Albino Ferret Facts

Best known for their striking appearance, albino ferrets have snow white fur, red eyes and a pink nose. Just like their sable-colored counterparts, albino ferrets are curious, energetic in the mornings and love napping in the afternoon. However, their different genetic makeup endows them with some special characteristics.

  1. Cause of Albinism

    • Albinism is a recessive genetic trait. In order to have an albino ferret, each of its parents must pass on a copy of the recessive gene. The gene for albinism causes a complete lack of pigmentation, or coloration, in the ferret's skin and fur. The prevalence of albino ferrets is due to selective breeding.

    Coloring

    • All ferrets are born white, but most change to the more common sable color. Only some of them remain white into adulthood and an even smaller number of those ferrets are truly albino. The hair of an albino ferret is actually transparent. We perceive it as white because it reflects all light waves essentially equally, thus it appears white. Because the iris is also transparent, we see the red-colored back of the eye. Off-white or yellowish albino ferrets are common because the skin oils on the fur impart a bit of color. Bathing them once a month helps maintain a pure white coat.

    Domestication

    • Evidence suggest that ferrets have been domesticated for thousands of years with one of the earliest descriptions of domesticated albino ferrets in 1551. Breeders originally favored the albino trait because of its usefulness to hunters. The snowy white fur stands out when the ferret roots out rabbits in a warren, making them easy to keep track of. Pet ferret owners also frequently choose albino ferrets, not only for appearance sake, but because the white color makes the notoriously mischievous ferret easier to find in a room.

    Health

    • Albino ferrets are sensitive to bright light because the iris of the eye lacks color. Because they have no melanin in their skin to protect them from the sun's rays, albino ferrets are more susceptible to skin cancer. The misconception that albino ferrets are weaker than normal ferrets came about because albinism puts an animal in the wild at a severe disadvantage, in both hunting and evading other predators. However, they are equally strong and robust.

    Famous People and Ferrets

    • Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria of England both raised albino ferrets. Mike Tyson owned an albino ferret. Aristotle, Aesop and Aristophanes all mentioned ferrets in their writing.