The domestic ferret is a small, long-bodied, carnivorous mammal that has become a popular household pet, but its exact classification often causes confusion among the general public. Many people wonder if this playful animal is a type of cat, a rodent, or perhaps related to weasels. This misunderstanding stems from the ferret’s unique appearance and its status as one of the few fully domesticated small carnivores. Understanding the ferret means examining its place in the biological family tree, which reveals it is neither a feline nor a rodent, but is closely related to a different group of wild predators.
The Ferret’s Place in the Animal Kingdom
The ferret’s biological classification places it within the Order Carnivora, alongside dogs, bears, and cats. More specifically, the ferret belongs to the Family Mustelidae, commonly known as the weasel family. Mustelidae is the largest family within the order Carnivora, encompassing over 50 species.
Ferrets are scientifically known as Mustela putorius furo, indicating they are a domesticated subspecies of the European polecat, Mustela putorius. This relationship is similar to that between a dog and a wolf, as the ferret has been selectively bred from its wild polecat ancestor. Other Mustelidae family members include badgers, otters, minks, and wolverines, all of which share the characteristic long body, short limbs, and flexible spine adapted for hunting in burrows and crevices.
Why Ferrets Are Not Felines
The idea that ferrets are a type of cat is incorrect, even though both belong to the Order Carnivora. Ferrets belong to the Mustelidae family, while all domestic and wild cats belong to the separate Family Felidae. Both families split from a common ancestor early in the evolution of carnivores, and their differences are profound.
Felids and Mustelids exhibit different body plans. Ferrets possess an elongated, cylindrical body and short legs, optimized for traversing tunnels. Cats, in contrast, generally have a more compact body and longer limbs, built for springing and climbing. Mustelids typically have non-retractable or partially retractable claws, unlike the fully retractable claws characteristic of most felines.
The Unique History of Ferret Domestication
Ferrets are one of the few species within the Mustelidae family to have been domesticated, a process that began at least 2,000 years ago. Early domestication was not for companionship but for a utilitarian purpose: hunting. This long history of association with humans is a primary reason for the confusion with other common domestic pets.
The practice, known as ferreting, involved using the animal’s natural instinct to enter burrows to flush out rabbits. Rabbits were a valuable food and fur source. Historical records from the Romans and Greeks indicate their use in rabbit control, which helped spread the ferret across Europe.
Their small size and playful temperament made them suitable for household life, leading to their eventual adoption as companion animals. This long-standing relationship with people, coupled with their easy trainability, set ferrets apart from their wild polecat relatives. Their domesticated status led people to group them mentally with other domesticated small predators, like the domestic cat.