Thinking about getting a pet Ferret or Rat.

[craftomega]

I have always owned cats, and have never really liked dogs; but in truth im kind of sick of cats. Many are very selfish and become moody in later life. So I am looking at getting a pet Ferret or Rat.

Rats are very smart and tend to act like dogs but are far easier to train. Iv delt with them in labs before and they can be very loyal and fun to play with and teach.

Ferrets are like cat-squirrel-dogs, they are very unusual and unique personalities, but you almost always have to buy them in pairs so they aren?t lonely (I would desent them of course). Not that having two or more pets is a bad thing.


The problem is that I only want to get one or the other, and I cant quite decide. Opinions?

 

[smearyllama]

I think a rat is a better choice, unless you're getting a family pet.
Ferrets require a lot more attention and training, I hear, and can be hard to keep track of.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

I'd go for a rat, they're intelligent, surprisingly clean, and quite cute... if your'e into that sort of thing, that is...

 

[craftomega]

I'd go for a rat, they're intelligent, surprisingly clean, and quite cute... if your'e into that sort of thing, that is...

Most people arnt to be honest; I was exspecting to be massivly trolled for even seggesting it.

 

[CulixCupric]

Go with the rats.

I have had tons of pet rats, they're awesome, but usually die of cancer. i've had one's that lived 4 years, but that's pretty long.

Ferrets are much worse, as they've been known to chew off fingers and toes of sleeping people, and they're destructive.

 

[Adellebella]

I've had rats, myself. One of my most beloved pets was a hairless rat, named DaVinci.

He lived to be an old, old rat of about 7 years old...

*sniffles* OT: Get a rat. I love ferrets, but a rat seems to fit what you're looking for.

 

[RachaelIsaacHill]

Personally, I would go with a rat. I've had about 6 of them over the past few years, loved every single one. They're smart, clean, and just pretty awesome. You'll probably want to get two if you do though, they're pack animals and really need to have a buddy. Get them young as well, find a local breeder if you can.

Ferrets are pretty great too. They've got all the same basic awesome qualities of rats, though they need more room. However they are pretty good on their own. Personal preferences aside, the main reason I would go with rats over a ferret is because ferrets are very smelly, and it's pretty hard to keep the room they stay in smelling nice.

 

[Dags90]

I think a rat is a better choice, unless you're getting a family pet.
Ferrets require a lot more attention and training, I hear, and can be hard to keep track of.

Ferrets also smell bad...someone has to say it.

Unless you want a pet that smells like musk and/or pee. Then by all means, get a ferret.

 

[lRookiel]

OT: stay with cats, especially of the cheshire variety :3

Wait you want a serious answer? FINE THEN! RAT!

since they are kinda cute :3

 

[-Dragmire-]

I hear female ferrets a very territorial and dislike anything and anyone that takes your attention away from her. Two male ferrets are the way to go, they're playful and with two they won't be lonely.

*EDIT*

They'll raid your sock drawer though... no matter how out of reach you think it is.

 

[craftomega]

Personally, I would go with a rat. I've had about 6 of them over the past few years, loved every single one. They're smart, clean, and just pretty awesome. You'll probably want to get two if you do though, they're pack animals and really need to have a buddy. Get them young as well, find a local breeder if you can.

Ferrets are pretty great too. They've got all the same basic awesome qualities of rats, though they need more room. However they are pretty good on their own. Personal preferences aside, the main reason I would go with rats over a ferret is because ferrets are very smelly, and it's pretty hard to keep the room they stay in smelling nice.

I think a rat is a better choice, unless you're getting a family pet.
Ferrets require a lot more attention and training, I hear, and can be hard to keep track of.

Ferrets also smell bad...someone has to say it.

Unless you want a pet that smells like musk and/or pee. Then by all means, get a ferret.

You can get ferrets desented..... Its not that exspensive.

OT: stay with cats, especially of the cheshire variety :3

Wait you want a serious answer? FINE THEN! RAT!

since they are kinda cute :3

FUCKING AWSOME PICK!!!

That so happened to me! When i was in Orando, there is the Big Cat Reserve, and a 600 pount tiger was putting his claw through the fence and giving a look that said "Come closer".

 

[RoyalSorceress]

If you choose ferrets be warned, they're kleptomaniacs. They will steal anything not nailed down and then some.

I'd go with rats, they can be very sweet.

 

[craftomega]

EVERY ONE who suggests rat is pants on head retarded. Let me explain rats cant be potty trained and lack control of there bowels the just shit whenever, while ferrets can be trained and if not the only shit in corners. Now how fun is a pet that does nothing vs one that war dances, look it up its hilarious. Also ferrets give them self to you, while you have to constrain a rat a ferret will sleep on your lap. Most of my time video gaming is with a ferret sleeping on my chest. CulixCupric is a lying whore thieve never been known to do any of that stuff, the worst thing one of mine does is steal sponges. Yes you should buy two there a barrel of fun that way and way better then a filthy rat.

Im taking all information with a grain of salt. I'm not going into this blind, Im just hoping someone will post some nugget that will tip the scales. CulixCupric may not lieing, ferrets may do that, just as dogs may do that or cats... although i doubt the eating fingers and toes thing....

Also, rats can be potty trained, as I said in my first post, iv worked with them befor. All you do is feed them then wait for them to poop, and when they poop in the right spot you give them a treat. They will figure it out pretty fast.

 

[Terminal Blue]

Having kept ferrets for the last few years, I'd say they're adorable and very human-centric, but also considerably more demanding and a much bigger responsibility.

They need a lot of socializing and training, they can be completely hyperactive and will try to explore/destroy everything they can get their claws on. You also need to be very careful to proof your living space, because ferrets can and will squeeze through just about anything. Their own curiosity can also get them in trouble, so watch out with anything that might be dangerous for them. They also have very strong personalities, a problem ferret is a problem which can take a lot of work to fix. Obviously, making sure you get a healthy and well treated ferret from a good source can help, but you need to be willing to put a lot of time in to earn the trust of a nervous or skittish ferret.

A neutered ferret doesn't really smell that much more than most pets. Breeding ferrets do get a bit musky, but generally speaking only breeders should keep unneutered ferrets as they tend to have extra health problems. I think I have one ferret whose scent glands weren't removed when she was neutered, but even she doesn't stink the place out unless she's really nervous.

I haven't kept rats, I always wanted to but my mum is scared of them, but from what I've observed with friends rats the difference is a little like that between cats and dogs. Rats are far more independent, they can amuse themselves much more easily and they won't demand nearly as much from you. Ferrets build much more of a relationship with their owners, but they need a lot of constant investment in that relationship in order to be happy.

I also don't think they're terribly happy being left in cages unless the cages are absolutely enormous, though I've heard other owners do keep them in cages without serious problems.

Biting.. yeah, they're not going to take your fingers off, but they have sharp little fangs. Fortunately, not all ferrets bite, and those who do can be trained not to if you're patient and don't over-react.

All in all, I think I'd get a rat.. it wasn't my choice to get ferrets, and while I love them I don't think I'd want to keep them for myself if I wasn't living with my family right now. It's a lot of work, work with a huge reward, but work nonetheless.