What is the difference between a Polecat and a ferret?

Answer 1

The polecat has a natural range of as much as 6000 acres, which means that a nice roomy cage and some lap time in front of the TV just aren't going to cut it with your pet ferret. Polecats are extremely active animals, who love to swim and also to burrow, dig, and chew. They are natural tunnelers, building lairs where they live and store food. In addition to finding creative ways to provide your ferret with large amounts of exercise, you also need to find safe ways to satisfy her need to hide, to chew, to dig, and to burrow. Habitats, preferably including safe outdoor play areas such as ferret-proofed wire enclosures, should be constructed, and they should include pipes for ferrets to use as tunnels, and other hiding places. Cage time should be kept to a minimum, and you should be aware that many ferrets live entirely cage-free existences when their owners are able to provide ferret-proof living space for them. A cage is for our convenience rather than the ferret's happiness, although it is preferable to leaving your ferret free to harm herself in an unsafe environment when unsupervised.

When the disparity between the average pet ferret lifestyle and the lifestyle of the wild polecat is considered, the epidemic of endocrine system problems in ferrets takes on a new light. It is well-known that both insulin and cortisol production in humans are impacted by exercise levels, and it would make sense that appropriate exercise would benefit the ferret endocrine system, possibly minimizing some of the effects of incorrect diet, or acting in concert with correct diet to benefit your ferret even more.

Stress also causes the adrenals to produce cortisol, which further disrupts the pancreas' production of insulin. Ferrets are by nature secretive, shy, active, and nocturnal. High levels of noise, a lack of places to hide, not enough exercise, too much artificial light, and being encouraged to be active in daylight hours may all increase stress levels to a point where adrenal function is disturbed. Can you imagine being a secretive, lair-dwelling, nocturnal animal forced to live in a cage that has only one, or perhaps not even one, side that is against a wall? To suggest this might leave your ferret in a constant state of hypervigilance and adrenal exhaustion doesn't seem too far-fetched.

When humans take predatory carnivores into our homes as companion animals, there is a tremendous burden on us to provide them with the diet and lifestyle they evolved on. To fail to do so will often lead to avoidable health problems, and heartbreak for anyone who really loves their pets. Don't let the convenience of kibble and cages blind you to the true nature of your domesticated polecats, wolves, or cats; all are carnivores, all are hunters, and all need an active lifestyle and species-appropriate diet to reach their full potential.

Answer 2

size
the polecat is like a small lynx
the ferret is smaller than a rabbit but slimmer

Answer 3

A polecat is a skunk. They are phylogenetically similar but not the same species.

Answer 4

A polecat is a slang term for a skunk.

I do hear that ferrets smell, but surely not as badly as a skunk ;-)

Answer 5

where i come from we call skunks polecats hehehe a ferret is a long weasal like animal often kept for pets. a skunk is well a skunk heheheheh