What pattern is my ferret?
Last week we discussed ferret colors and how to tell what color your ferret is. This week we're going to get into the trickier subject of ferret patterns. "Color" refers to the color of the coat (guard hairs and undercoat), while "pattern" refers to how exactly that color is distributed or concentrated on your ferret. None of the ferret patterns discussed below are natural markings. They have all been developed through selective breeding by humans.
There are two groups of basic patterns that you may see. The color concentration patterns include roans, points/siamese, and solids. There is also a group of white markings that include mitts, blazes, and pandas.
Color Concentration Patterns
ROAN
Roan ferrets have 50% to 60% colored guard hairs and 40% to 50% white guard hairs. What their masks look like will depend on what color they are. You may see Black Roans (Silver), Black Sable Roans, Champagne Roans, Chocolate Roans, Cinnamon Roans, and Sable Roans.
POINT OR SIAMESE
These ferrets are easily identifiable by their dark tails and legs, or "points." Their bodies are significantly lighter. Their mask is usually a thin "V." You may see Black Points, Champagne Points, Chocolate Points, Cinnamon Points, and Sable Points.
SOLID
Solid ferrets appear to have a solid coat color because their undercoat doesn't show through. They should have a full or a T mask. You can see Black Solids, Black Sable Solids, Champagne Solids, Chocolate Solids, Cinnamon Solids, and Sable Solids.
White Marking Patterns
MITT
"Mitts" are white feet, and the word can refer to white tipped paws, completely white feet, or anything in between. Any color ferret can have mitts, and because of this, masks and other patterns the ferret may have differ widely. Mitts may also have white bibs, knee patches, and tail tips.
BLAZE
A ferret with a distinctive white stripe of fur down the middle of its head is known as a blaze. The blaze should run from the middle of the forehead down to the shoulders. Blazes often have rings of colors around their eyes rather than a full mask. Other markings they may have include white mitts, knee patches, and tail tips. The rest of their coat can be any color other than white.
PANDA
A "Panda" ferret is one that has a completely white head that extends down to the shoulders. Pandas may have colored smudges around their eyes, and colored guard hairs should form the shape of a saddle on their backs. Other white markings can include mitts, knee patches, and tail tips.
Some ferrets will have clearly defined patterns, while others don't seem to fit into any category. The above pattern descriptions are the accepted standards for showing ferrets, so your patterned ferret may not necessarily fit the criteria exactly.
For more information about determining your ferret's color and pattern, read Colors & Patterns in Ferrets: What Color is My Ferret?.
