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Anonymous
FERRETS /an/

I want one.

I've been reading up about the basics, they need yearly shots, a roomy cage, plently of play time, etc. Aside from the textbook stuff, what should I know about them? Do they really make good pets? I've got a guinea pig already, but it's boring. How can I keep the ferret from eating the pig? If I only let it out of the cage while I'm around, it should be fine, right? I'm sure I'd notice it trying to get into the cage let alone getting up to where the cage is in the first place.

tl;dr: tell me everything about pet ferrets.
>> Anonymous
my sister has 3 - they are great - but you need them in pairs since they are social animals and they will be much happier
>> Anonymous
They're really good pets. Only thing is you need to clean the cage frequently or they'll stink like the mustelids they are. Make sure thye have a ton of room and toys because they're active critters, and can be amused by just about anything. Make sure your room or whatever is ferret-proofed because they're insanely curious and can get into your stuff.

And they're carnivores by nature, so I wouldn't suggest having the pig around them. Of course, the ferret might just want to play and might scare the crap out of the guinea pig, like my sister's pair does with my rat.

And get a pair or three, they're very social.
>> Anonymous
>>281863
From the GURPS Bunnies and Burrows Player's Gamebook:

Ferret
ST: 20-25 Move/Dodge: 918 Size: <1
DX: 11-14 PDIDR: 010 Weight: 1-4 lbs.
IQ: 9-12 Damage: 2d+l cut Habitats: F,P
HT: 10-12/16-22 Reach: C LRk CAR/mus/E

Members of the weasel family, ferrets are greatly feared by rabbits. They are longer than rabbits, but more slender with short legs - their movement reminds one of a snake. They are small enough to fit down any rabbit burrow, but are powerful killers. Ferrets are often trained by humans to flush rabbits out of a burrow - a rabbit escaping a ferret out of the burrow is often netted or shot at by a human. They have the same movement capabilities underground as weasels, and are solitary animals.
>> Anonymous
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guinea pigs are "pray" to ferrets! Although ferrets have been domesticated for thousands of years, there are certain genetic basics they inherit that can't be bred out of them. They are predators, that is their innate nature. Some ferrets have very strong predatory instincts - others little, but all have them. Introducing them at a young age to a potential prey - won't change the basic instinct in the ferret. If its strong, it will always be there, if its not that strong it may not be an issue - until something triggers it, like a guinea pig scampering across a floor. its just not safe

i have 3 ferrets, and before bringing them into the house i had a rabbit, and even at 7 weeks old, the stress levels were ridiculous! they wanted to eat her and it was scary! i ended up finding a realy good home for my rabbit (for more then one reason) but its not worth risking there safty!
>> Anonymous
I hear they are notorious thieves and will steal just about anything that catches their eye.
>> Anonymous
>>281879
Ferret comes from Latin and means little thief. Coincidence?
>> Anonymous
>>281874
Well, if the pig's in a cage the ferret can't easily get to, I don't see what the big problem is? I'm in my room a lot, so I'd be able to keep an eye on it when I let it out and when I'm not around it'll be in it's cage and therefore can't bother the pig either. My pig's been around cats before and they didn't seem to phaze it even when the cats would stick paws in the cage. It still ran around and ate/drank fine. It's not like I'd let the play together or anything.
>> Anonymous
Apparently you haven't been reading enough books, since they should be kept in pairs as 281865 said.
>> Anonymous
You need at least 2 for them to keep each other company.

Ferrets like to play rough, about the only thing safe to play with a ferret is another ferret.

I had one for a while, and it was a viscous hellbeast. We got along great for a while, until the day she crawled up my pantleg, got stuck and panicked, and started biting the shit out of me (and biting even more as I tried to get her out). (Note: ferrets have fangs like a snake!) After that, our relationship soured considerably...
>> Anonymous
You really need more than one? I know people who've only had one and the little buggers seemed just fine.
>> Anonymous
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Look at all the kittens!
>> Anonymous
>>281895
my rabbit was in a cage, and the ferrets stress levels were out of whack. i dont suggest it, but....
>> Anonymous
>>281912
Ah, so it's the ferrets that stress. Because I honestly think my pig is too stupid to notice a predator is after it. Nothing seems to bother it.
>> Anonymous
>>281919
yeah, the ferts are SO intense when they have there minds set on something! they would circle the hutch wagging there tails my female would "dook" (the noise they make). just overall unhappy. ok its kind of like having a snake and then getting a pet mouse or rat. even though they cant see them, they can smell and sense they are there. quality of life gose down becouse there little minds are always racing and its just not healthy. i dont want to put u down on wanting a fert, but it may not be the best time, for the ferts well being and your little pig
>> Anonymous
>>281929
Nah, I appreciate you explaining it. Most people I've asked were all 'OMG NO ferrets eat pigs' but wouldn't say why it was a problem even if they were kept seperate.

Can /an/ think of any decent apartment animals? Don't get me wrong, I like my pig, but I'd really like something more...interactive. A pet that actually likes to play with me and would be happy to see me. A ferret seemed great since it's caged yet can still be taken for walks and stuff, but I'd feel bad if I'd only stress it out and I don't have the heart to give away my pig. It's not it's fault that it's boring. :/
>> Anonymous
rats are really awesome. they are very interactive and friendly and they require much less then ferrets.
>> Anonymous
>>281941
cat
>> Anonymous
>>281946
Couldn't get a cat because I'd never hear the end of it from my mom for not taking one of hers. Plus I'd feel bad confining a cat to a one-room apartment.
>> Anonymous
>>281941Can /an/ think of any decent apartment animals? Don't get me wrong, I like my pig, but I'd really like something more...interactive. A pet that actually likes to play with me and would be happy to see me. A ferret seemed great since it's caged yet can still be taken for walks and stuff, but I'd feel bad if I'd only stress it out and I don't have the heart to give away my pig. It's not it's fault that it's boring. :/

You OBVIOUSLY haven't socialized your pig right at all. Guinea pigs can be highly intelligent, loving, and wonderful pets if given proper socialization and training when young.

I've had 5 guinea pigs and they've all been incredible pets.
>> Anonymous
>>281971
Well, I can't really change the past. It's not that she's fearful or anything, she doesn't mind me holding her and she squeaks and runs around her cage and seems happy enough. But I can't take her out for walks or play little games with her. If I roll a ball at her, she doesn't chase it, she gets scared and scampers off. I'm pretty sure no matter how well you socialize a guinea pig, it's not gonna play fetch. They're just not that kind of animal.
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
I love my guineapig! They're both so awesome and they squeak all the time and play obstacle course. I do agree that they won't play fetch or anything- they are usually being hunted for food- but i have 2 piggies, i can sit around and watch them play all day! They also like to nibble at my fingers and lick.
>> Anonymous
They fucking smell. So, so, so bad. Don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise... they're crazed ferret owners who have grown complacent with the smell as a means for survival.
>> Anonymous
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>>281994
your a fucking dick and your wrong! yes, they have a smell, but no they dont stink unless you dont take care of them, and then yes, just like any other living thing, they stink. dont be so fucking ignorant... ass hole
>> Anonymous
>>281993
Yeah, that's the thing. She's adorable and I do like her. There's nothing wrong with the pig, the issue is with me. She's just really not what I need in a pet right now. I want a pet that will be more of a companion and keep me company, 'cuz living alone is turning out to be quite a drag.
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>282057

That makes sense, I see where you're coming from. Have you thought abotu a Chinchilla? Or at the least, get another piggy so your current piggy has a friend. My two are bonded so well they hate being seperated. It's so cute!
>> Anonymous
>>282058
I'm a little turned off the idea of getting another 'prey' animal since they tend to be so skittish. :/

Another pig might be nice for her, but then I'll just have two cute little furries things to watch run around. Which I wouldn't particularly be against, but it wouldn't really solve my problem.
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>282064

well, fforgive me if i misread, because i do often- btu i was under the impression you were looking to get more of a companion pet to spend more time with- which would give your piggy (whats her name? mine 2 are pumpkin & belle) more time alone. She should have a friend too. :)
>> Anonymous
>>282065
Her name is Ruby. :) Yeah, if I did get another animal, I probably would get a friend for her so that she wouldn't feel neglected/lonely. I just had her out petting her and now she's running laps in her cage, haha.

Can a guinea pig and a chinchilla cohabitate? I've heard chinchillas can be really particular and hard to keep.

I'd still really like a ferret more than anything, though. :/
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>282068

Im not sure- i was suggesting the Chincilla more for you, than for ruby :) My dad's girlfriend has a couple, and she was so close to them- they used to sit on her shoulder and stuff, so i wasn't sure if maybe you could look into those, too ? If you do get a ferret, though, i'd just say don't put them in the same cage- ferrets need more room to run and around and stuff
>> Anonymous
>>282078
Oh lawd, no, I'd never put them together. I just have a small apartmnt, so their cages would inevitably be fairly close to one another. I should be moving to a bigger place next year, though.

I'll look into chinchillas though. I've always thought they were terribly cute, but they seem even more spookable than cavies.
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>282084

good luck! :) post pics of whomever you end up with
>> Anonymous
ferrets, if left to roam about, will take small objects and hide them. This caching behavior is cute when it's with stuffed animals or toys, but if they do it with food, or your glasses, or one of your shoes, you will be pissed
>> Anonymous
>>281941
Get a girlfriend, seriously.
>> Anonymous
>>282145
A pet is cheaper and more loyal than a woman. It also doesn't fuck people behind your back.
>> Anonymous
Is Liska retarded or just drunk?
>> Anonymous
I have chinchillas and rats, and I'd have to say rats fit what you want better. In addition, you don't need as large a cage for two rats as you do for two chinchillas - 2'x3'x2' with two levels would be plenty for two rats, and 2 chinchillas (or even just one) you'd want 3x2x4' high or more. Rats are domesticated, easy to socialize and very forgiving when you accidentally smack them, give them static shocks, etc. Doglike in many ways, including licking your hands affectionately.

Chinchillas are great fun but are not likely to sit on your shoulder for long if they have the alternative of scurrying around a room and jumping on things, eating the walls, etc. I love my chinchillas but they're the most destructive pets I've ever had. They eat the paint off the walls, have bitten through the wires on 3 sets of headphones and one USB device, they've torn up a bit of the carpet, etc. My rats gnaw but are nowhere near this destructive. If you want an idea of how chinchillas act, think of them as large fluffy ground squirrels. High-strung, playful, incredibly quick, short attention span. And poop everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE.

And don't forget the 75 degrees or cooler. No air conditioning = no chinchilla. The fine volcanic dust they bathe in gets everywhere. They're a 10-20 year commitment and still a prey animal.
>> moogle knight
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>>282165
oh man...i shouldn't have laughed as hard as i did.
>> Anonymous
>>282145

LOL Good suggestion :D
>> Anonymous
>>282145
OP here, I'm a girl and straight so that wouldn't work too well.

Anyhow, I never thought about rats. I just assumed they'd be like large pet mice, which I've had in the past. Are they very nippy?
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>282089

I just like Guinea pigs :P I also don't drink.
>> Anonymous
>>282256

Socialized rats aren't nippy at all. Mine are actually quite careful not to bite me when I give them treats. Mice and rats have completely different demeanors. Mice are pets you leave alone and watch while rats thrive on human contact.
>> Anonymous
well i had one for about a year and here's my opinion - they smell (not horribly), they'll shit and piss in any fucking corner they can find and i found that it was extremely hard to train it not to, they aren't cuddley at all unless you try to hold them when they just wake up, extremely cute and playful, mine NEVER learned his name, they steal everything they can carry - was cute watching him try to take my shoes into the cupboard - but yea, mostly if you can deal with their constant shitting not too bad >.<
>> Anonymous
My friend had... I think two... for a few years.
They made her house smell terrible.
>> Anonymous
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i have 3 ferrets and my house dose not smell bad at all. you can smell that there are ferrets, but not shit and piss.... and not only 6that my ferrets are litter box trained and dont shit on the floor often at all. maybe you people didnt take care of your ferrets and they smelled and shit all over the place.

and op. ferrets are very expensive, not just to buy but the up keep as well. they get sick often and they have many common deceases that cost a lot to cure or maintain. the three of mine get the flew yearly, witch cost a good 75-100$$ each, and my oldest has bowel issues (ibs) that he has to be on meds for and he has to have special food for. they are awesome animals but they are a lot more work and money then the books may tell you...


rats are realy kool and they require much less
>> Anonymous
Well, I just wrote a longass thing about pros and cons of each, but it didn't post to the thread and is floating out there in the internets somewhere.

So in short: Get two male rats instead. They are awesome and they will love the shit out of you. They don't bite and they are nothing like mice. They are smart and clean and affectionate.
>> Anonymous
>>282322

I second this. Male rats are extremely lovable and so kickass to play with. It's just awesome.
>> Anonymous
OP here, thank you all for the advice. I'm gonna look into more info on rats. I had no idea they could actually be fun pets. :3
>> Anonymous
>>281879
>>282139
I took in an abandoned ferret a few years ago and she stole everything she could drag. Her favorites were battery packages(or anything plastic really), remotes, and cordless phones.
>> Anonymous
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>>282297

your ferrets are hypocondriacin pussys, my ferret lives in a bucket of glass and hunts bears, actually 'hunt' implies the possibility of failure, he KILLS bears then disembowels 100 wolverines before sleeping in fire
>> Anonymous
Keeping this conversation going, I just got my first ferret a week ago. And its true they are alot of work but mine has bound to me so that when its with other people it looks to me for reassurance. I believe if you dont have the time for them then you really cant have them. And I would like to have a friend for my little one but its just not going to happen anytime soon.
>> Anonymous
>>282322
What's the difference between male and female rats? Besides the obvious sexual organ difference I mean.

Like temperament and such? I would love to have a rat or two but I'm not so sure about a rat dragging its' balls all over my arms/hands/whatever.
>> Anonymous
I hear female rats are more energetic and male rats are lazier. Like if you want a rat to just lay around with you a lot of the time, male rats are better and if you want a more active rat, females are better.

These are generalizations though and not rules of nature.
>> coolguy
>>283072
i've had both sexes and each one was just as sweet as the last :o) i think it mostly depends on the individual's temperament/personality than its sex.
>> Anonymous
OP here again, hurrrr. I think I will end up getting two male rats. Do they really learn to come when their name is called? They've got such a short lifespan, but I guess by the time it's lived it's life, I'll be in a bigger place and could get a ferret then, since I'd be able to keep the pig in a different room.
>> Anonymous
my ferret used steal everything and hide it all inside my speakers through the port tubes.cute ,but a pain in the ass when all my socks are missing
>> Anonymous
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Why not try getting a bird instead? medium sized birds such as budgies or cockatiels are usually very social animals if you hand fed them while they are young. if you have a lot patience, you can also teach them talk or do alot of different tricks, making them awesome and fun pets to keep.

they only down side is that they cant be toilet trained :P and once you teach them how to talk, its hard to make them shut up...
>> Anonymous
>>283365

Noise monster
>> Anonymous
>>283365
Nah, I had two budgies when I was younger. Fuckers were annoying as hell, woke me up at 6 am every day. I'd never get another.
>> Anonymous
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>>283169
Yeah, they will learn their names and come to you. I'm telling you, they're like tiny dogs.

>>283072
I've had rats all my life, and I would have to say that males are the way to go. Females are sweet of course, but they are too hyper, at least for me. I've had 4 females and about 12 males over the years, and males were far cuddlier and more affectionate, although I had a few males that were all over the place and only settled down when they were sleepy. Ferrets are hyper too, and if that's the kind of pet you want, then I'd say go for those or female rats.

Other than that, there's no difference between the males and females, that I know of, except maybe that females are more prone to tumors. And that males can't have orange juice and females can.

Get two babies if you can... you can litter train them easier if you start earlier and plus they are super adorable. And yes, you can litter train them to poop in a certain area, although they will pee wherever the hell they want.
>> Anonymous
>>283384
HOLY FUCK that's adorable.

You've sold me, anon. Thank you. Does anyone know of a reputable place to obtain two young male rats in the Philadelphia area?
>> Anonymous
Putting it out there, ferrets don't necessarily smell. Just like a dog you have to take care of it and give it baths.

The main reason why people thing they smell is because they see them in glass aquariums in Petsmart. Any smart ferret owner wouldn't keep them in a glass enclosure. I had my ferret for 9 years, he never smelled.

They are little thieves though, don't be stunned if you find you remote missing, or socks, even food. Just look around for their stash :P
>> Anonymous
>>281863
Oh fuck I want a crate of ferrets!
>> trollin !jIhNAR4/e.
>>283384


That shit is awesomely hardcore.
>> Anonymous
>>283518

http://rat.meetup.com/30/messages/boards/ Keep an eye out here. Most of these guys are in NY, but Philly rats pop up now and then. You could also just post and ask; someone might be willing to drive out to you.
>> Anonymous
>>282268

Yeah you'd be surprised, I had a mouse for a little bit and it was a mean little shit, my brother had a pair of rats and they were friendly little fuckers.

Rats don't live too long though.
>> Anonymous
my sister has/had 4 rats. unfortunately 2 are not around anymore,1 i saw die with my own eyes :'(. the one that i saw die was a very sweet female rat, was very adventurous and curious always and never did anything bad really. the 2 that are around today are both males and they are fairly lazy it seems. they like flopping out and just laying there (unless you bring some food then they go nuts). unfortunately, one of the rats picks on the other one sometimes whenever there is food at steak. honestly of the 4 i have seen, they all have different personalities, its cool.
>> Anonymous
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Thats pretty fuckin' metal
>> Anonymous
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>>283053
That's pretty fuckin' metal...
>> Anonymous
>>281874
LONG FERRETS ARE LONG
>> Anonymous
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>>281863

Ferrets arethe best pet you can have.. if you look after them and treat them nice...

if you dont they can turn nasty tho..

but they are soooo cuddley and loving and have the best temprement!!

alos if your not fond of the "smell" get them desexed AND de-scented...and just keep them clean...

i take mine and my bfs ferret every where from on car trips to walking his dogs (they get along pretty well) just keep them away from anything smaller... like birds n rabbits etc...

they do sleep a bit.. (about 15-18 hours a day) but once they wake up they are a ball of action.. and do require quite a bit of attention.. so if you work alot or dotn have much spare time its probably not the best idea.. unless there is a few people that can give it the attention it deserves...

also.. alot of people say they are a one person pet.. (which can be true) but if you always handle them and so does every one else around it.. they will acept more people...

mine loves just about every one..

pic related... its my ferret.. called Tama <3
>> Anonymous
Ferrets can be Taught to use the litter... most of the time, that is.
>> Anonymous
motherfucking bump