Influenza A viruses (IAVs) infect humans and animals, and pose continuous threats to public health.Animal models have pivotal roles in IAV research, and different animal models have different advantages and limitations.We focused on the advantages and disadvantages of the use of ferrets, and compared them with those of mice, guinea pigs,and non-human primate models. We highlighted the important role of ferrets in IAV research. This paper briefly reviews theresearch progress in use of ferret models in the studies of pathogenesis, transmission and evaluation of IAVs. As such, it provides references for the basic and applied research of IAVs.