Bendigo couple raise family of four ferrets, hopes species popularity is on the rise

After all, Slinky isn’t a dog, or even a cat. She’s a ferret.  

The couple own four of the rat-like animals and can be spotted walking them around Bendigo on leashes originally designed for guinea pigs. 

Ms Wilson said she first got a ferret one year ago to overcome her fear of the long-bodied creature.

She previous invested in a python to conquer a snake phobia and also adopted two green tree frogs to chase away her fear of amphibians.

The pair were so won over by the animal they invested in a whole ferret family: Slinky, Fagan, Octavius and Fangles. 

The hunting animal, originally bred to run down rabbit holes, was an attention-grabber during an outing at Lake Weeroona on Tuesday.   

“A lot of people seem to like it, ask questions. Mostly it’s positive,” Mr Wilson said, before adding some people had preconceived ideas about the animal.

“People think they smell but they don’t as long as, like a normal pet, you wash them and clean out their cage.

"They’re like a cat – they play, muck around, they’ve got no fear, really.”

However, he recommended parent supervision for young pet lovers, saying ferrets had a tendency to bite and scratch.  

Ms Wilson also warned prospective owners to do their research, saying it was imperative the animals were fed meat and females were desexed or mated.

When cared for correctly, ferrets can live as long as a decade.  

Both hoped more people were willing to bring some ferret fun into their lives. 

“Then people won’t stare anymore,” Ms Wilson said.