Cat v Ferret

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by SteveH, Sep 20, 2005.

  1. Post corrected..

    Phil
     
    Phil Launchbury, Sep 20, 2005
    #21
    1. Advertisements

  2. SteveH

    Ace Guest

    Err, perhaps you'd be so kind as to explain precisely what is the
    difference between the two? It's generally accepted, I thought, that a
    ferret is simply a domesticated polecat. Genetically indistiguishable,
    like.

    --
    _______
    ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
    \`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
    `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
    `\|/`
    `
     
    Ace, Sep 20, 2005
    #22
    1. Advertisements

  3. SteveH

    wessie Guest

    Ace emerged from their own little world to say
    Ferrets have been around for >3 millenia. AFAIK their genetic heritage is
    unkonwn as there are a number of polecat species.

    Ferrets mark their territory using their anal gland. It is possible that
    selective breeding has produced a domesticated hybrid that produces a less
    pungent scent. Selective breeding has certainly produced negative genotypes
    e.g. Waardenburg Syndrome

    When we lived on a farm my mum used to keep ferrets and they did not smell
    much. I've never come close enough to a wild polecat to be able to smell
    one.
     
    wessie, Sep 20, 2005
    #23
  4. SteveH

    wessie Guest

    SteveH emerged from their own little world to say
    I had a cat that used to catch weasels. They are a lot smaller than ferrets
    and I think the cat would have bottled out with a full grown, aggressive
    ferret.

    If kits and kittens are raised together then they usually get on. Although
    the ferrets will want to play as mature adults which starts to piss off the
    cat if they are the laid back or lazy variety.
     
    wessie, Sep 20, 2005
    #24
  5. SteveH

    flook Guest

    We had a cat that caught a couple of stoats / weasels [1] in its time.

    flook

    [1] How do you tell which is which?
     
    flook, Sep 20, 2005
    #25
  6. SteveH

    wessie Guest

    emerged from their own little world to say
    Weasel is generally smaller. Stoats can be huge in comparison, especially
    the ones bred for ermine.

    BBC website has details:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/202.shtml
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/201.shtml
     
    wessie, Sep 20, 2005
    #26
  7. SteveH

    TMack Guest

    If the cat were Pinky then my money is definitely on the cat
    http://www.big-boys.com/articles/pinky.html

    Tony
     
    TMack, Sep 20, 2005
    #27
  8. Whinging Courier does something similar.

    It *was* him farting on Saturday night at the EOSM, right?
     
    The Older Gentleman, Sep 20, 2005
    #28
  9. SteveH

    Owen Guest

    *Groan*
     
    Owen, Sep 20, 2005
    #29
  10. SteveH

    Catman Guest

    Priceless
    --
    Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
    Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
    Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 156 TS S2
    Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
    www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
     
    Catman, Sep 20, 2005
    #30
  11. SteveH

    Eddie Guest

    Actually, both it and the ferret (and their seven offspring, the randy
    little buggers) were "working" animals, not technically pets.
    Good job I didn't mention the two goldfish, two rabbits, two dogs
    (half-brother and sister) and their five pups then, eh?
     
    Eddie, Sep 20, 2005
    #31
  12. SteveH

    Eddie Guest

    I can't bloody remember. That was over twenty years ago - I can barely
    remember what I had for lunch. I'd have to google for it, and I'm sure
    you're quite capable of doing that yourself.

    The ferret was female, and white - possibly albino? The smaller of the two.

    The polecat was male, black and white, and larger.

    Hmmm... perhaps it's the males (of whatever species you want to call it)
    that are smelly?

    They had a litter of seven, anyway, so they must have been fairly
    closely related.
     
    Eddie, Sep 20, 2005
    #32
  13. SteveH

    sweller Guest

    I had a friend who would take his ferret a' rabbiting. Which was an
    experience and he made a bit of money from it.

    He disapproved of the carrier bag and brick method [1] as opposed to the
    traditional purse nets he had made himself.


    [1] A Tescos bag with a brick in it is staked over the warren exits, send
    in ferret, rabbits panic and go flying out the exits, straight
    into bag and brick. Rather ingenious really.
     
    sweller, Sep 21, 2005
    #33
  14. SteveH

    Pip Guest

    There's the answer to the chicken problem - sling a pair of knotted
    socks full of pahnd coins over their necks. That will not only
    prevent flight into the tree, but will enable them to give a good
    account of themselves should a fox come round. If they look like
    losing the fight, they can always pay the fox off.
     
    Pip, Sep 21, 2005
    #34
  15. SteveH

    Pip Guest

    Pip, Sep 21, 2005
    #35
  16. SteveH

    Eddie Guest

    Actually, this was when we lived darn sarf. Which proves something.
    Well... no... but my Dad did used to go out and catch fox cubs.
     
    Eddie, Sep 21, 2005
    #36
  17. SteveH

    flash Guest

    We're forgetting that a chicken with a sock full of pound coins would not
    hold onto said coins very long in the presence of TOG.

    Before you say "Cluck Me" they would be relieved of their cash in exchange
    for a Shite Old Roost each.
     
    flash, Sep 21, 2005
    #37
  18. SteveH

    Eddie Guest

    That is, indeed, the purpose for which our ferret and polecat were used.

    My Dad used to carry them around in a box on the back of his pushbike.

    Very high-tech, though, for the time - they used to have "ferret
    locators", which were radio-like devices (possibly even just a normal
    radio) that would pick up a signal from a device on the ferret's collar,
    so that if the little bugger decided to stop and eat rabbit in the
    middle of a burrow, you knew roughly were to dig.

    Of course, there was always the risk that you'd put your spade through
    the ferret, but fortunately that never happened.
     
    Eddie, Sep 21, 2005
    #38
  19. SteveH

    sweller Guest

    "Fantastic Mr. Ed: Champion of the World"
     
    sweller, Sep 21, 2005
    #39
  20. SteveH

    Ace Guest

    1. How do we know that what have been referred to as ferrets back then
    are the same as we have now?
    2. There's no question that Ferrets and Polecats are the same
    'species', as they can, and do, interbreed.
    3. Genetic 'heritage' can be inferred from current genetic
    interchangeability.
    This is indeed possible, yes.

    --
    _______
    ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
    \`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
    `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
    `\|/`
    `
     
    Ace, Sep 21, 2005
    #40
    1. Advertisements

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.