Polecat

Polecat is a common name for mammals in the order Carnivora and subfamilies Ictonychinae and Mustelinae. Polecats do not form a single taxonomic rank (i.e., clade); the name is applied to several species with broad similarities (including having a dark mask-like marking across the face) to European polecats, the only polecat species native to the British Isles.
In the United States, the term "polecat" is sometimes applied to the black-footed ferret, a native member of the Mustelinae. In Southern United States dialect, the term "polecat" is sometimes used as a colloquial nickname for the skunk, which are only distantly related.
Despite the name, polecats, being various caniform mustelids, are more closely related to dogs than cats, which is why they belong to the suborder Caniformia.
Taxonomy.
According to the most recent taxonomic scheme proposing eight subfamilies within Mustelidae, the polecats are classified as:
Subfamily Ictonychinae
Subfamily Mustelinae