Austin Owens <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
>Got me wrondering casue there are several breeders I have seen with ads for
>angora ferrets... are they or are they not?
 
Interesting question: I don't know if there's a good definition on what an
angora ferret is.  If you see them, it's rather clear they're different, but
some of them doesn't have very much longer fur than some other ferrets.  So
just fur lenght can hardly be used.
 
And if I remember correctly, in Norway they recognize two kinds of angoras,
long- and medium-length coats.
 
I've also seen several ferrets with what to me looks like typical angora
traits, apart from fur length.  Probably some kind of half breeds, but since
the angora breed itself is hardly stable yet, that kind of definition is
sort of meaningless as well.  (A definition which included constricted noses
and an inability to take care of kits wouldn't be very constructive.)
 
Some people say their mentality is different, but judging from the span
among the ferrets I have known, if this is true, it's unlikely it's a
universal difference.
 
Personally, I don't really think it matters at all: A ferret is a ferret and
I'd prefer not to classify them by the kind of fur they have, just as we
don't with peoples' hair.  It's not like with dogs, who are bred for
different tasks, is it?
--
 Urban Fredriksson  [log in to unmask]
 My ferrets  -->  http://www.kuai.se/%7Egriffon/ferrets/
[Posted in FML issue 1883]