Blaze Ferrets are easily some of the most adorable-looking ferrets in the world. They have lighter faces and very well-shaped eyes that make you immediately fall in love with them. They’re not rare so you will be able to get them fairly easily.
You will notice a white stripe of fur that starts on their head and ends on their back. This is the reason why they are called “Blaze” ferrets and you might have to spend a little on them, depending on the breeder. However, they’re nowhere near expensive, especially compared to Black Sable Ferrets.
What do Blaze Ferrets Look Like?
Blaze Ferrets must have the white blaze to be taken into consideration. It must start from the forehead, continue between the ears, and it’s preferable for it to end on the shoulders. Other than that, they can come in various colors, the face and neck are more lightweight than the rest of the body as well.
You will also quickly notice some minor color rings around the eyes that make them unique and they might even have a slightly dark small mask. However, full masks are not acceptable when it comes to “true” Blaze Ferrets.
The eyes can be dark red or brown and the nose is pink. You will also notice white tips to the feet, tail, and knees. Other types of Blaze Ferrets have a white bib, spotted bellies, and might even have white guard furs.
Grooming Ferret Coats – Brushing and Bathing
Ferret grooming includes nail clipping, ear cleaning, teeth brushing, flea treatments, brushing, and very rarely bathing. Keeping their coats clean is the easiest thing to do as they don’t have too much hair. Their fur can be kept under control even during the shedding season.
Any pet shop should have a brush with shorter bristles that are generally made for cats and kittens. This brush is all you need to groom your ferret’s coat as well. You’ll need to use gentle and petting-like movements that will make the process as enjoyable as possible for your adorable ferret.
The only obstacle you’ll have is the ferret’s tendency to always play around and not stay put for too long. You might be able to keep them in place with the help of some treats, but that won’t last enough for you to finish brushing them properly. This is because they sleep a lot and when they’re awake they have too much energy.
You will have to resort to short brushing sessions and let the ferret go when he starts squirming too much. This means that you will have to brush him a lot more often. But it’s better to need various sessions to finish than get the ferret to hate it by forcing him into it.
Just because your ferret doesn’t like it or doesn’t have the patience for it, this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t need brushing, even if you always see him grooming himself. That’s actually the reason why they need brushing so badly, ferrets can develop hairballs and it can get worse during the shedding season.
By brushing, you reduce the chances of having to deal with hairballs. And to ensure that it never happens, you can start giving your ferret a hairball preventative from time to time. It’s specifically formulated to help the ferret avoid the inconvenience of hairballs.
This preventative comes under the form of a malt-flavored gel in a tube, and most ferrets see that as a treat. You won’t have any problems making them take it.
In extreme cases, like if the ferrets get into something gross, you will have to bathe him. It’s best to do it only 3 times a year and only if you have to. Ferrets clean themselves all the time and a bath won’t get rid of their musky smell. Neutering will get rid of most of it but not entirely.
The musky smell is something any ferret owner just has to get used to. It’s caused by the oils their body keeps making to ensure the skin and fur remains healthy. Dry skin is a serious health issue in ferrets. If you wash the oils out, the skin starts producing even more which makes the ferret stink worse for a few days.
When it’s time to bathe your ferret, only use a shampoo that is ferret-safe. This means that the best choice is obviously the shampoo that is formulated specifically for ferrets. Other options are kitten shampoo and tearless baby shampoo.
But before just getting your ferret into the bath, you need to find out how he reacts to water. Many ferrets love it and will even swim around the bathtub. But others are very scared of it and you will need to proceed with caution.
If you have a ferret that’s scared of water, make sure you have lots of treats around and waterproof, ferret-safe toys. This will transform the bathing time into playtime. The water should also never be hot, but only warm to the touch.
Many owners use the sink to bathe their ferret, others prefer the space their bathtub provides, and you can even use a basin. As long as the ferret is comfortable, the bathing location can be anywhere. Make sure to not touch their eyes and ears with shampoo, if it happens, wash very well.
Massage the ferret-safe shampoo very well then rinse the ferret a few times to ensure all the shampoo is gone. Dry shampoo will cause some irritations and it’s best to ensure it doesn’t happen. Right before you take your ferret out, use a wet towel to gently wipe their face and ears as well (without shampoo).
When it’s time to dry the ferret, you can make a burrowing place with clean and dry towels and let the ferret do it by itself. Place the towels in the bathtub or any other convenient place.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Blaze ferrets rare?
Blaze Ferrets are not rare and can be found quite easily. The rarest ferret is the Black Sable Ferret.
What are the most common ferret coat colors?
The most common ferret coat colors are Sable and Chocolate.
