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Are ferrets like rats

Updated: 10/8/2023
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13y ago

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A ferret is not a rodent, they are of the Mustelidae family. In fact, ferrets have been used for centuries for rodent control and extermination.

A ferret (mustela putorius furo) is a small carnivorous mammal, belonging to the weasel family, or mustelidae, and is related to the otter, badger, mink and weasel, usually weighing less than 5 pounds.

Their Latin name, Mustela putorius furo, means "weasel-like stinky thief".

They are obligate carnivores; a ferrets favorite food is meat.

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9y ago
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13y ago

They are both in the order of Carnivora, it refers to any meat-eating animal. Carnivora are generally divided into the suborders - Feliformia (cat-like) and Caniformia (dog-like), and the superfamily Musteloidea. The Musteloidea in turn consists of the Mustelidae (mustelids: weasels, ferrets)

In the scientific classification a ferret and a cat are in the same order - Carnivora (refers to any meat-eating animal). The ferret is listed as a suborder of dogs

Actually, they are in the family of Mustelidae, which includes animals like otters,weasels, minks, and stoats.

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13y ago

No, ferrets are nothing like rats. Being entirely unrelated species they have a very different appearance, teeth, behaviour and needs. Rats, being omnivorous rodents, should be fed on vegetable matter such as seeds, nuts and so on (most owners of pet rats do not feed their pets meat). Ferrets, as mustelids, are obligate carnivores which means they can eat only meat. Since they require large amounts of protein and fat in their diet (more than cats, which is why ferrets are best fed proper ferret food) a ferret would die very quickly if fed rat food - though they'd be perfectly OK if they ate rats.

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13y ago

Ferrets are listed as suborder under dogs, but are of the genus Mustela (as opposed to common cats of the genus Felis), related to weasels, not felines, and ferrets should never be mistaken for rodents.

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11y ago

No. This is a common misconception. Rats are rodents. Ferrets are Mustelidae. Ferrets are related to weasels, stoats and mink.

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13y ago

No, ferrets are not rodents and cannot eat rodent food, it would probably kill the ferret

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Wiki User

15y ago

The cat is a feline not a rodent.

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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago

No

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Q: Are ferrets like rats
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