Ferret

pets · mammals · mustelids

Tamed polecat. The ferret is most likely a domesticated form of the wild European polecat. They're so closely related they can even have babies together!

Long and slender. Including their tail, ferrets are about 50 cm (20 inches) long, with stretchy, bendy bodies like their weasel relatives.

Pocket-sized. Ferrets weigh between about 0.7 and 2 kilograms. Males are noticeably bigger than females.

Many coat colors. Their fur can be black, brown, white, or a mix of those colors.

Part of a big family. Ferrets belong to the Mustelidae family, the same group as weasels, otters, and badgers.