If anyone has any experience with this, I'd really appericate any input. The cat has claws and is outdoors sometimes. She's very well behaved indoors though. I'm not sure how she'll do with a ferret in the house. Is a ferret "prey" in a cat's eyes?
2006-12-16 15:13:39 · 14 answers · asked by kls85 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
I have six cats and five ferrets. The ferrets have free run of the house as long as I am home and awake, which means that they all run the house together. The cats might not like the ferrets at time, so giving them a place to get out of the ferrets reach is a good idea. I keep the top of my entertainment stand clear so the cats can get up there if the ferrets are bothering them. In general cats and ferrets get along well. My 24lb cat plays very nicely with my 4 month old ferret.
Now what the other post said about the ferret killing the cat, that can be true. My oldest ferret took on a very large dog and would have killed him if they were not seperated. Ferrets can be very mean if they feel threatened. I would suggest that you supervise the cat and the ferrets interactions till you know that they are both comfortable with each other.
2006-12-18 18:43:17 · answer #1 · answered by idgerow 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Basically, it will depend on the temperment of the cats and ferret. A young ferret is like a little kitten who will never grow up. Have your cats been around kittens lately, or are they older? Some older cats don't want anything to bother their routine. Other cats will tolerate an intruder, and then again other cats will accept a new "roomie". Then think of the ferret - a new animal in the house, has to check out all the scents, corners, hiding spots, and then see what type of ferrets the cats are. However, as some poster have stated, their cats have gotten along with ferrets. As with introducing any separate animal species to each other, take it slowly. The cat will think the whole house is his, and then this little interloper of a ferret comes in and takes up space! Normally, it takes about a week for a ferret to become acclimated to a house, so it would be best during that time to keep them separated. Let them smell each other through a cage door. Introduce slowly. Maybe think of an older ferret who is a little more calm than a young kit. Good luck! Dooks!
2016-03-28 21:46:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will be fine. A ferret is too big for a cat to generally bother with. I had pet rats (3) who used to have free run of the house when I was home and my 3 cats never ate them. Actually the cats and the rats would compete for who would sit on my lap while I was watching t.v. If the rat had the "spot" one of my cats would come up and bat the rat (not hard) on the head to get it to move. Then the rat would nip the cat in it's tail. They all got along very well.
Also, my friend had a ferret and 2 cats and the cats never bothered the ferret. Actually it was the other way around. The ferret would torment the cats wanting to play. The cats had to jump up somewhere high to get away from the pesky ferret.
2006-12-16 15:46:12 · answer #3 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You've got to be real carefull. With a cat that still has it's claws, it can poke a ferrets eye out in an instant swipe. I wouldn't recommend the two together. I had an inside cat that was declawed so I never had to really worry about what she might do to the ferret. In fact, the ferret terrorized HER more than she did it. She always ran from it. Just supervise a whole bunch if you do this.
2006-12-17 07:22:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ferrets and cats can live together but I would recommend ONLY with supervision. Ferrets have very sharp teeth and tougher skin than other animals so they will playfully bite harder than cats or other animal will at play and the cat may get enough of it and you never know what may happen. Ferrets are also extremely hyper and will have more energy than cats will. The rule of thumb is to NEVER leave different animals alone without supervision no matter how well they get along because something can always happen.
2006-12-16 15:19:59 · answer #5 · answered by LYNN W 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have had a ferret and an adult cat with success. I brought the ferret into a home after I had the cat and I was worried about the cat being territorial that it would harm the ferret. They however became wonderful friends and played together often. Good uck!
2006-12-16 16:02:21 · answer #6 · answered by Maybe I am a smartass..so what 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i had 2 cats and 2 ferrets. the cats would wine at the ferrets door until i let them go in and play with them. if you are going to put them together watch and see how they interact. i am sure it depends on the cat and the ferret. they weren't to sure of each other at first but in a couple days couldn't keep them apart. i think it helps that my cats were kittens when introduced to the ferrets. if they do get along it is quite the sight watching them play. my cats even jumped around like a ferret. pretty funny
2006-12-16 17:21:01 · answer #7 · answered by jennifer s 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had 6 cats at the time that I had my ferret. They got along great. One of the cats even played with the ferret, chasing it around and then letting the ferret chase it. I think that your ferret and cat will get along great. Just introduce them slowly and get the cat used to the idea of the ferret.
2006-12-16 15:53:21 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's more likely the ferret will go after you cat and possibly kill it. Your cat probably will consider the ferret as a new play toy, but your ferret will view the cat as attacking it and will go into a defense mode. If that happens, your cat won't be able to get away from the ferret ... kitty's going to go bye-bye!
2006-12-16 15:23:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would be more worried about the ferret eating the cat. Seriously, I have had both.
http://www.handlethetruth.net
2006-12-16 15:17:55 · answer #10 · answered by truth_handl3r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋