File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
hay /an/ im thinking of getting either a rat or a ferret
what are the pros and cons of each , do ferrets really stink? i have plenty of free time to tend to eithers needs
>> Judas, The Iscariot Sniper !1EVr3uyPJI
Pretty sure only male ferrets stink.

I have a rat, and he loves me. every time I walk by his cage he clings to the bars like he wants me to pick him up, and half the time I do.

A few times I actually forgot I let him out and he ran around my living room while I cleaned my guns, read the newspaper, etc.
>> Anonymous
do rats get into everything? as ferrets supposedly do got a nasty vent in my lounge floor id have to sort
>> Judas, The Iscariot Sniper !1EVr3uyPJI
>>288266
No, mostly he just runs around by the walls and gets behind shit. he comes when I call him though, I could probably keep him around like a dog, if I wasn't so afraid of stepping on him.

Same with ferrets I've been told, except stepping on them won't turn them into a red paste.
>> Anonymous
hmm thanks judas
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
get a pair of Degus instead FTW

they're awesome little pets
>> Anonymous
Go for the ferret, if you like people.

Go for the rat if you're the kind of guy who refers to yourself as "unconventional"
>> Anonymous
they look expensive reason im after a rat or a feret there £10 in the paper for baby rats ,and i could probably get a ferret for £1-£5 off a pikey
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>288291
Whatabout dags d'ya like dags?
>> Anonymous
I had a female descented ferret and she STUNK so bad. Even if you keep their cage clean they still stink. The smell comes from their fur. They get into everything. They will fit into any hole the size of an egg or larger. I had to get rid of mine because she was way too much for me to handle. I would recommend a rabbit. They smell a LOT less, like to cuddle more, and easier to take care of. I don't know much about rats.
>> Anonymous
>>288303
aye dags are ok :3
>> Anonymous
i have a female ferret and she does kind of stink. its not really that noticeable, just a musky odor. plus you have to change the litter almost every day seeing as they poop a lot, if you don't want the cage to smell.
other than that, ferrets are like having a kitten, they are super energetic and get into everything. they are really entertaining, and smart. but don't forget that you will have this pet for 5-8 years so make the decision wisely, as i've seen a lot of people get tired of them and just put them in a shelter.
>> Anonymous
>>288328
what kind of cage do they need or do they even require one?
>> Anonymous
>>288342
That's a very basic question you have answered if you just google "ferret care guide"
>> Anonymous
I have a mouse, and my friends has two ferrets. The ferrets are ADORABLE. Her's don't smell at all because she washes them and cleans their cage out constantly. They love to cuddle, especially when they wake up. She lets them run around the house and they love it. If you're just going to get an animal that you want to mostly keep in a cage, go for the rat. You can keep ferrets caged all the time, but they're very active and I wouldn't recommend it. My mouse is perfectly fine in his cage all day, but I got him when he was really young and socialized him so anytime I want to play with him he's very social. Plus they're a lot less work and money than a ferret.
>> Anonymous
bi-oder for ferrets helps allot with they're smell.
>> Anonymous
>>288591
bio-oder causes bacterial infections... i learned that the hard way:( i have 3 ferrets and they require A LOT! i love them, but i suggest getting mail rat, they are less work and just as friendly and personable
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>288608
hahahaha i meant male*** lol get a male rat


*ferret in pic is my female Brewster... and she dose smell... just as bad as my 2 boys....
>> Anonymous
I wanted a ferret as well, OP, but /an/ talked me into getting rats instead. I'm adopting two boys later this month. :3
>> Anonymous
Ferrets are worthless
>> Anonymous
>>288746
5/10
>> Anonymous
I have lived with ferrets my whole life and I'm now 22. We always had more then one and the most 6 at one time. Yes they are kinda smelly, if you change there cage then it's not that bad. Same as a cat liter or even a bunny.

If you buy them straight from a breeder and they have their glands they will smell a lot more. But ones you buy from a pet store are already de-gland. Also if you are buying from a pet store make sure they don't have an open cage where any one can pet them. I got a few from a per store like that and they are viscous.

And as for the cage we always got the ones with shelves in it. For like 2 of them I got the three shelved one. And for the 6 of them we upgraded to a 6 shelve one. And you can buy extra tubes shelves to make it how ever you want.

For running around, we ferret proofed a room, and watch them. They do like to get into stuff. But normally wont hurt anything. My friend had two that just roamed there house all the time.

So my vote is for a ferret. They wont pee on you while you hold them. XD
>> Anonymous
>>288757

Are rats supposed to pee on you when you hold them?
>> Anonymous
ive read that female ferrets stay in heat till they get some cawk and if they dont they get Aplastic Anaemia and can die . is it wise to have a male and a female together or will they be constantly poping out babies?
>> Anonymous
neuter that fucker
>> Anonymous
ah forgot you could do that
>> Anonymous
>>288774
99.9 percent of ferrets you encounter in pets stores are fixed already, so it isn't usually a problem. Yes, unspayed females either have to have sex or they will die when they're in heat.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
after owning both.

i feel that the ferret is the slightly better choice.
stick with a female, there musk isn't quiet as strong, and usually better tempers on them.

bathe weekly and you won't deal with much smell. ferrets can be litter trained.


rats in all honesty...are more of a food for reptiles then a pet. i know i know fancy rats right. but even they have nasty habits that you can't get rid of.
>> Anonymous
Ahahahahahaha.... no.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>288834
hmm.... don't EVER bath your ferret WEEKLY!!! it makes them smell WORSE for one thing, and its bad for there skin! my three ferrets get bathed no more then every three months, and there smell isnt bad at all. the key is to keep there bedding cleaned, throw it in the laundry weekly. read up on ferrets, they are amazing pets f you know what your getting into. but they are a lot of work


www.maferrets.org check out there forum, they know a lot and they help a lot of people w/ a lot of ferrety questions

Pic is my two boys:)<3
>> Anonymous
>>288859
thanks
>> Anonymous
I have a pair of male rats, and they are awesome.

They don't smell. They have a scent if you hold them up to your face, but it's not unpleasant.

They are very friendly and cuddly.

They don't cost much to feed.

They are prone to upper respiratory infections, but are generally healthier than ferrets and far cheaper to treat. Almost everyone I've known with ferrets has had to shell out a lot of money on meds. The illnesses you usually get with rats can be treated with a $10 antibiotic prescription.

Their pee-marking is very minor and you don't really notice it. Think a tiny drop every once in a while, while exploring, and even the pee doesn't have much smell. Mine don't pee on skin, either.

They are very affectionate, and will lick my hands relentlessly given the slightest opportunity. They perk up and greet me when I come home, they adjust their schedule to be awake when I want to play with them, and they have never done anything close to aggressive toward me - they're even especially careful to avoid nipping me when I hand-feed them.

About 90% of their poop goes in the litterbox, and I didn't even have to train them. What doesn't go in the litterbox dries out very quickly anyway and doesn't stain and is easily picked up.

Almost anything that's OK for people to eat is OK for rats to eat, so you can usually give in to their begging for your food. My boys' favorite thing ever seems to be bacon (very small bits and not often, don't want them getting fat).

I'd recommend pet rats to anybody who will take good care of them.
>> Anonymous
>>288895

Pretty much nails it. Rats and ferrets can't really compare - they're great pets for different people.

Rats are better pets if you live with other people. Unless those people want to help you take care of a ferret (keep doors closed, watch their step, put their valuable stuff out of reach, etc), then you should get a caged pet instead.

I have a disgusting blob of a Zucker rat, he's one of the most charming pets I've ever had. Definitely like a dog with hands, and more intelligent in a problem-solving way.

Ferrets, on the other hand, are their own animal. Extremely independent. A lot of ferrets won't ever snuggle or sit in your lap. But they play like nothing else on this planet and can be a lot of fun.
>> Anonymous
>>288859
>bad for THERE skin!
>THERE smell isnt bad at all
>keep THERE bedding cleaned
>know what YOUR getting into
>check out THERE forum
>> Anonymous
If you want to get a ferret, pick up a copy of Ferrets For Dummies. It gives you everything you need to know about ferrets. There are a few things it doesn't cover.. like if you rub baby oil into your ferret's fur when you're brushing them out, it tricks their fur into not producing as much oil, and it's the oils that stink. Also get two, never one. If you can't pay constant attention to it (6+ hours a day) then the best thing to do is have a second ferret in a very large cage with it, to help aleivate the social needs. We have two ferrets and they're healthy and happy little critters.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>> Anonymous
>>288895

Male rats tend to smell like tortilla chips up close. Not an unpleasant smell, like you said.
>> Anonymous
Always go for jumbo fancy rats, not albinos. Fancy rats are cute and inquisitive. Albinos are bred as snake food and have a disposition suitable as such.

I used to let my rat squeaky out in my room and hide bits of toilet paper for him to find so he could bring it back to his cage and make a nest. I used to just kick out my cats and let him roam all day after school until got tired and went back to his cage or nest in my hair as I played sega.
>> Anonymous
Rats are more for people that want a cuddley companion, ferrets are more for playing and being silly with.

Ferrets aren't very affectionate but they have TONS of energy, and they have no attention span. All they do is play. I've had 3 in the past and only one of them liked to be held. Also they do have a smell, although it's not that bad. It's musky. And they love to shit in corners. You can kind of get them to use a litter box, but they will still shit in every corner they can get to.

Rats are really smart, clean, have no odor at all if you keep the cage clean. The males are very affectionate and lazy, and will just hang out with you and chill. They can eat all kinds of food. You can litter train them if you work at it, but they'll still pee wherever they want. They learn their names easily and will come when you call them. The only downside at all is that they only live about 3 years and it's fucking SAD when they die (usually of cancer or respiratory problems).
>> Anonymous
>>288834
What?

1. The more you bathe a ferret, the worse the smell is going to get, because they will overproduce the oil.

2. Nasty habits? What would those be?
>> Anonymous
Why do humans have this urge to play prison warden with smaller creatures?
>> Anonymous
>>288996
Well I play "warden" with my rats so they don't get lost and starve or killed by a cat. Domestic animals don't have sufficient survival instincts to thrive outside of human care.

If you meant to imply that they're necessarily unhappy living in a cage, I beg to differ, but it depends on the owner. I keep my two rats in a two story cage that's proportionally about the size of a 600 sq. foot house to me, and even with all that space they spend most of their time snuggled up in a little modified shoebox I have set in there (the cage is also filled with toys and they get regular playtime outside the cage). Animals wander around because they're hungry and constantly searching for new sources of food, not because they love hiking.
>> ferret power! A. Nonny Mouse
You have to make sure ferrets are legal where u live. They are illegal in some parts of the US because they can attack babies if they comfuse there mating call w/ the kid's cries.
>> Anonymous
>>289026
op here im english so ferrets are legal people use them for huntin rabbits not far form me
>> Anonymous
>>289021

My two rats love their cage, they see it as their home and safe zone. I use a Ferret Nation 142 four-level cage, which is huge and way more than they really need. I let them out to play which they enjoy but they always seem happier when they're in their safe home cage. When I'm in the room I leave it open with a ramp out, and they rarely leave.

But then, male rats are lazy fat fucks, kind of like a more socially-acceptable and adorable 4chan user. If I had females I'm sure they'd be far more interested in running around outside the cage.
>> Anonymous
if you dont spay your female ferret and she goes into heat and doesnt breed she will die.

ferrets stink if you dont wash them.