We decided to add this page due to the many times we have been asked questions on ferret colours. These are the colours we go by. Click on the photos if you would like to see the full size version.
First we will start with our four basic standard colours. Some colours have two different names as some countries refer to them differently.
Sable/Polecat: Very dark brown and black legs, tail and mask. Light cream to white undercoat with dark brown to black guard hairs. Nose is pink, speckled or T line. Eye colour can vary from burgundy, black, green or blue.
Albino: Fur is white or cream. Sometimes very orange depending on if the ferret is in season. Eyes are reddish pink and nose is pink. They are this colour due to the lack of pigment.
Silver: Silver has quite the variation. It can vary from dark silver which normally has a heavier mask or light silver where usually there will be a lack of a mask. Undercoat is mainly cream or white with light silver, dark silver or grey guard hairs. The legs aren’t a solid colour. Nose can be pink, speckled, T lined, grey or black. Eyes can be burgundy, black, blue or green.
Sandy/Champagne: Light brown legs and tail. Mask can be full or slight and light brown in colour. Light cream to white undercoat with light brown guard hairs. Nose is pink. Eye colour can be burgundy or black.
Then we move on to the different variations of the four basic colours.
Black Sable/Dark Sable/Dark Polecat: Guard hairs are black. Undercoat is white, cream or apricot in colour. The mask is black and defined with white, cream or apricot outlining the mask or giving the appearance of the ferret having eyebrows. Nose is preferred black but speckled is acceptable. Eyes can be black, blue or green.
Lilac: Guard hairs are a mix of sandy/champagne, chocolate, silver and grey. When the colours combine during season changes, they mix and give the coat a lilac hue. The paws will be cream or white and a cream or white bib is present. Colour is more prominent on the legs and tail and no mask is present. Nose is normally pink but sometimes can have a grey colour to it. Eyes are black or burgundy.
Black Eyed White (BEW)/Dark Eyed White (DEW): Coat is white or cream. There can be a tiny sprinkling of silver on the tail but shouldn’t be obvious. All white or cream is preferred. Most light silvers end up becoming this colour after a year or two. Eyes can be burgundy, black, green or blue. Nose is pink or sometimes speckled.
Cinnamon: Guard hairs have a rich reddish brown colour and cover more of the body than the sandy/champagne. The undercoat can be cream or white. The legs and tail have the most concentrated colouring. A mask will usually be present. The nose can be pink or light brown or a mix of both. Eyes are burgundy or black.
Chocolate: Fur is a rich dark brown chocolate colour. Most of the colour concentrates on the legs, tail and mask. The undercoat can be white, cream or apricot. The guard hairs run heavier on the body than the basic colours. Eyes can be black, green or blue. Nose is chocolate in colour or can be speckled or in a T line. Photos below provided by United Ferrets Ferretry.
And now we move on to coat and colour patterns.
Marked White: Fur is white or cream. The tail is usually silver, black or chocolate. Or even a mix of those colours. A line of chocolate, silver or black sometimes runs down the middle of the back into the tail. Basically it is any DEW/BEW who might have markings elsewhere that disqualifies them from being called a DEW/BEW. Eye colour can be black, burgundy, blue or green.
Self: No distinguishable points. Fur is the same colour from head to tail. White around the muzzle and slight eyebrows. Nose is the same colour as the fur and the mask much reach the nose. Undercoat isn’t really visible and is white, cream or apricot in colour. Eyes can be black, blue or green.
Below is a black self. Photo provided by United Ferrets Ferretry. Below is an example of a cinnamon self.
Solid: Fur is one solid colour from head to tail. No white visible on the face bar a tiny bit of white under the chin. Nose is the same colour as the fur. Eyes can be black, blue or green. Photo below is of a black solid. Photo provided by United Ferrets Ferretry.
Mitt: Mitts come in a variety of colours. Front paws and back paws are white and normally a white bib will accompany the mitted paws. Sometimes it is just the front paws that are mitted. Nose can be any colour. Eyes can be black, burgundy, blue or green.
Below is a photo of a black mitt. Below is a picture of a chocolate mitt.Below is a picture of a dark silver mitt. Photo provided by United Ferrets Ferretry.
Bibbed: Fur can be any colour. Running under the chin and on the neck is white, cream or apricot fur in a bib style. Nose can be any colour. Eyes are black, burgundy, blue or green.
Badger: Fur can be any colour. A wide white or cream line running from the muzzle and between the eyes and ears down the back of the neck. This marking usually has mitts and a bib. Sometimes white knees and tail tip. Nose is pink and eyes are black or burgundy.
Blaze: Fur can be any colour. A thin white or cream line running from the muzzle and between the eyes and ears and down the back of the neck. This marking usually has mitts and a bib. Sometimes white knees and tail tip. Nose is pink and eyes are black or burgundy. Photo provided by United Ferrets Ferretry.
Panda: Fur can be any colour. Head is all white and extends to the shoulders. Neck is also white. Sometimes they will have mitts and white rings around the tail. Eye colour can be burgundy or black. Nose is pink.
Milkmouth: Fur is either black or chocolate. There usually isn’t a mask present but sometimes a very slight mask is allowed. The muzzle is white all the way around, giving the ferret the appearance that it’s face has just been dipped in milk. A small bib is usually present.The nose is pink. Eye colour can be burgundy, black, green or blue.
Roan: Fur can be black, sable, chocolate or cinnamon. About half the guard hairs will be white and cover most of the body. Nose can be any colour. Eyes can be black, burgundy, green or blue.