise.
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