Ferrets vs Rats?

[Dela]

Ok, so I have rats currently, and was wondering if anyone that owned both could give me some information about the differences between the two, personality wise etc? My boys (rats)are all very very loving and playful.  Just wondered about ferrets as I've been craving some for the longest time.

[Dazydaizee]

If I had to choose at this point, I think I'd prefer my rats, though if you'd asked me last year, I'd probably have said my ferrets. Reason being my ferrets used to share my bedroom with me and so, naturally we were very close. Because I had no other alternative, my rats spent too much time in their cage, considering the ferrets would kill the rats easily.

Ferrets are hilarious, and always ready to go, but mine have calmed down quite a bit as they got older. They are, in my opinion, easy to maintain given you spend the time litter training them and let them out of the cage most of the day. Mine have never been caged much, and I prefer them being set up in a room rather than a cage. They do sleep a lot and tend to come out once you're ready for them, though mine tend to tire after a half hour or so and go back to sleeping.

Once you've ferret proofed, they typically do pretty well. Mine don't really get into anything anymore, because I've learned my lesson. In my experience my rats are much more inclined to get into trouble after I'm SURE I did everything to prevent it. Also my rats chew electrical cords, my ferrets do not. My ferrets don't stash their food in their litter box, so cleaning can be a little easier.

Ferrets do have a musky smell and are prone to serious medical issues that can often lead to surgery which is expensive. In my experience, both rats and ferrets are virtually fearless and that can be dangerous. I've had a rat climb a barrier into the ferret room and almost get killed, and I've had a ferret try to rough play with a dog and not interpret the growling or baring teeth as a threat.

I think both can be destructive, mischievous, and messy, but both make great pets. In my experience, my rats do better with other pets than the ferrets. My rats can roam free with the rabbit and the guinea pig without a problem, and typically don't pester the dog. The ferrets have been more isolated for this reason, which is why I've been leaning a little more towards the rats as the better fit for my household.

That being said, I would miss having ferrets if in the future I decide not to have any more. I think it depends on your situation and how much direct interaction time you would have for either species. And just keep in mind that keeping both can be a little bothersome, since you need to make enough time for each considering they can't have free range time or time with you together.. it would need to be separate.