Posted: February 1, 2009, 5 a.m. EST
Q: My ferret, Scamper, is about 2 and a half years old. When we hold her, it sounds like she is purring. Is that possible? Also, when she plays she seems to be making a kind of grunting noise. Is this normal?
A: For such “quiet” animals, ferrets sure do make a lot of different noises! While I doubt Scamper is actually purring (it is believed that cats and only a couple of other animals purr), she is probably making a noise signaling contentment.
If your ferret is physically healthy and in shape, then most of her noises are playful and normal ferret noises. Some of these noises include dooking, whining, hissing, or even barking (when afraid).