Bunnies, Chinchillas, and Ferrets

[BlueWolf]

I've been having a very hard time coping lately, and I've been spiraling out of control. For once, I have not been able to keep my mask off, and my mom has decided to give in and let me get a new pet. I've had both cats and dogs(back when we lived in a suitable place for them) as well as a ton of bunnies that I love SOOOO much. I just want to talk to anyone who as owned any of the pets in the title of this post. I'm not sure what new pet I want or should welcome into our home.

My mom is allergic to cats and we have been talking about a small dog. I can't have anything big right now due to our limited living space, but I'm not a fan of small yappy dogs. I LOVE big dogs, but they are out of the question until the future. However, I've had more rabbits than I can count. The thing with rabbits is that some can be nasty(I've had two that would bite, claw and even hiss!) and some that are super friendly and loving. If I got new bunnies, I would probably get two sibling dwarf rabbits seeing how they are my fav, but I kinda want to try something new.

Sooo.... I was really thinking about a chinchilla. I really want something interactive though. Animals really cheer me up, I'm a major animal lover and a cute little life puts the life right back into me. Besides, it's scientifically proven that animals can help make your life better and less stressful. So anyway, chinchillas are super cute and I've done my research. I think one would be well suited here. I KNOW one would be. In fact they seem perfect. Only, I'm not sure how interactive they would be. I want something friendly.

I also heard that ferrets were fun and loving. I don't know anything about them though, so I'm a little worried about that. I also heard they can bite and I'm not sure how demanding they are. I want to make sure I'd be able to care for one properly.

So... I DO live in a small house that we rent. But small animals ARE allowed, we checked with the person that we are renting from already. Money is also tight right now, so something inexpensive is preferred, another reason why I am thinking about a rabbit, however I'm really interested in trying to have a chinchilla which are amazing or a ferret which would probably be more interactive with me. Not sure what to pick. My mom doesn't really like animals either, she just puts up with them for me.

Anyway, what would you guys recommend for me?

[Anthropomorphic]

I've owned a rabbit before and I liked it. They're relatively clean and easy to take care of, and they are easy to keep contained in a small cage at night. They're also cheap to feed. I've never owned a chinchilla or a ferret so I can't help you there.

[snakewhisperer28]

i have one chinchilla. i had two, but they were both really mean when they had eachother to play with. so i had to get rid of one. The one i kept i got at about 6 months old. He is very cute and he loves to run around and play. However, i had the other chinchilla first and she was pretty nippy and anti social. If you do get one I suggest going thru a breeder NOT petco or some other chain pet store who just care about money. GEt it young. older than 9 months is kinda pushing it. Only get one...cuz two become obnoxious. However, they are a bit pricy....i got mine off craigslist for like 85. you gotta get it a multi level cage tho cuz they LOVE to jump around and climb. and yeah i think thats all the info u wanted. feel free to ask if i didnt mention something.

as for ferrets...my uncle had em. he said they were very hyper and caused alot of trouble. also, they are related to skunks so they tend to stink. so i havent heard good reviews on those guys, but ive never personally even held one so dont quote me.

[LittleMissOneBigMess]

Hey there,

Well i have owned all of these animals at some point or another so hopefully I can give some good advice

Bunnies: Probaly your best option, friendly, easy to take care off, realtivily inexpensive to care for, adorable, doesn't smell ( as long as you clean their cage), but they do require a large cage and outside cage time atleast 30-45 mins a day. But they are great pets and can become quite attached to their owners like dogs.

Ferrets: Your next best option I'd say, the only thing is, is they are usually happier in pairs, they have trmendous amounts of energy, can bite ( but can be trained not to bite), adorable, pretty simple to take care off, does a require a multi level cage because of their activite level and also requires outside cage time aswell, they can tend to stink but if you keep their cage clean, they actually arent that bad. They are mischivious and super cute and can make really good pets.

Chinchillas: I'd say this isnt your best option, although they are great pets, they require alot of attention and care, and they can also be expensive to care for, they shouldnt have any plastic in their cages because of the fact they chew everything so its a choking hazard, which requires metal everything which can be pricey, they need a large multi level home because of the fact they love to run, jump and play. They also can live up to 2o years so think about if you would be able to care for an animal that long, where will you be?? School?? etc. They also can take many months even years to warm up to you, sometimes they dont ever.( My friend has had her chinchilla for 3 years now and he is still skiddish and scared of her and she takes really good care of him and spends time with him everyday etc). And they can be at risk for a great deal of health issues which means more money. They are lovely pets, but they are the most difficult out of the 3. And Chinchillas also require very special heat and light requirements.

But there are many other little cage animals that would make good pets,hamsters, guinea pigs, rats etc etc. I hope this helped but just remember what ever one you choose you should always do research on them. Good luck picking your future fur buddie

-Tessa

[BlueWolf]

I've had several bunnies that I've kept for years, so I know how to properly care for them, but I was hoping for something new. However, I have come across some of the cutest that are almost ready for adoption. This is most likely what I will do again. They were very easy to take care of, and I have had some pretty sweet ones.

I've heard ferrets are more work than chinchillas, but I'm not really concerned about time. I've had cats and dogs too, but at the moment, my cat had to stay with my dad and my dog is with my uncle, due to having to rent a place. Hopefully when I move out, I will get a new cat so I would like something that can live ok with one.

I'm not concerned about chinchillas living a long time, actually I think that would be better. I get attached to animals very easily. That's a big reason why I refuse to have a hamster. They live only a few years. The only real problems I have with a chinchilla is the price to buy one(although I found a baby for $65 which is dueable) and the fact that I'm scared they won't warm up to me. I hear some people say they do with a little time and some say they don't ever. I've experienced this with my many rabbits that I've had. (I've owned 9 through my life) Some were friendly and sweet while others never liked being around people. This includes some of the ones I've had since birth. I had two bunnies that had babies.

I would like a ferret, because I hear they are interactive with people and a lot of fun to have.

I still have a lot of thinking to do. I have access to each of them, but the funny thing is, none of them are ready to be adopted till June. So I have time to decide which I want to adopt. If I do get a chinchilla it will only be one, if I get a ferret or bunny, I will adopt two. I usually have at least two bunnies at a time and it's sooo much fun to watch them play, jump and kick up their heals. It's adorable.

Thank you guys for your input though!

[Paix et Amour]

not sure about chinchillas, but i know ferrets can be mean, and they are really naughty! :P
they get into everything.

i have had a few bunnies, and they are great, but im more of a cat person myself :P

[xMikelex24]

I've never owned a bunny or a chinchilla, but owning a ferret is very rewarding. I have a large male ferret and I love him to death.

I'm his third and final owner and he's never lived with any other ferrets. He does fine by himself, but I've been looking into getting him a friend to keep him occupied. They sleep 18 - 20 hours a day and you want to keep them busy during their awake hours so they stay happy and don't cause as much trouble.

They're not hard to take care of and they really don't smell all that bad. He's neutered and has had his glands removed (anytime you adopt a ferret they should already be removed) and this greatly reduces the smell. I also bath him once a month, if you do it more than that they'll actually smell worse because you're getting rid of the oils on their coat so they have to work harder to produce more. Keeping the cage clean is also a must; ferret poo/pee smells terrible. There are also many products out there that promise to reduce the smell. It's usually a liquid that you put in their water or food, and it does help a lot.

He doesn't ever bite me unless we're wrestling. I have gotten scratches and bite wounds, but that's because I'm not very sensitive to pain. When he does bite too hard I yell and he goes in his cage for an hour or two. They're very intelligent and trainable, so he gets the idea that biting = bad. If you get your ferret from a reputable breeder they train them so that they do not bite. I'm guessing mine is from a pet store so that's why he acts the way he does.

You need to play with them the time that they're awake and keep them stimulated and happy. When they're out of the cage supervision is a must. I've caught my ferret trying to climb into the toilet, stealing numerous things and stashing them in hiding places, getting into food he shouldn't, and climbing into dangerous places. I've heard some ferrets chew wires, which is also dangerous. A ferret-proofed room would be ideal to keep one in when it's out of it's cage. He does poop where ever he pleases when he's out of the cage. It does not stain the carpet, but it's tough to get dried ferret poop off of hardwood floors. You need to keep up with it.

He's very fun to play with; he jumps up and down, dances, pounces, climbs, etc. We play games like chase; I chase him and he hides under my dresser, then I run in the opposite direction and he chases me back. I also bring out a feather cat toy and we play tug of war with it. Sometimes I take a towel or blanket and flip it up and down and he jumps up into it and chases it and tackles it. And of course, we wrestle. I flip him over with my hand and rub his belly and he puffs himself up and pounces on me and play-bites. They're very interactive, social, and playful moreso than a chinchillla/bunny. As I'm typing this, he's climbed up the chair and is on me trying to hit the keyboard.

I would recommend an adult ferret because they're easier to take care of. If you decide to get a kit you'll have to litter-train it which is extremely messy and frustrating.

If you have any questions on ferrets, you can PM me.

[purplemask]

First of all, ferrets aren't even in the same family as skunks.

Anyway, I have three ferrets, and they are the best pets I've ever had. But you MUST do your research (I recommend ferrets for dummies-it's extremely helpful to have on hand). Ferrets are not for everyone. They are high maintenance and need a lot of attention if you want to keep them happy and healthy. Also, the starting cost is expensive, but afterward it isn't so bad. I bought my first two ferrets, a multi story cage, food, litterbox/litter, water bowl, bed, and air purifier for about 500-700 dollars. You need to know the best kinds of food AND brands that are healthiest (ferrets are strict carnivores). They can't tolerate temperatures above 80 degrees. You need to know how to train them, what to buy them, how to interact with them, etc. Also, in some areas it is difficult to find a reputable ferret veterinarian, and if you do, it might be expensive.

Getting a ferret is not like getting a zebra finch or a hamster. You are talking about an animal who you can expect to live 7-12 years. Are you ready for that kind of committment? Can you afford vet visits? Ferrets need to be vaccinated from canine distemper yearly. I agree with the statement above that you should start with an adult ferret for your first time. Try a shelter, as their ferrets should be litter trained, nip trained, fixed, and de-scented.

You absolutely can train them not to bite. Once again, you need to do research. Bopping them on the nose will just make them aggressive. You have to respond like another ferret would. As babies, mine would nip me and I would squeak the way they do when they're playing and one bites to rough. If they don't stop you hiss at them and if they still bite you scruff them like a momma ferret, shake them gently and give them a firm "No." None of mine bite EVER, at ALL.

They are very playful and sweet, and mine cuddle with me when I go to sleep. I have trained my fuzzbutts to only go potty in the litter boxes (a whole different lesson), so they're pretty much free-roam. However, you have to ferret-proof! They are inquisitive and will not hesitate to crawl somewhere that looks fun (but may be dangerous). They are a little musky, but if you have tile or wood floors the smell decreases dramatically.

Lastly, if you do get a ferret and decide it's too much work or they're too hard to train, etc. PLEASE give them to a no-kill ferret shelter. Ferrets are often very misunderstood, but they are intelligent, docile creatures.

People who have mean ferrets are the same as people who have mean dogs: they either have neglected/abused their pet, do not know how to train their pet, or got the animal from somewhere untrustworthy where inbreeding/substandard living conditions have contributed to a bad temperament.

Most importantly, do enough research before you jump into such a commitment. There are many websites with valuable information of the basic needs a ferret has. Chinchillas live even longer than ferrets-up to 25 years. Make sure you are willing to be completely responible for another animal's life for that length of time.

If you know you are, and after reading you still think a ferret is right for you (and you're ready to have lots of patience), then get ready for lots and lots and lots (and loootttsss) of laughter and fun and adventure with your new fuzzy. They truly can make wonderful pets, very loving and trusting and playful.