Ferrets are an incredibly popular pet these days. They are well known for their playful attitudes as well as their sassiness and their love to snuggle.
Ferrets are also incredibly smart animals and can actually be trained to play fetch like dogs! They are relatively easy to care for and need to have a secure cage to be kept in.
They like to try to escape so make sure their cages have a good door that keeps them in unless you have them out to play!
These are super social creatures so it is also great to get them in pairs, and hey, the more the merrier!
I have never owned a ferret myself. I tend to lean more towards dogs than ferrets, but that does not mean I would never own one!
By the way, my name is Bri! My dog Bruce is my best friend, and I do not think bringing a ferret home would be a great idea since Bruce likes to chase small animals.
However, I know plenty of people who have had ferrets and absolutely love them. What I did not know was how many different colors ferrets come in!
I wanted to learn a little more about ferrets and their coloration, so I did a little research. That is when I decided to put this quick guide together to help other potential ferret parents learn more too!
How Many Different Colors does a Ferret Come In?
Eight! I never knew there were so many different ferret colors out there. But it is true, they come in eight different colors and color combinations, each with their own unique style.
Most of them are anywhere from white to black and everywhere in between, but the color names are not always just the color you see. For example, a tan ferret is not just called a tan ferret!
I will explain this better soon, I promise. For now, let’s talk about what ferret coats are like.
What is a Ferret’s Coat Like?
Ferrets typically have two different coats that change depending on the season. In the winter, they have a thicker, longer coat to keep them warm.
In the summer, their coat is short and silky. Ferrets are similar to cats in the fact that they completely self-groom, making them incredibly easy to care for.
They have a protective overcoat that is a little sleeker than their thicker, temperature gauging undercoat. They do shed a bit when the seasons change, but not very much.
You can brush them during this time if you want to but it is not required!
Now let’s talk about those colors!
Different Ferret Colors
Albino
Albino animals are born without any pigmentation or color. This is a mutation of their genes that can change their lives, but they are still able to live long and healthy lives!
Albino ferrets have all white fur with bright pink eyes and noses. Being albino, their skin is much more sensitive to sunlight than normal ferrets.
This is something you definitely want to think about if you bring home an albino ferret.
Many people like to take their ferrets outdoors, which is completely fine, but be careful to make sure your albino ferret is not out in the sun too long so their skin does not burn!
Black
Okay I know I said most ferret color names are not typically just the color you see, but this is the exception to the rule.
With black ferrets, their undercoat is typically white but their overcoat is black and typically have black features like their eyes and noses.
Black Sable
Black Sable ferrets are one of the most common coloration you can find. They are a combination of black and white with a little brown mixed in
Their eyes are black or dark brown with black or speckled black noses.
Champagne
Pop the bubbly, you have a new forever friend! Just like the name states, these little guys are a tan and cream colored that definitely resembles the color of champagne.
They have light eyes with pink noses and sometimes have a little outline of brown fur around their nose and eyes.
Chocolate
Brown was a boring name, and everyone likes chocolate! You guessed it – this coat is brown with a white undercoat.
They have dark eyes that sometimes look brown or burgundy with a pink nose. Like the champagne colored ferrets, they also tend to have a light brown outline on their eyes and nose.
Cinnamon
With this reddish brown coat, the name is the perfect description for these ferrets. Their undercoat is typically white and might have a gold look to it.
They have dark red or pink noses with a dark reddish-brown outline around their nose and eyes.
Dark-Eyed White
Unlike the albino ferret, this coloration comes with – big surprise – dark eyes! They also have pink noses.
Both their undercoat and top coats are white.
Sable
This is another one of the more common ferret colors. They are a warm brown color with a lighter undercoat that might be white, cream or tan.
They have black or brown eyes and light brown noses with that same distinct outline of dark brown around the nose and eyes.
Different Ferret Patterns
There is a difference between the color and the pattern of ferrets. Two ferrets with different colors can have the same pattern, or vice versa!
There are tons of different ferret patterns and way too many to name them all. However, I can definitely share the most common ones!
There are actually nine common ferret patterns, which include mitt, mutt, standard, roan, point, panda, and blaze, solid and striped.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these patterns.
Mitt
Mitt patterns refer to the ferrets looking like they have gloves on. Their feet are white and the color stops at their ankles, giving the impression that they are wearing socks or mitts!
Mutt
To fall under this category, ferrets need to have multiple colors with no distinct pattern! They could have spots, patches or a mix of both.
Standard
This pattern is pretty, well, standard. It typically categorizes ferrets that are any color but white and is categorized by the lighter undercoat and a darker overcoat.
These patterns also include the mask around the face.
Roan
Roans are any color but white. They have an even covering of their overcoat throughout their body.
Point
The point pattern gets its name from the “v” shaped mask on the face that comes to a point at their nose. Their colors can vary but would not be white.
Panda
Panda print might sound like they would have the mask of a panda bear, but the body coloring is somewhat similar.
They actually would not have any markings on their face at all, but will have markings around their ears and the rest of their bodies.
Blaze
The blaze patters are extra cute with speckled bellies and patches of white on their knees. They have brown colored eyes and a white tip on their tails with a light ring around their nose.
Solid
This pattern is pretty easy to spot since 100% of their body will be the same color. They might have a couple small areas of different colors but for the most part, they will be one color all over.
Striped
The striped pattern will have long spots or stripes down their back that is a distinct, different color from the rest of their fur.
They typically don’t have many stripes, but rather a few larger ones.
Final Thoughts: 8 Different Ferret Colors and Patterns!
I honestly never knew there were so many different colors and patterns to ferrets! They each are so unique and adorable.
If you are considering bringing home a ferret, choosing a color and pattern might be something that is important to you.
This guide hopefully will help you make that decision and help you decipher which color and pattern your ferret falls under!
Happy Pet Parenting!
