Do ferrets and cats get along?

[politicat]

Our local humane society needs foster parents for ferrets (as well as cats, but due to allergies, we can't really have more cats).

We have two cats, who, while somewhat neurotic, are not hunter types and have been pretty good with other small creatures who have come into the house for a few weeks while we "babysat". (Their neuroses seem to be limited in the one case to getting wound up, accidentally attacking her own tail, and getting scared out of her wits and in the other "sweet but stupid" syndrome.)

But we've never had a ferret. Or a hedgehog.

[MaggieSwanson]

1. They can get along, but

ours never really did. Our kitty was just too laid-back for our ferret's rather feral and bouncy personality, and generally avoided her altogether. The cat was happiest when the ferret was back in her cage.

It depends on the cat, and depends on the ferret, naturally. I've had friends who swear by the alliance of the two - their cat stays in shape and frisks around with the ferret constantly. Cats and ferrets are not natural enemies.

Best of luck to you!

[Solon]

2. Introduce them as you would any other strange animal...

One of two things will happen, they get along, or they don't. Our ferrets like to play with the smaller cats, but the bigger cats hate them, however, they would never attack them. Ferrets for all their play, can be very vicious. Not to mention that don't EVER have ferrets around medium to large size dogs, ferrets will emit a sound that drives dogs mad, and chase them all over the place, its actually funny to watch a 6 pound ferret chase a 40 pound dog. :)

[Strong Atheist]

3. Seems so ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4786997

[scarlet_owl]

4. My cat Nico loves to play with our ferrets.

My other cat Olive, however, does not. I think it really depends on the personalities of the animals.

[chookie]

6. My dog loved them

I had a high-predator dog years ago, which I trained to love ferrets. They played with each other with joyful abandon and kept each other company while I was at work.

[chookie]

5. Never had a problem

The cats always left the ferrets alone. If the cat did not like ferrets playing with them, they would jump up on a table out of the way.

If your cats are not hunter types, I would predict that fostering ferrets would not be a problem.

[BigMcLargehuge]

7. our ferret ate two litters of kittens

:-(

We didn't keep the ferret long after that.

[politicat]

8. Our cats can't have kittens....

They're both broken. (Not that they don't sometimes try...)

Good to know. I'll keep that in mind.