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Anonymous
Hullo /an/, I has a few questions that much google and forum searching could not really answer.

I just moved into a small studio apartment in Philadelphia. I currently own two guinea pigs, both about 6 months old at most (Pic related, taken when I first got them). I'm a student and plan on getting a part-time job, but aside from that I'm going to have a lot of time to myself. (Not that I'm unsocial, just that I'm a female living alone so I don't feel safe going out by myself until I've met more people). I've been thinking about getting a more active, attention-loving pet to keep me company, and I've really been wanting a ferret. So, my questions are these:

-I only want one ferret. I know they do best with a friend, but I don't think I'll have the money, time or will to properly care for and give attention to two along with my pigs. I plan on spending a lot of time with it, and I'll be out of the apt. for less than 8 hours every day, usually during mid-day when I've read they tend to be less active/sleeping. Will it be ok with only that, or would I be a horrible pet owner if I only got one?

-Are they OK to take on walks like dogs with a proper leash? I've seen it in movies/shows, but obviously I wouldn't expect it to be ok just from that.
>> Anonymous
>>278783
:/ I was afraid of that. Would building a cage for them with smaller spaces be any better, or is the ferret likely to try and topple to cage to get to them? I know they're extremely curious, so hoping it would lose interest is futile. I suppose getting a young ferret and introducing it to them under VERY close supervision (like, the ferret is on a leash or something so it can't go wild) wouldn't work at all either? At the size they are now, they seem to be about as big as a young ferret. Even though ferrets are domesticated, do they still have the instinct to attack them even if raised with them?
>> KZN
     File :-(, x)
>>278783
Actually, they can learn to get along. I had two ferrets and two guinea pigs and they were able to coexist pretty well. I let them out of the cages at the same time and allowed them to play together (granted under supervision.)

OP, I suggest you create/buy a more secure cage for the pigs if you're worried. That will probably be a good idea. Also, if you want the ferrets and guinea pigs to get along, I suggest you get a young or baby ferret instead of an adult. This will not only decrease the size difference, but it will allow the pigs and ferret to be "raised" together, thus becoming more tolerant. It is still not a good idea to leave them together unattended for very long, though.

Also, things like mice, hamsters, and gerbils? Won't be able to coexist with ferrets; the ferrets' hunting instinct is too strong there. They won't be able to see something that small moving around and think "friend." With something as small as a mouse, the only thing they'll be thinking is "prey."
>> Anonymous
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i would not let ur ferret have free run of your house if you were not there to watch him/her VERY intently! they are very clever and figure out ow to get into a lot. and its just dangerous! for there safety and ur pigs! although they can learn to get along very well, ferrets play hard, and if ur pigs arnt used to that it could literally scare them to death! ... go to this website, www.maferrets.org, join the forum, and ask A LOT of questions befor you make up your mind! please!
>> Anonymous
>>278797
Thank you very much for the link!

Well, I would never let them play together, just because of my own worry/paranoia, only POSSIBLY putting them together (if I got a young ferret) under very close supervision just so they could see each other and not think 'food'. The pigs would be on a cage up higher where, ideally, the ferret couldn't get to and only be taken out when the ferret wasn't in the room or in it's cage.
>> Anonymous
>>278802
maff will help you with ALL your questions! they help me w/ a lot of mine since ive only had ferrets a year and a half and now one of mine is sick. they are AWESOME!

but i would let them get to know each other as well as you xcan so that its just another thing in your ferrets life, so its not stressed wanting to get at them all the time... but really ask all the questions u want! im on there everyday now! my signin name is PaigeMarie. ull see me there ALL the time w/ the dumbest questions EVER! GOOD LUCK!