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Source: Global Times
By Tong Ting
June 22 2010
Choosing a pet can be difficult: cats are mischievous but disdainful, while dogs are more loving but can be messy and prone to needing walking. How about a neat balance between the two? Step forward, the Angora ferret, a new concept of pet for most Chinese, but nonetheless one we consider an ideal choice for even the laziest owner.
Angoras are pure breeds from Denmark and require no license to own in China, unlike dogs. Although the idea may be new here, "Ferrets have been trained as pets for over 600 years now," in the words of Fu Shuming, owner of the Angora ferret shop in Xidan, pointing to a poster of Leonardo Da Vinci's Lady with Ermine. "The animal in that painting is actually a ferret. So, at least at that time, they were already tame. Though, they were then just adopted by noble families because they are carnivores, they now eat ferret food instead." Fu received a pet ferret as a present a few years ago, fell in love with the animal and started the shop last year. She now has seven ferrets living happily in her home, of no danger to anyone except any vermin which may cross their paths (ferrets are excellent catchers of mice).
Tricks of the trade Various characteristics of the animal make the Angora ferret a perfect candidate for Beijing, according to Fu. "They are neat and quiet and need very little space, which is ideal for white-collar workers with busy schedules, living in small apartments. They're also very clever animals, with an intelligence equal to that of a 2-4 year-old child. They'll interact with their owners, and can learn all kinds of tricks like rolling, standing, swimming and kissing." Staff at Fu's shop demonstrated with a white Angora, who rolled agilely on command, receiving a ferret snack as reward.
The animals live in a specially designed cage, which costs a little under 400 yuan, with three stories containing a playground attic, mid-level hammock and a ground-floor toilet area. As Lifestyle browsed through the store, the cute creatures looked contented in their small (90 centimeter-tall) homes; most were cuddled together and sound asleep. In fact, "They look like they're dead, don't they?" Fu joked. "They need 16-18 hours of sleep a day. Sometimes when they are in a deep sleep, you can't even wake them up by prodding them."
Prices vary from 2,500 yuan to over 10,000 yuan for a rare or unusual fur color like "panda" or "badger." "Unlike cats and dogs, ferrets have low birth rates. The only breeding farm right now, Sangosho Pet, is in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province," Fu told us. "Baby ferrets go through three operations after they're born: sterilization, scent-gland removal surgery and biochip implantation to the back of their body. The biochip corresponds to a birth certificate with a unique identification number. And then they're flown from Wuxi directly to Beijing," Fu explained.
Ferreting fun
There are over 600 ferret owners in Beijing now. "We have started an Angora Ferrets Club, and are planning to hold an annual event," Fu said proudly, showing a picture of the last event depicting a large group of ferret-clutching Chinese. "We're planning a big get-together this September, and in the future, are thinking of holding ferret competition as well."
Xiao Yu, a young white-collar worker who owns three Angora ferrets (along with two Huskies, a hamster and a cat) thinks they are definitely the easiest pets she has had to take care of. "I have had them over a year now. They're very neat. My three share one cage and have a specific corner as their 'restroom.' And there's very little odor compared to my other animals," she told Lifestyle. "They like to sleep. But whenever you want to play with them, they'll be there.
"They are really smart: I taught mine to roll, stand and even dive! I have a drawer where I keep their snacks, and every time I'm near that drawer, they look at me alertly. They've even tried to open it when I wasn't around!" Xiao laughed. The special ferret food cost about 100 yuan a month.
Perhaps the greatest joy for those stuck in high-rise apartments is you don't need to walk them. That doesn't mean you can't, however. "I do it for fun," Xiao admitted. "But I'm starting to get tired of explaining to people what they are!"
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