Ferrets shed their old image to become the new designer pet

The days of ferret owning as the preserve of northern men in cloth caps could be numbered after research published today showed they are becoming a hit with young, single women.

A study by two psychology experts from the University of Warwick inidcated that owners of the small furry 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, of the university's Department of Pyschology, surveyed 142 male and female ferret owners across the Midlands. Most owners were aged 26-45, while more than 77 per cent were childless. Nearly all – 82 per cent – 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. There are websites springing up devoted to ferrets and the range of toys you can buy for them is amazing. You can seriously spoil these creatures if you are an owner."