Ferrets are typically very friendly, curious, and overall fun creatures that are typically nothing but bundles of joy. However, sometimes ferrets do things or exhibit behaviors that raise some concerns. There are many different types of ferrets, but all of them are subject to questionable behavior!
Something that many ferrets do that owners almost always find concerning is âhissingâ. This bizarre sound doesnât seem very friendly, but that doesnât mean that your ferret is angry at you. In fact, is hissing even a bad sound for ferrets to make in the first place?
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Why Do Ferrets Hiss?
Ferrets are quite vocal creatures, making many different sounds for many different reasons. Youâll only have to be around a ferret for a day to hear them hiss, dook, chirp, sneeze â all different but normal vocalizations!
So why exactly do ferrets hiss? Thereâs not quite a straightforward answer, as there could be several reason behind your ferret hissing. A ferret may hiss for one of the following reasons:
- Your ferret is angry â This one seems to be the obvious answer. Hissing, especially in cats, is associated with anger and aggressiveness â a way for an animal to say âback off!â. It often takes a lot to anger to a ferret, but if they do become angry or stressed, you may be greeted with one or several hisses. You can usually tell if the ferret is angry if the hissing is combined with raised fur on their arched back.
- Your ferret is playing â Vocalization is incredibly common when a ferret is playing. Dooking is the most common sound that excited ferrets make, but hissing isnât uncommon. They could be using this sound in an entirely playful manner. If your ferret is having fun and suddenly hisses, itâs likely just a part of their playtime ritual.
- Your ferret is just making noise â Some ferrets are way more vocal than others, making sounds for no apparent reason. Some owners report that their ferrets make hissing sounds while just walking around or drinking water. This is likely just how they vocalize! Over time, youâll get to know your ferret and their normal vocalizations.
What To Do If Your Ferret Hisses
If youâve never heard your ferret hiss before, it can be a bit intimidating to hear it for the first time. The first thing that you should know is that itâsnot a big deal. Itâs hardly even a deal at all!
As soon as your ferret hisses, address the situation. Was your ferret engaged in an activity that could make them feel threatened or scared? Are they now acting aggressively towards you or your other ferrets? If the answer to either of those questions is yes, the best course of action is to give your ferret time to cool off.
Animals can sometimes become overstimulated and simply need a minute or two away from everything before they can return to their normal happy state. If your ferret is angry hissing, note what made them hiss in the first place, put it to a stop, and make sure that it doesnât happen again. Most of the time itâs nothing, though, so donât stress!
If your ferret hisses randomly while playing or going about their normal day and nothing seems off, thereâs nothing that you need to do. You may do a quick assessment of their living space and general well-being to make sure that nothing is wrong, but no stress is needed beyond that.
Remember, ferrets are weird creatures! Theyâll hiss for absolutely no reason, so itâs okay if you canât find anything wrong.
What Does A Hissing Ferret Sound Like?
Itâs really hard to imagine what a ferret hissing sounds like if youâve never heard it before. Itâs more of a primal sound, like a high-pitched squawk you may hear coming from a bird. Ferret hissing is quite loud, so you likely wonât have a problem hearing it over the sound of them playing with toys or other ferrets.
This video is a great example of a ferret hissing while just playing around. It sounds intimidating, but the ferret is just having a great time with its owner:
This other video is an example of a ferret hissing while their owner plays tug-o-war with them. This instance isnât aggressive either, but itâs used in a way that says âback off, this kill is mine!â. My ferrets would do this all the time with their toys:
Final Point
Always know that all ferrets are different. Some will hiss at the drop of a hat, and others will never make a peep. Thereâs nothing wrong with your ferret if they hiss all the time, and thereâs nothing wrong if theyâre always silent.
Itâs very hard to judge a ferretâs well-being from just one random behavior. If youâre ever concerned about your ferret, assess their environment, their cage, the activities that theyâre doing, and their overall health. Hissing isnât indicative of anything being wrong, but it isnât harmless 100% of the time either.
Additionally, if youâre uncertain of whether or not your ferret is okay, you can always consult with their veterinarian. Itâs better to be safe than sorry with these adorable little carpet sharks!