Last Updated on 03/08/2021 by Veronica Jones
Known as one of the rarest breeds, the Angora ferret has been around for 3 decades or so.
Originally hailing from Europe, this breed was created by accident due to their excessive hair, which became the reason for selectively breeding them. Today, the Angora ferret lives to be a lovable pet for families and households.
So, do you want to know more about the Angora ferret?
This article will cover the breed information, as well as what you need to know regarding its food, temperament, and the like. Consequently, the post will hopefully help you to raise your Angora ferret in the best way possible.
Or, if you still don’t have an Angora ferret and are looking forward to getting one (through a breeder or adoption), this article will help you find out what to expect.
Breed Origin
Angora ferrets weren’t created on purpose. They were discovered by a Swedish breeder, finding out the extra hair on their legs. This led the breeder to purposively breed this ferret, which led to the development of the Angora ferrets we know of today.
Compared to a standard ferret, the long coat of the Angora ferret became distinctive. This long coat is what makes them very plush-looking, especially in colder months.
Nonetheless, the Angora ferret remains the same in everything else when compared side by side with regular shorthaired ferrets.
Physical Appearance
Height: 18 to 24 inches
Weight: 1.5 to 4.5 pounds
The Angora ferret is well-known for its long coat. Like many long-coated pets, it has a top coat and an undercoat for added protection in the winter.
An Angora ferret has a coat that varies between 2 and 8 inches in length, which makes them sought-after by many pet enthusiasts. This also gives them a higher price tag when you look for them in breeders.
Due to the long topcoat appearance, it may seem that the Angora ferret has no undercoat, but the opposite is true. It’s just that the topcoat overpowers the undercoat due to its length.
Also, as the seasons change, the Angora ferret will change and adapt its fur. For instance, in the summer, their coat tends to be shorter, so they are less of maintenance during that time.
In the winter, you do need to brush them more often, but the good news is, no matter what time of the year, the Angora ferret has a coat that doesn’t exactly tangle. This makes them still a little similar to the regular shorthair variation.
An Angora ferret will have different colors depending on its breed genetics. The most common and known colors are albino, white, black, cinnamon, chocolate, sable, champagne, black sable, and black.
Temperament and Behavior
An Angora ferret is much like a regular ferret in terms of energy. They will play with you for hours. Here are some of their key personality traits:
Naturally inquisitive
Due to their playful nature, the Angora ferret will most likely look into anything they see new and explore. Make sure that you prepare a nice place for them to live and have them roam around as well.
It will also help if the Angora ferret is properly trained to get out of the cage and back in. This is so that they can explore their surroundings freely.
With this trait, they also need to be watched often because they can get lost by hiding in places. It might be a little difficult for them to navigate back if you let them out of the cage.
Like to hide and climb
As they are playful little creatures, the Angora ferret loves to hide and climb as any other ferret would do. Prepare a cage with a lot of toys, such as hiding areas and tunnels.
You can also help them climb better by setting up a better ramp or a couple of other fun playground setups inside the cage. In this way, they will get exercise and have quality playtime, especially if they have other ferrets beside them in the cage.
Full of energy
An Angora ferret cage must be filled with toys, and their daily routine should be full of playtime.
Not only do they like to chew on items and food, but they also like to climb, run around, hide, and do other activities. If you like a vigorous pet, then the Angora ferret is for you.
Very intelligent
One can never underestimate the intelligence of an Angora ferret. They will easily remember what you do to them, and if you do good deeds and praise them, they will take it as a sign of affection.
They know what’s going on, and they will repay you for treating them well.
Cuddly pets
Whether it’s relaxing by the TV or browsing social media at home or even while outdoors, the Angora ferret is a great cuddle buddy to be with. If you have kids at home or even if you just live alone, this ferret will be a comfortable companion.
Caring for an Angora Ferret
The following are what you need to know before you own an Angora ferret. Here’s how to feed them, give them exercise and training, and groom them properly.
Food
Prepare much meat around the house since Angora ferrets, like other ferrets, are naturally carnivorous. As compared to other rodent-type pets, they eat meat instead of veggies.
This is why many people give their ferret dry cat food due to their high protein content.
Moreover, kitten food is okay for a ferret so long as it doesn’t have unnecessary fillers. Some cat treats will also work well for an Angora ferret.
If you prefer home-cooked meals, chicken and turkey, especially the breasts part, are great choices for protein sources.
Of course, if you can find store-bought food strictly made for ferrets, that’s a better choice than cat food. Although, we still recommend cat food in case you just don’t have access to legitimate ferret food in your locality.
Exercise
As with all pets, the Angora ferret will need its daily dose of physical activity.
At least 2 hours of playtime is sufficient, which may include running, climbing, playing hide and seek, and others. Playing with balls and letting them loose around a room is also a great way to spend their energy.
Regardless, ferrets do get a little aggressive when it’s time to play.
Always supervise your little furry friends when they play not to get themselves injured, lost, or ruining items around the house. Some instances could also pose a threat to them, such as small objects that could become choking hazards.
Training
All ferrets are usually easy to train using a litter box. That’s because they are intelligent creatures and can distinguish your voice easily from others. That’s why it’s simple to train them when to come over for certain activities.
Brushing and grooming will at an early age also act as a training method for them.
When comparing male and female temperament, male Angora ferrets are usually more aggressive. A male Angora ferret might also get a little clingy, or territorial so early socialization and training are both important.
Grooming
Angora ferrets have long coats, which means you have to groom them much more often than a regular shorthaired ferret. For brushing, consider using a comb with soft bristles to remove tangles, if any.
Brushing should be done at least every week, but you can add more instances should they have more tangles to work on.
Cleaning their ears is also an important part of their hygiene routine. A monthly ear check and cleaning with a regular cotton swab will keep their ears away from infection, especially from fleas, dirt, and parasites. If you see darkened wax, that’s not a good sign.
Brushing their teeth at least every month is also important to keep their teeth strong and healthy. After all, since they are ferrets, they use their teeth more often than the other parts of their body.
If you can’t find a toothpaste that’s suitable for ferrets, consider brands that are used for cats.
Last but not least, bathing at least once a month is a good schedule for an Angora ferret. Although they will most likely groom themselves as cats do, if you believe they smell terrible, that’s when it’s time to bathe them.
The health of an Angora Ferret
When properly taken care of with the right food nutrition, exercise, and other factors, the Angora ferret may live from 5 to 9 years.
With that said, Angora ferrets are known to have the following health problems:
- Diarrhea – This is usually caused by fleas, worms, and even food allergies. Many rodent-type pets do have diarrhea tendencies due to their sensitive tummies.
- Vomiting – since ferrets like to chew on anything, there’s a chance of vomiting. Ferrets should be kept in a calm environment so that they won’t panic when chewing their food.
- Adrenal disease – this is characterized by thin skin, muscle problems, and losing hair. Ferrets that are at least 2 years old are at risk for this.
- Cancer – like many other pets, Angora ferret is also susceptible to cancer – usually Lymphoma. Signs and symptoms include bloody stools, feeling nauseous, vomiting, and skin inflammation. You can consult your vet if you see any of these signs.
Spaying/Neutering
An Angora ferret is also best spayed or neutered much later in life. That’s because this ferret breed takes some time before they develop, so they mature less quickly than a regular ferret.
If you spay/neuter them too early, it might cost them their lifespan. This is also why you should know about the Angora ferret’s age from a breeder.
Family-Friendly Breed?
Yes, Angora ferrets are great with family and kids. That’s because they aren’t very aggressive and are usually cuddly around people. Provided they were raised carefully and properly, they won’t bite.
Since ferrets are naturally elusive prey in the wild, it is possible that they get scared at first. However, with proper training and a lot of bonding time, the ferret will get used to their owners, thereby erasing them of doubt.
They will eventually want your attention, and they’ll also play with games and toys in their cage (or even outside) so long as they are kept busy.
Good with other pets?
You may wonder if an Angora ferret will do well with other pets around the house. The short answer is that it depends. Certain dogs won’t get along, but other breeds can.
On the other hand, cats, due to their predatory roots, will most likely chase them down. Ferrets are part of the rodent family, so it is natural that your cat would activate its prey-hunting sense.
Consider these factors if you do have other pets around the house, such as dogs and cats. However, fellow rodent families and similar pocket pets are just fine since they are all under the same category.
Finding an Angora Ferret
Angora ferrets are mostly bought from breeders than they are from shelters. That’s because they are infrequent and are only often bred to make them look like so.
An Angora ferret will be quite costly so prepare to pay as much as $250 for them. Moreover, if the color of the Angora ferret is hard to find, it can even be pricier.
Looking for this ferret breed is not only tricky but also difficult since you have to look far and wide for them.
Additionally, some areas of the world, such as Hawaii and California, forbid ferrets from being sold due to environmental issues. As the Angora ferret is a rare breed, always make sure to check your local authorities if they are okay to buy in your country or locality.
Conclusion
Overall, Angora ferrets might be a bit pricey at first, but with their fluffy coat and cuddly personality, you’re sure to have a great companion for life, provided that you give them the right TLC.
We hope this article helped you decide whether to get an Angora ferret or not and what to expect from them.