RateItAll: The Opinion Network

They stink!

Really cute.

ahhhh run the other way before you even consider having a ferret

Not for me, thanks. There's the whole I'm afraid of being bitten thing again, for no good reason.

trouble makers

they are cute but not for me

Smelly and fun.

Kinda smelly little thieves lol

LITTLE BASTARDS!

no way!! messy stinky animals. i knew a girl who had one. yuck.

stinky

There okay, but not the type of pet I would want

They are cute. I have always wanted one, I am afraid of getting one.

I had a ferret... cute and fun

aww, it looks so cute

cute but also stinky (sorry Jason)

adorable pets, but they stink

Cute but stinky. lol

too cat like for me

NEVER HAD ONE HERD THEY ARE GREAT

Key snatcher

kind of cool

ha ha they steal glittery stuff

i never had 1 but my friends have n they were mean....but im sure sum r nice

They're my babies. They're adorable & very mischievious but funny as heck when they play. I've had them as pets for quite a few years now. All of mine are extra affectionate !

good but smelly

I don't think I want a big weasel running around the house.

Think there cool

yea i wud want one cuz theyre cute!

Wicked fun, really smart, excellent mousers, I LOVE them, I do, I miss mine

I want one! They're so cute!

Don't really know.

they are cute but dont really like them but then again, i never seen 1, or touch 1, or had 1.

CUTE, DON'T KNOW MUCH ELSE.

They're evil.

They are awesome, but that SMELL!

they stink...seriously

awesome, one of the most fun to play with and a great projectile

I LOVE THOSES!!! my aunt had one!

they are very affectionate, clean, but have a tendency to have a very disguting distinct odor.

They're entertaining, but they smell and they tend to bite.

oh yea...right, wild animal in my living room ...hahahahahaha

they steal from you

Their cute but they STINK!!!

smelly but had one once. very entertaining

only because they are kinda cute.

not big on the ferret

i want one so bad

This is a great pet for those who don't mind their house smelling like an uncleaned sty.

Ferrets are the best pet I've ever had. Along with my 4 ferrets, I have 2 iguannas, and 2 dogs. Consider yourself forwarned: Ferrets are like potato chips, you can't have just one. They DO reaquire alot of attention at first to get them "potty trained" and to teach them good habits, like not to bite. Contrary to what some people think, they are very social animals and do not do well without company, so if you have a "lone" ferret you will need to spend alot of time with him (min: 4-6 hours of playtime a day). It does make it easier with 2 or more. Ferrets definately have their own unique personalities. My oldest boy, Sammy, is more like a cat he is affectionate on HIS terms. Sebastion is his most affectionate when he is tired. Pan loves to be held and cuddled ALL the time (Pan also thinks he's a dog). Serina, my baby, seems to be the happiest when she is "hanging" out with humans. The key to having an affectionate ferret is to interact with them often when they are still babies. All my ferrets are "cage" trained. They will go back to their cage when they need "potty" time. A ferret's digestive tract is very small, so their food goes through their system very quickly, in other words, keep them close to where you want them to potty themselves and you got it made! They are highly inteligent and have great memories and they are very much trainable as long as you don't try to train them like you would a dog. Ferrets will learn quickly if you use a favorite food as positive reinforcement.

They are great pets my uncle had 2 of them and he always enjoyed taking them out on a walk! So long as you wash them they are great pets!

I suppose that they do make ok pets, but they can bite, need cages cleaning alot, and you would have to check with the city you live in, if they alow them as pets.

Had one before and wouldn't mind having another.

Owning Ferrets was the worst pet decision I have ever made and Ive owned a lot of pets, everything from cats, dogs to lizards and fish. I would not recommend Ferrets to any one except the die hard ferret fanatics. I have had such a bad experience with them. They will destroy hundreds of dollars worth of property in only a few months. They will also hide your favorite clothing and shoes amongst other things and they are dirty, aggressive and do not appear affectionate. That was my biggest hang-up, the fact that they do not return affection, they are not cuddly. I gave one back to the pet store because he would bite everyone one who came over very badly. Every time I had company I would have to put the "bloodthirsty rat" away, as my friends were now calling him. The final straw came when he gouged my boyfriends co-worker until he bled and did not let go. The second ferret was much more passive, but after four months of not being able to litter train him , he was sold. No matter what I did he would crap wherever he wanted. In the kitchen, bedroom , bathroom, right in front of me. I got sick and tired of telling him "no" and locking him up in a cage, who wants a pet that spends most of the time in a cage. Having to punish him, getting upset about it and the messy, daily clean-ups killed the joy of having a ferret. It became a gross job I hated to do. I do not want to spend the next ten years of my life picking up ferret crap three times a day. Admittedly, I was under a false understanding of what having a ferret was like. My only experience with ferrets was with an old roommate I lived with who had two. They would bite me and destroy my stuff and crap everywhere which lead to being part of the reason I moved out. I did not like Ferrets. However, my boyfriend persauded me that this was her fault and ferrets were actually great pets. Our ferrets turned out just like hers. After reading many supposedly informative websites about keeping Ferrets as pets I have to admit I find them misleading. Many of them state that ferrets are litter trainable but there will always be a few "accidents". I think most people would assume this means an accident will happen once a month if that, not every day. Personally I think these ferret sites are misleading by telling everyone that they are the greatest pet you could have and are "easily litter trained" and "nip trained" which is not true. I would like to know the statistics on what percentage of ferrets do not have accidents once a week. It's probably really low. Therefore Ferrets are NOT REALLY A LITTER TRAINABLE PET ARE THEY, so stop saying they are. Ferrets may be a good pet for a few people but are not for the majority of people. Perhaps, the information needs to be honest. In order to help ferrets people should be honest about what they are really like and maybe 50% of ferrets would not be abandoned after purchase.

Ferrets disguise themselves as cute but they are not. They poop all over, constantly, and make a ton of noise. Biggest mistake in my life was buying one. Want to give it a bath? They'll poop in the water. Don't feed it for 5 minutes? It acts like it's the end of the world. If you want to get a ferret, you might as well have a baby. A baby poops a lot but at least grows up to be something productive.

Ferrets are not for everyone. They can smell and it is very hard to get them to use a litter box in large rooms or throughout the house. They will usually always use the box in the cage on their own. They sleep alot so you don't have to feel to guilty about dedicating a lot of play time, but they really need to be out of their cage a couple of hours a day. They are amuzing, sneaky and very smart. My male would move boxes, books...ect to get over any barricades to roam wherever he wanted. Keys will be stolen and socks will go missing...all in good fun. My female likes to steal things stealthy but tucking them under her belly and scooting out of the room backwards...real discrete like!!! Baby ferrets are likley to nip a little (doesn't hurt or bleed), but they always out grow any biting. I love to watch them pick on my kitty. They are very durable and flexible so I presume they sand up pretty well to dogs and cats. I once gave them vaccinations and you would not believe the thickness and toughness of their skin. Discipline is out of the question, so be prepared for lots of patience. They are escape artist and will find a way out of their room or your house if it is possible....ferret proof. Also, they will tear lining out of the bottoms of your couches and mattresses, so its best to just reinforce these from the begining with towels and heavy duty staples. Recliners can be deadly. They will end up inside, behind, or underneath large appliances. 2 of mine love to play in water and 2 do not. One likes to lick toes right out of the shower...weird. They all have distinct personalities which make them easy to love. You will always have "some smell" but it is not that strong if you keep their cage and litter clean. I never bath mine except for the occasional, accidental leap into the jaccuzi or if they manage to get into something dirty. My husband can smell them on me when I have been holding them and complains. I find dusting them with a gentle baby power daily seems to do the trick as long as you follow all the usual rules of cleaning and feeding properly. Do your research, make the comitment and they are great and rewarding pets.

It amazes me that on a site that is supposed to give constructive opinions on a variety of topics. The pure uneducated and unhelpful remarks that have been made on this particular strand. First of all, all pets have their pluses and minuses. Ferrets do smell but so can dogs. Ferrets can be destructive but so can a cat sharpening their claws on a sofa. Ferrets do require a lot of attention but so do most pets that are taken care of properly. Before the purchase of any animal careful research should be done they are living creatures that we have chosen to take responsibility for they are not computers or cars to toss every couple of years for a new more interesting model. Ferrets are carnivores kind of like a dog on the outside and a cat on the inside. They can get along well with some dogs and most cats with a little patience. For the most part they don't get along with most critters smaller than them. They are domesticated, they don't exist in the wild and other than some questionable hybrids in New Zealand can't exist in the wild we have bred them to be totally dependent on us. So, only get a ferret or any other animal for that matter if you are truly dedicated to sharing your life with one of the few animal species that can actually stand us for more than a few seconds.

I have 2 ferrets and I must admit I do regret it. The anal glands were removed as kits and and occasional baths make their natural odor less musky. My real problem is their behavior. I found they are really good a five things....eating, crapping, peeing, sleeping and destroying! If you want pets for anything else, ferrets my NOT be your first choice. Be prepared to enter your house everyday to the STRONG smell of poop and urine coming from their cage. The cage I have is rather large and the daily cleanup is time consuming as their litter box is more of a play toy than a place to do their business. They will use the box when the spirit moves them but all corners of the cage are fair game. All forms of potty training have been unsuccessful. If something is not bolted down or made of steel I would strongly suggest kepping it away from them. They do not like to be held much so the cuddly pet concept is difficult for me to apply to ferrets....at least mine. The only positive I can contribute is the supervised playtime (in an area setup to be ferret proof) I have lots of ferret tunnels and play boxes in a room set up for this. It is rather entertaining to watch them as they play. all in all....high maintenance, dirty, destructive and frustrating.

I love my ferret but I think that someone considering purchasing a ferret should do their research thoroughly before committing to owning one. I am a pre-vet animal science major and 23 years old and I have a ferret who is a year old. I love my ferret but there are definetly times that he takes a great deal of work and sometimes it is frustrating. They do have an odor that many people do not care for, in some places it is illegal to own a ferret, they do poop ALOT and not always in their litter box, and they DO require play time outside of their cage. Oh yeah- and they are the thieves of all thieves- watch carefully or you WILL most DEFINETLY find things missing and may NEVER locate them ever again because ferrets can get into places you never knew existed. Don't get me wrong, I feel my ferret is well worth the work, but I dont feel he is for everyone. This is a big commitment- and in some ways bigger than a dog and DEFINETLY bigger than a cat- because you cannot just put them in a cage and expect them to do well, which is what people expect. They are intelligent animals who need to socialize with people. They cannot just be let out to roam the house because they can fit into places a dog or cat can't and this can cause them to be severely injured or killed. When people come over there is always a ferret check before anyone sits down, as my ferret loves to crawl up into the couch cushions and up into the springs of the couch. His favorite place is inside my box springs and behind the refrigerator- both places he is not allowed, and he must be monitored closely to be sure he doesnt end up in these places as they are dangerous to him. So to sum it up- I love ferrets, I think they make rewarding pets, but they require alot of work and commitment so they are not for everyone. People need to know what they are getting into before jumping into this purchase. A ferret is not a gerbil that can be left alone to just look pretty. There are far too many ferrets that end up homeless because people do not know what they aare getting into. Please do your homework before jumping in.

Jan168301 , sperryc, afterglow70 you all have no idea what you are talking about! Ferrets are THE best pet ever. You people saying hate them and they're mean and they stink you obviously didn't care well enough for them or you went some where that didn't. my ferret is the nicest animal ever and she doesn't stink. By the way afterglow70 you make me sick you murderer. Why would you tell us you killed a ferret like that and just say thanks to me she has one...I can't stand people like you!

MUCH more work then a regular rodent, or maybe I shouldn't say that because they aren't of the rodent family. But too many people buy a ferret thinking that it is like a rodent, and should be kept in a cage all the time. The truth is, they are like small dogs. They need regular playtime, room to roam around, and even regular walks with a leash! Ferrets can have rewarding personalities but are not for everyone.

Ferrets (like every other animal) obviously have the potential to bite if not trained or handled correctly. They do have a distinct smell, but there are worse in the world! They are extremly playful and intelligent in the few hours they are awake for, so if you are thinking of taking one on you need to consider the time involved with supervising and playing with it daily. Ferrets are very social to people as well as other ferrets, and do best as pairs or in groups. They can even get on well with cats, which is unusual for a small animal that would usually be picked on. Any one who believes bad roumors about any animal is very easily led, i have met many examples of different species, some who are very friendly and others who can be a little unpredictable. Its mostly in the upbringing, bear in mind that a bored or lonely ferret will develope behaviour problems. All pets have their possitive and negative points, so you need to look into both before purchasing any pet. they can be a hanful as they are prone to swallowing small items around the house if left unsupervised, and can squeeze into the tiniest gaps to investigate. I strongly advise anyone considering any pet to buy a decent book on that species, and get their facts straight before just believing what others may have heard.

Not ALL ferrets are smelly, mean creatures. We have 2 males and they are the sweetest, smartest little guys. We have ferret-proofed our home(all holes larger than 1 1/2 plugged) and we let them run free in the house when we are home. They love to play with us and they bounce around like 'tigger' when excited. Our 7 year old is cuddly and loving. Our 3 year old is more rambunctious and used to dig in our indoor plants, until we trained him not to do this. Yes, they are trainable. If they love you, they'll try to do whatever you want them to do for you. They do sleep a lot (avg 15 hrs or more a day) and therefore are not time consuming or a bother. If you love animals, you'll love curious little ferrets :) Note: hide all Cheerios boxes in closed cabinets with child-proof latches!

To me, a pet is for companionship. This don't fill the bill.

I've had a ferret before. I only suggest getting them as a pet if you have a lot of time to play and care for them. They tend to be very odorous and they get very bored, fat, and sickly if you do not take them out of their cage for play and exercise time. If you do have time and would love one though, they are very playful, lovable, and smart animals, that have a unique, strange, and independent personality. They are quite the little characters actually.

I purchased my first ferret in the middle of my junior year in college. She is a handful, and when we first got her we had to train her not to bite. At first I used gloves to handle her, then one day i took them off. After that, she's been getting better every day. Today she doesnt even bite me (except for little nibbles during play). She has turned out to be the most wonderful little girl. My parents were apprehensive about ferrets at first, but now they can't wait until we visit. Last October, I took in another ferret who's mom couldn't keep him anymore. He is the nicest guy (ferret) I have ever met. He doesnt bite at all and follows everyone around. He likes to give kisses and cuddles. Ferrets are a lot of work but also a lot of joy. I cant imagine my life without ferrets or any animals for that matter. Responsible pet owners know who should or should not handle their pets. My little girl can be nippy with strangers but has never bitten or tried to bite a child. One last note: I believe that people who think that causing an animal's death is funny (and even have the ignorant audacity to make fun of it afterwards) are sick individuals in need of a good butt-whoopin' or therapy. People like you should be locked up and not allowed to roam this world free. You make me sick.

Ferrets are so cute and fun. A friend of mine has some. They are just the sweetest things. They don't smell or bite at all.

Ferrets are very cute. And not all ferrets have a smell.Its a matter of weather they can spray or not. If you dont want one that stinks, get it fixed so it cant spray. I knew guy that had 8 ferrets and there was no smell at all.

Ferrets are messy horrible pets. I never had a pet ferret and i intend on not having one.

Ferrets are great! I have one and they are so playful and very cute. They are great pets to have!!!