I've been thinking about getting a ferret, as the last two of my rats currently both have tumours and I'd like a slightly.....hardier/longer living pet...and so started considering a ferret, but I have a few questions and would love it if someone could answer them for me! Right....

1) Is it okay to just get 1 ferret? I've always had my ratties in groups as that's how they'd rather be, but I'd quite like a single ferret so it was very bonded to me and human friendly, although obviously not at the expense of its happiness and well-being, but do they do okay on their own?

2) Male or female? I'd quite like a male (mostly because I want to call it Gideon)

3) I'd love a baby, but I have no previous ferret training experience, and know they can be nippy when young, so would it be better to get an older (year old or so) ferret, would it still bond to me the same, or could I manage a baby one as a first ferret?

4) Are they as...destructive as rats, for example, when the rats aren't watched, they will instantly find the most expensive cable in the house, such as my only camera cable, and chew it, along with the skirting boards...curtains...etc. Will a ferret destroy my house when I let it out? As with the ratties, you just keep them near you, but i'd like the ferret to be able to roam around a bit. Can they be easily trained not to chew my possessions?

5) Can you litter train a ferret for when its out, or like rats do they just not poop when out by choice?


Thats about all I can think of at the mo, though any extra info would be appreciated! Ta

Dont know much about ferrets only that they make lovley pets but If you contact ferret rescue (jediwarrior)on the forum Im sure he'll be able to give you some sound advice. I know he has ferretts for rehoming so you may be able to help each other.

Yep - give Ferret Hutch Rescue a call - they always have ferrets needing new homes and can tell you all the answers to your questions and just how naughty ferrets can be!
http://www.theferrethutch.com/Contact-h4.htm
http://www.theferrethutch.com/Ferret-Care-h3.htm

Hey, thanks for the links will check them out! Hopefully my ratties still have a couple of months left in them, but i like to prepare early for new pets!

I can recomend ferret hutch rescue
They,ll sort you out if your suitable and give you all advice you will need.
But it is true better of with more than one if you decide just to have one then you need to spend lots of spare time with it playing around house etc.
Persnaly i prefer female but then you must have it spayed ASAP.
Young or old it would bond eventualy they can be nippy yes but will soon learn not to be too hard on you there again it all takes time.
There not destructive as rats although love to hide things lol no they wont destroy your house.And yes they will litter train shouldnt take long they like to use one corner only mostly lol.

i sent u a pm and i hope to see you soon. Thanks to everyone who has reccomended us we do have ferrets here of all ages and sizes for re homing. We hope to re home 99% of all the rescues at some point

another vote for the ferret hutch rescue here - there are an endless source of advice for me - oh and ferrets as I have 9 from them!!! Be warned ferrets get you hooked but make great pets. I have kept rats in the past and would highly recommend ferrets. Go and speak to the ferret hutch as they will tell you all you need to know! But here are some tips from me......

Having owned both young and old ferrets I would say a kit (young ferret) is not the easiest of things - they need a lot of training to remember not to use you as a chew toy. I would recommend going for an older one that is more likely to have shown its true colours already.

I have both males and females and would say that the females are probably a little more feisty - having said that one of my females is soft as a brush! The males tend to be larger so if size matters to you then take that into account (although it is not a strict rule and ferret size varies wildly!)

Yes you can train them - mine know (although they push thier luck sometimes) that the sofa is a no go zone! I am lucky that I have no chewers but I would say they are no where near as destructive as rats anyway. If anything ferrets like to stash stuff. I have one in particular who will stash stuff he fancies but he desnt destroy it.


Ferrets are def better in groups although one of my girls like her cage to herself and uses the others as playmates only!

Yes you can litter train them. Some seem better at it than others but in the cage I fins all my ferrets have a chosen 'corner' and they tend to keep the cage tidy!

Hope that helps a little

another vote for the ferret hutch rescue here - there are an endless source of advice for me - oh and ferrets as I have 9 from them!!! Be warned ferrets get you hooked but make great pets. I have kept rats in the past and would highly recommend ferrets. Go and speak to the ferret hutch as they will tell you all you need to know! But here are some tips from me......

Having owned both young and old ferrets I would say a kit (young ferret) is not the easiest of things - they need a lot of training to remember not to use you as a chew toy. I would recommend going for an older one that is more likely to have shown its true colours already.

I have both males and females and would say that the females are probably a little more feisty - having said that one of my females is soft as a brush! The males tend to be larger so if size matters to you then take that into account (although it is not a strict rule and ferret size varies wildly!)

Yes you can train them - mine know (although they push thier luck sometimes) that the sofa is a no go zone! I am lucky that I have no chewers but I would say they are no where near as destructive as rats anyway. If anything ferrets like to stash stuff. I have one in particular who will stash stuff he fancies but he desnt destroy it.


Ferrets are def better in groups although one of my girls like her cage to herself and uses the others as playmates only!

Yes you can litter train them. Some seem better at it than others but in the cage I fins all my ferrets have a chosen 'corner' and they tend to keep the cage tidy!

Hope that helps a little

ferrets also like to sleep so anywhere upto 20 hours and when its playtime wow there all over choas raines they love to climb dig bury and also eat. Ferrets will always try and please you as sezbets says 2 or more is better as you see them play but some like 1 to 1 company.