Chocolate Ferrets are some of the most common ferrets in the world and are extremely easy to find. They get their name because of their dark brownish color that resembles chocolate a lot. They make excellent pets and can be the sweetest companions you’ve ever had.
Those ferrets come with various personalities and it’s very hard to predict how your ferret will react once it grows into an adult. They can be sweet and crave attention, more independent, extremely mischievous, incredibly energetic, etc.
What do Chocolate Ferrets Look Like?
Chocolate Ferrets, as their name suggests, have a coat that resembles the color of chocolate. This is a dark brown that anyone can easily recognize. They’re very common and popular among ferret owners as they’re just as adorable as any other furry pet.
While the topcoat is dark brown, the undercoat is actually a lot more light. It either has a wheat or cream-like color that serves as an incredibly beautiful contrast between the two coats. Despite being an undercoat, its light color makes it slightly visible on some Chocolate Ferrets and they look great.
When it comes to their eyes, they can be black or dark red. They’re not known to have too many shades but they still look very adorable. Their nose can vary from ferret to ferret as it can be either brown or pink. It often depends on the parents.
Ferrets With Chocolate Mitts – What Makes Them Different?
Chocolate Ferrets also have a counterpart with distinctive mitts. While the mitts of Chocolate Ferrets match the topcoat, the mitts of the Ferrets With Chocolate Mitts, also known as Chocolate Mitts Ferrets, match the undercoat. This means they’re much lighter and it makes it look like they’re wearing tiny shoes.
When it comes to other aspects, Chocolate Mitts Ferrets look exactly the same as their Chocolate Ferrets counterparts. The ones with lighter mitts tend to be a little bit more pricey but not enough to make a huge difference.
The personalities of those ferrets are also the same and they don’t have any special dietary requirements or health issues. You can get them confidently as the only thing that differs from other ferrets is their coat color and mitts color.
Ferrets have eight basic colors that are known for, such as Albino, Black, Sable, Black Sable, Champagne, Chocolate, Cinnamon, and Dark-Eyed White. Chocolate is one of the most common among them while Cinnamon is the rarest.
Grooming Ferret Coats – Brushing and Bathing
Brushing any ferret can be a bit of an extreme sport as they just don’t have the patience to go through the whole brushing process. They already sleep most of the time, when they are awake they prefer playing. You might be able to extend the brushing session by offering some favorite treats for staying still for so long.
The best way to brush your ferret is to do quick, but frequent brushing sessions. This will ensure that the ferret isn’t bored as they will start acting out if they don’t get it their way. Using a short-bristled brush that’s designed for cats should be all you need.
Another thing to keep in mind is that ferrets develop hairballs. Frequent brushing reduces the risk of developing hairballs, especially during the shedding season. But it’s best to give it a hairball preventative from time to time as a treat.
The preventative is a malt-flavored gel that comes in a tube. You can find it in any exotic pet shop and your exotic vet should have it as well.
Typically, frequent brushing and keeping the cage and litter clean is all you have to do to ensure the ferret is always clean and smells decently. But sometimes a bath is necessary, especially if they get into something they shouldn’t have. Otherwise, two or three baths a year is already plenty.
Ferrets have a distinctive musky scent that’s caused by the oils produced by their skin that keeps the fur and skin healthy. If you can’t stand the smell, getting a ferret is truly not the best idea. This is because those oils are necessary and frequent bathing can cause serious skin issues.
More than that, bathing doesn’t solve the smell problem at all. If the oils are all removed from the skin and fur, the ferret’s body automatically assumes it has to compensate and starts producing even more oil. This might make your ferret stink worse the first few days after the bath.
When you have to bathe your ferret, make sure you have the proper shampoo. There are various ferret shampoos on the market and can be easily found. But if you need a substitute, a kitten shampoo can do the trick. If you don’t have another choice, you can even use a tearless baby shampoo.
Some ferrets actually love water and swimming around the bathtub. But others can be frightened by it and you need to be careful. The first few baths will help the ferret get used to bathing or get even more scared. Adding some waterproof, ferret-safe toys to the bathtub is a great way to make bathing seem like playtime.
Bathtubs, sinks, basins, etc, are all great places to bathe your ferret. Just make sure to add a rubber mat or towel at the bottom to help the ferret feel more secure. The water should be warm to the touch and never hot.
Massage the shampoo very well on the ferret’s body but avoid the ears and eyes. If some shampoo gets in their face, wash it thoroughly with fresh water. If any eye inflammation happens after the bath, run with him to the vet as fast as possible.
When it’s time to rinse, you might have to refill the sink a few times to ensure all the shampoo is gone. Dried shampoo on their skin or fur can cause bad irritations. And when it’s time to dry, place a few towels inside the bathtub and let the ferret burrow and dry all by itself.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Chocolate ferrets rare?
Chocolate Ferrets are very common and can be easily found in various pet shops, online pet shops, and there are plenty of breeders that have them.
What are the most common ferret coat colors?
The most common ferret coat colors are Sable and Chocolate, while Cinnamon is the rarest.
