How long do ferrets live?

Answer 1

The lifespan of ferrets is 6-12 years with the average being about 8 years.

Answer 2

About 6-7-8 Years

Answer 3

In the United States a ferrets lifespan is around 6 to 10 years, with 7 to 8 years being about average. Very rarely you may hear of a ferret living as long as 10-13 years.

Unfortunately, with the early altering practices used by the major breeding farms in this country the majority of ferrets bred here eventually suffer from related illnesses (such as adrenal disease) which shortens the lifespan.

I've had 20 ferrets to date. 9 are still with me. Of the 11 that have passed on the youngest was 3 years of age, the oldest have been 7-8 years of age. All that have passed had various forms of cancer. Cancers are very commonly seen in ferrets in this country. Early altering and possibly genetics being the most probable causes. Ferrets in countries that do not have breeding farms and/or practice early altering tend to live longer, healthier, lives.

Answer 4

Okay, on the average, they live about 6 - 8 years. Some live longer and some have a short life span. It will depend on many things - health, genes, living conditions, etc.

You know a ferret is NOT a rodent. Rodents have cartilage while ferrets have bones (flexible bones, ha!). Also, some rodents have their front teeth growing all the time so they need to chew something. A ferret is an obligate carnivore - he needs to eat meat. Look at the teeth of a ferret - the canines are long and pointed.

Answer 5

The life span of the ferret is only 6 or 7 years.

Answer 6

5-6 years

Answer 7

about 6 years

Answer 8

Our girl lived a couple of months past 7 years & she packed a lot of love, fun & energy into that too-short time.
Ferrets aren't rodents but are a type of weasel & are actually more closely related to skunks & racoons than to rodents. Their playfullness & facial contours (especially the girls, or "jills") do remind me of rats in a way though.