Weasel: Keeping the animal at home

The small and nimble weasel is a wild animal that has recently ceased to be a curiosity. These cute animals from the mustelid family are becoming increasingly popular in both city apartments and private homes.
The weasel is a valuable fur-bearing animal, and a thrifty one at that: you'll see for yourself if you adopt a furry friend. In ancient times, martens were kept in farmyards to control rodents, and no one attempted to domesticate this small creature, but the weasel often made short work of mice and rats. Later, this never-domesticated animal was supplanted by the well-known cat—tame and affectionate, they have retained their reputation as "the best mousers" to this day.

Why do people keep weasels? What makes them so attractive? Why has this soft, fluffy, but not entirely tame animal gained unprecedented fame among exotic lovers?
Oddly enough, weasels have nothing in common with cats or ferrets—a baby weasel won't come at the first call, won't cuddle like a domestic kitten, and might even refuse to be picked up. Nor will a mustelid obediently lie at your feet or sit on your lap. So why are owners so fond of this nimble and quick weasel?

Let's look at how difficult it is to keep martens at home, how things are with raising and training them, and which breed is best to choose for keeping at home.

Weasel breeds

Breeders claim that weasels can adapt to both house and apartment living, and care and upkeep are never difficult. The price of this rare animal is quite high, and finding martens from breeders is not easy. However, it's best to buy weasels only from trusted people. This guarantees you'll be getting a healthy, well-groomed, and, importantly, socialized animal.

Wild-caught predators are completely unable to quickly adapt to captivity. Only in the hands of a professional will a weasel gradually become accustomed to hands and the home. Don't overestimate your abilities: if, by chance, a weasel is removed from the wild and returning it to its natural environment is impossible, its adaptation should be gentle.

The weasel is the smallest predator, able to penetrate absolutely any burrow or crevice, which is why these animals are distinguished by their mouse-hunting habits. Small animals with dark brown, smooth fur are most often kept as pets. The weasel is distinguished by its tenacious claws, rounded ears, and beady eyes. From ears to tail, this taiga dweller usually measures no more than 10-12 cm, although it can reach up to 30 cm, and weighs 150-300 grams. Coloration varies greatly depending on the breed. A distinctive feature of this animal is the sebaceous glands under its tail: an adult leaves "marks" with a subtle but distinctive odor. It moves by leaping, hunting most of the day, primarily at night.

There are several breeds of representatives of the mustelid family, most of which differ in color and size:

1. The common weasel is palm-sized (up to 25 cm), with a brown back and white belly. Small and docile, it's the least weasel most often offered by breeders for pets.
2. White-striped - from the name it is clear that the difference from the common one is the light strip of fur on the back, the size and color are almost the same as the common one.
3. Long-tailed, dark brown, with a lighter belly. This breed is larger, reaching up to 30 cm in length and weighing approximately 350 grams.
4. The North African raccoon is a handsome creature with fluffy gray fur and irregular stripes down its back, similar to a raccoon. It weighs no more than 260 grams and is 27-30 cm long.
5. South African - similar to the previous one, but the upper back is decorated with longitudinal stripes, the fur is thick and fluffy.

All the presented breeds are actually rare, found exclusively among mustelid breeders.

Weasel at home: features of keeping

Housing for a domestic marten is the first thing to consider, despite its free-spirited nature. Many keep them in display cages, complete with shelves, hammocks, wheels, houses, and burrows—all at the breeder's discretion. Multi-tiered enclosures, twigs, and other elements for shelter are encouraged.

Features of housing for a baby mustelid:

1. The cage is not locked, or it can be an open aquarium (display case) with glass sides, minimum size 50*50 cm.
2. A litter tray (preferably two) is installed in the house and changed every two days.
3. Cleaning and clearing away clutter (food scraps) is carried out daily, and general cleaning is carried out once a month (with sanitization of all surfaces).

Read also: Where does the white marten live and what does it look like?.

Nutrition and care for martens

Predators like martens prefer meat—ground chicken and beef—but veterinary stores often sell ready-made food for rodent predators. Any treats should be offered in small portions so the animal eats them right away. Otherwise, the meal risks ending up in the stash—a habit martens enjoy—and the food will spoil within a couple of days.

1. The weasel eats twice a day, but loves to snack - 2-3 times a day, if possible, the predator is offered a snack, and food is also left at night.
2. Along with offal and processed meats, the animal eats vegetables, fruits, and eggs. However, smoked meats, salted foods, nuts, processed convenience foods, sour cream, and onions should not be included in the furry animal's diet.
3. Water should also always be in the cage - accessible and clean (the drinking bowl should be changed every 2-3 days).
4. The bottom of the dwelling must be lined with straw and disposable diapers - this is convenient during cleaning.
5. Also, placing driftwood, tunnels, and other toys for rodents from a pet store are welcome and will not let the furry predator get bored.

Education and training

The weasel prefers to be carried for walks. Moderately curious but incredibly cautious, it doesn't tend to climb everywhere or be active, but it loves walks.

Training is only beneficial for young animals (1.5 months and older). Good training requires daily sessions of at least 30-50 minutes (the animal simply won't be able to devote more attention to its owner). Over time, your weasel will respond to its name, sleep with you, or spend some time on your lap in front of the TV. It will also become litter-trained and will follow proper mealtime guidelines—not scattering or hiding leftovers in hidden corners.

Remember: weasels are active and quick, constantly crawling underfoot and into the arms of their beloved owners, and demanding attention, so a cage is essential. However, freedom is more important to these little creatures – weasels should not be confined most of the time.

Diseases of the mustelid family

As a preventative measure, weasels, as members of the mustelid family, are required to be vaccinated against rabies—on roughly the same schedule as domestic cats. Other infectious and bacterial illnesses are best discussed with a veterinarian and treated promptly with medication. To avoid missing the right moment, monitor your pet's general condition. A marten, always active and quick, will immediately raise suspicions of poor health if it appears lethargic.

What to feed a weasel at home

This unfussy predator happily eats mice and lizards. However, it's not always possible to provide such a varied diet in an apartment. Experts recommend creating a simple yet balanced menu for this pet—meat, dairy products, and greens. Vitamin supplements are often included in the diet; a specialist can recommend these.

The caress menu will definitely include:

• chicken meat, minced meat;
• whole carcasses of small chickens (divided into portions), tendons;
• offal;
• kefir and cottage cheese;
• parsley, dandelion, nettle;
• red fish and shrimp;
• cheese;
• egg, especially quail egg;
• apples, carrots, pears – any fruits and vegetables that your pet prefers.

The diet should be compiled taking into account financial capabilities, but in any case, the basis of the marten’s diet is meat.

How long does a weasel live at home?

It's believed that weasels can live up to 8-10 years in captivity, avoiding all the dangers of the wild. The most common lifespan of domesticated weasels is 5-7 years.

Is it worth getting a weasel in the apartment?

A weasel will live in exactly the same rhythm whether it's house or apartment, as weasels don't require endless walks or air baths. Keeping a weasel in an apartment is possible, provided you can dedicate a corner to a home and are willing to spend free time taking it outside daily. All other conditions for keeping this small predator are identical, whether in a house or apartment.

Tips and nuances

Even a hand-reared marten will eventually lose interest in its owner, especially without mutual attention. Therefore, it's important to hold and play with your pet more often, and don't forget about walks and even trips. Some breeders take their martens for walks in the park or even visit the store—if the owner is completely confident the animal won't run away or cause mischief.

Here are a few more nuances:

1. Weasel fur contains far fewer allergens than cat or dog fur.
2. Toilet training a tame weasel is not difficult. It's enough to pay attention to it during the first 7-10 days of your pet's arrival. When a weasel is looking for a toilet, it, like other pets, shows anxiety. Simply draw the animal's attention to the litter box frequently. Martens quickly pick up the habit and defecate in the designated area.
3. Adult weasels are spayed and neutered (as adult males mark their territory) if the animal is not intended for breeding. Adult weasels emit an unpleasant odor when frightened (like a skunk) – you just have to get used to it.
4. Weasels are squeaky and prone to "stirring up" and can bite, but as they become accustomed to humans, they often lose their aggressive nature. The same cannot be said about their temperament—it's not always docile.
5. This friendly and very active animal will be happy to be your friend, but getting it used to other pets, especially birds, will take a long time and effort.
6. However, a marten can get along well with a cat if it has been raised with one since infancy. Its intelligence and sociability overcome any aggressive traits.
7. It's recommended to walk your marten on a harness. Only if you're confident in your pet should you let it out unsupervised, for example, in your yard. Keep in mind that there should be no hunting dogs, cars, or other dangerous objects nearby (the animal probably shouldn't be afraid of these things, but if frightened, it might refuse to return home altogether).
8. Agile and playful, despite its friendliness, the weasel can sometimes bite - remember this, especially if there are small children in your house.

To get used to the animal and make friends with it, you need to hold it often, hold it on your shoulder, talk to it, and call it by its name—it's a fairly sociable pet. The main thing is to learn to sense it early on. And one more thing: adult specimens are practically untrainable.

Nimble, small, gentle, and quite friendly, albeit a bit restless, once this weasel is in your home and you find common ground, it will surely become a favorite pet. This charming animal with unrivaled intelligence will win your heart if you share your love and care with it.

Read also: Keeping leopard geckos at home.