Since I mentioned the other day that I kept ferrets I’ve been bombarded with questions. So, here are some answers to the five most popular questions:
Why did you keep them?
Because a friend of mine did, and I realised what good pets they made. Plus I used to take them out to catch rabbits.
What did they eat?
They loved bread and milk but obviously are carnivorous so they’d tuck into any dead animals (including roadkill). They liked raw eggs, chicken giblets, and sausages. When I was away from home, my poor mum was left to feed them – she’s be too scared to open the hutch so would poke sausages through the mesh on a stick!
Did they smell?
Sometimes. It’s a myth that they permanently stink. They're like any pet – keep their hutch clean and they don’t; fail to do this regularly and they will. Males can have a slightly musty smell at times, however.
Did you put them down your trousers?
No. And I didn't know anyone who did. I was a teenage boy, remember – I was interested in getting a lot of things acquainted with the contents of my trousers but ferrets weren’t one of them!
Were they vicious?
Yes and No. They are famous for their bite, but I never once got badly nipped. If you handle them regularly and get them used to human contact, they are fine.
What were they called?
Jill (it was a lame pun because a female ferret is referred to as a jill). Another one was called Arthur (after the character in the TV show Minder) and another one was just called, simply, ferret (imaginative child, wasn’t I!)