Ferret behavior is quite different from any other pet. If you are a new ferret owner or considering one, here are a few things that ferrets are known for:

The “Weasel War Dance”
Don’t worry! He’s not actually declaring war on you! Although a new ferret owner may mistake this dance for an aggressive behavior when it is actually a happy one. He may bounce, cluck and fling himself about all the while bouncing off of walls and furniture. Once you know what’s going on it’s a lot of fun to watch. Ferrets are tough and that hard thump to the head or crashing into your bookcase will most like cause no damage to your little friend. He’s just having a blast!

Hiccups
Ferrets get hiccups just like you or me. Sometime kits will be alarmed by them, but they are just as harmless in ferrets as they are for us humans.

Sneezing
Sneezing doesn’t always indicate an illness. You may notice him sneezing as he crawls around under your furniture. When was the last time you vacuumed under your couch anyway? You’d probably sneeze under there as well. And ferrets have scent glands near their chin and may be just forcing out their scent to claim the area as his own.

“Reverse sneezing”
These sound a little like quick asthma attacks, and often occur several in a row, maybe after he poked his nose somewhere dusty. You may notice his body or ribcage moving several times a second to force the air out. This is a normal behavior, don’t worry.

Licking soap
You will notice at bath time that ferrets love to lick soap. They may even try to steal some for a treat. A small amount is harmless, but too much can cause diarrhea so make sure to not allow large amounts and keep soap out of his reach when not bathing.

Licking, sniffing or wiping rear
Especially after a bath, ferrets will do this to spread the scent around.

Licking urine
No one is really sure exactly why ferrets do this, but sometimes they will lap up a little of their own or another ferret’s urine. As long as it’s an occasional behavior and not a constant thing, it won’t hurt them. If it is excessive, a trip to the vet may be in order, just to check it out.

Tail-wagging
Much like you dog, ferrets will sometimes wag their tail in excitement. You may notice this more when they find their favorite toy or have their head buried in a box or tunnel.

Puffy Tail
When you ferret is excited or possibly frightened, the hair on his tail may stand on end. If he gets really worked up, the rest of his hair could stand up as well. If he is frightened, use caution when attempting to calm him down as he may nip. Be calm and soothing and he should calm down himself.

Ear suckling
Ferrets will suck on each other’s ears. This seems to be a sign of affection. They’ve been known to do this to their dog and cat friends as well. It’s not harmful (unless the ear getting sucked is becoming raw and sore). It’s much like children sucking their thumb.

Hopefully, these descriptions will unravel some of the mystery behind your ferrets everyday behaviors. If you have a ferret that is displaying a behavior not listed here and you want to know if it’s normal, ask the expert!