thought everyone might get a kick out of this...if you're looking for
ferret-related news, check out this site (www.ananova.com); they have
a million ferret-related articles, as well as all kinds of other
interesting news stories...
 
Ananova :
Ferret ownership 'growing among young women'
 
New research claims ferrets are becoming a hit with young, single women.
 
A study by two psychology experts from the University of Warwick shows
owners of the mammals are as likely to be female as male.
 
The researchers believe the shift towards more young people remaining
childless and single has led to the growing popularity of ferrets and
rabbits.
 
Dr June McNicholas and Dr Glyn Collis, surveyed 142 male and female ferret
owners across the Midlands.  Most owners were aged 26-45, while more than
77% were childless.
 
Nearly all - 82% - had not owned ferrets before but were attracted to them
as suitable pets for their lifestyle.
 
Dr McNicholas said: "I would hesitate to say that ferrets are becoming the
ultimate yuppie pet, but neither is the average female ferret owner Compo
in trousers.  Ferrets are ideal companions for people with full-time jobs
who may not be able to look after a dog or cat.
 
"They are ideal for people living in towns or cities in flats because they
don't mind being caged and they can live in a relatively small space.
People tend to buy them in pairs so they can keep each other company, and
I think most owners see them as an interactive pet that likes to bounce
around the house."
 
Dr McNicholas said owners listed playfulness and intelligence as the
characteristics which attracted them to ferrets.
 
She said the study found that women owners are more likely to see ferrets
as affectionate pets, while males are more likely to regard them as
multi-purpose working and pet animals.
 
All owners handled and played with their ferrets daily, with 68% allowing
them time in the family house.  Among first time ferret owners, 90% said
they envisaged they would always keep ferrets.
 
Data studied from the British Houserabbit Society showed that more than
88% of the organisation's 3,000 members were adults, suggesting they were
no longer seen as a pet for children.
 
jessica l. manson
whimsy creative photography!
28 stafford st.
plymouth, ma 02360
(508) 747-5505
[log in to unmask]
www.whimsyphoto.com
[Posted in FML issue 3747]