ive seen some ferrets in the pet shop,i am a big animal lover,have a kitten does anyone know if ferrets are good pets and would they be friendly with a kitten...
2006-06-07 23:04:37 · 14 answers · asked by lostinthought 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I have 3 adult ferrets which I rescued and 2 days ago the 2 girls gave birth to about 10 babies each!
They are brilliant pets but you need to do some research before you take them on. They are social animals and need a lot of time or else they will become miserable and often very nippy.... and ferret bites really hurt!
Mine have been introduced to my dogs and cats... the German Shepherd is frightened of them and runs away! the cats play chase games with them and they also chase the cats but do NOT mix them with kittens as ferrets will view them as breakfast.
Ferrets are great to own, very entertaining. We take ours out on leads and make friends with the whole village.
You should be aware that they need neutering . The males smell terribly if they aren't "done" and can fight with other males in the breeding season and worse still female ferrets who are not speyed will usually die if not mated. They are not perfect mothers and ferrets are notorious for going through a lot of difficulties and heartache in kit-rearing so neutering is very important. (Mine had their babies as we had no idea that they were pregnant when we took them on). Our babies are only a couple of days old... one has only 3 legs so I think we are going to lose him I'm afraid, though I will do my best to keep him alive.
If you are in the UK then please let me know and I will be able to recommend some sources of advice. If not then please check out the local advice centres for your area... I believe keeping ferrets is illegal in some US states.
Either way they are wonderful, funny, sweet pets, but you must be fully aware of what a big commmitment they are and be willing to take that on. I made my daughter research the whole thing before she was allowed to have our 3. That way I reckoned that if she didn't get bored with the reading up on them she would be more likely to take owning ferrets seriously.
Finally, if you do decide to have a ferret, beware of "ferret maths".... first you get one and then you decide he needs a friend so you get another.... then you think they are so much fun that you get another... then you decide that threes an odd number so you get another... them you think that as you have four another won't make any difference cos they are so cute......!!!!
2006-06-08 13:51:25 · answer #1 · answered by MIRANDA C 2 · 7⤊ 2⤋
The ferret and the kitten will get along just fine if they are introduced at a young age especially. However, do not leave them alone in a room in the introductory phase. Either one of the two could end up hurting the other, but once they are properly introduced and socialized they might even snuggle up together.
Do me one big favor however: before you get that ferret, please educate yourself. There's a lot more to a ferret than you think. It takes time and money to properly care for a ferret. They need at least 2-4 hours of playtime out of the cage and they want to play with their favorite toy: YOU. Ferrets are prone to several diseases as they get older(adrenal disease, lymphoma, insulinoma etc.), most of which are somewhat treatable, but at a price. Either create an emergency fund that you feed into monthly or get pet insurance. It's not easy finding a vet that is an expert in ferrets either. I would suggest adopting a ferret since there are so many sitting in shelters waiting for forever homes, I found two of mine through petfinder.com, but I can't guarantee that you will find a really young one there. Try it though.
Inform yourself on the net through some of the wonderful ferret groups online and by reading. I recommend "Ferrets for Dummies". It's a good book, full of information and not just for dummies anymore. So, think about it long and hard, because no pet should ever be purchased on an impulse. They all deserve the best care possible. Good luck.
2006-06-08 01:12:24 · answer #2 · answered by Huh? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have three ferrets, a dog, and a cat. Ferrets, first off, are not aggressive animals by any means. They are in fact very social, and need constant attention and companionship. My ferrets and my other animals are the best of friends. They don't stink as most people say-- they are naturally musky-smelling, but so are humans if we don't bathe once in a while. Give them an occasional bath, problem solved. Ferrets also do not bite normally, 99% ferrets that bite are mistreated or abused. They are also very friendly with children, or anyone that wants to play. They have the toughest skin of any mammal, so they may play rough & nip when they're young, but so do most young animals. Give them a minimum of care and you'll be fine.
2006-06-07 23:30:45 · answer #3 · answered by Patrick G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the individual animals, are the ferrets young? If you purchase and adult ferret and stick it in with a kitten, the kitten may not fair too well. You need to make sure they are both young and introduce them early and repremand bad behaviour.
Ensure both animals have a safe area away from the other.
I have had it both ways, one ferret loved the cat, dog, guinea pig etc, the other hated them.
Good luck
2006-06-08 03:15:42 · answer #4 · answered by doolittle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister runs a ferret rescue and the ferrets make great pets. They get on great with her cats, if i were you i would try and find out a bit more about ferrets before commiting myself to one though.
2006-06-07 23:09:58 · answer #5 · answered by karen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brother in law has 3.
All i can say is - they STINK
- they BITE
- they will not take kindly to a kitten
- they are not child friendly
- they need cleaning out at least once a day
- did I mention they stink, cos they really stink
I would get another kitten if I was you.
2006-06-07 23:09:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My Daughter has 2 and I would not trust it with my boxer never mind kitten, they go for anything that moves! They are great pets for her she takes them on little leashes for walks,but you have to handle them from young and often,a good way for them to take to you and this sounds s*it , but is to spit in the palm of your hand they lick it off its like a bonding thing!
2006-06-08 09:45:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will eat the kitten first chance it gets.
2006-06-07 23:08:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are great pets, but keep outside- they smell :( more loyal than cats and easier to keep than dogs. don't think they get on with cats though..
2006-06-07 23:13:09 · answer #9 · answered by Viking 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2006-06-08 00:58:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋