Rats and ferrets both make great pets. At first glance, they might seem pretty similar. They’re both small, cute, and entertaining to watch.
But rats and ferrets are biologically quite different. Rats are rodents, while ferrets are actually a type of weasel! Ferrets and rats can’t live together, as I’ll explain below. If you can’t keep both together, which one do you choose?
Overall, rats don’t need as much maintenance and attention as ferrets. Because they’re smaller, they don’t smell quite as much, and are less expensive to get started with and maintain. On the downside, rats don’t live as long as ferrets, and their vet care can still be quite expensive.
Rats are somewhat less of a commitment than ferrets in that they have a shorter lifespan, and can be left to their own devices for a few days. Ferrets are more similar to dogs in terms of training, exercise, grooming and the level of personal attention they need.
Similarities between rats and ferrets
- They’re both pretty unusual pets, so you’ll get lots of curiosity and sometimes looks of concern from friends and family!
- They both make great pets for apartments or smaller living spaces.
- They’re both furry, soft and enjoy spending time with their owners.
- Both can be quite cuddly and playful, depending on their individual personalities.
- They’re both intelligent, can be trained and can learn tricks.
- They’re both inquisitive and curious, and love to explore around your house with you.
- They’re both little escape artists and take prohibited areas of your house as a personal challenge. You’ll have to do lots of pet-proofing and always try to be one step ahead of them.
- They both need regular vet care, which can be quite expensive.
That’s pretty much where the similarities end! Next let’s take a look at the differences between rats and ferrets.
Differences between pet rats and ferrets
| Pet Rats | Ferrets | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Rats are smaller than ferrets. Males can weigh up to 1 pound, and females about half of that. | Ferrets are larger, weighing between 1.5 to 4 pounds. |
| Food | Rats don’t require a lot of food – about a handful of dry food plus some fresh fruits and veggies each day. Rats are omnivores, and can eat almost everything we can. | Ferrets are strict carnivores. They need an animal-based diet and shouldn’t be fed other treats. Being larger than rats, ferrets eat more food. |
| Cage | Rats need about 2 – 2.5 cubic feet per individual to really thrive. Rats can happily spend most of their time in their cage, but also enjoy some daily free roam time. | Ferrets need much more cage space. 12 cubic feet is generally recommended to house one ferret – more if you have multiple. Ferrets need to spend 6+ hours a day outside their cage. |
| Noise | Rats are fairly quiet pets. They sometimes scuffle in their cage, and you’ll hear the odd squeak, especially when they play and wrestle with each other. | Ferrets have more vocalizations than rats, especially when they play and get excited. But they’re also generally pretty quiet pets. |
| Lifespan | Rats only live 2 to 3 years. | Ferrets can live 7 to 10 years. |
| Smell | Rats themselves have little odor, as long as you keep their cage clean. Their pee can become an issue, but you can actually litter train rats! | Ferrets have scent glands that give their fur a distinctive musky smell. They’re sometimes sold de-scented. Ferrets can also be litter trained. |
| Maintenance | Rats’ cages should be cleaned 1-2 times a week, with fresh food and water given daily. | Ferrets require about the same level of cage cleaning and feeding as pet rats. |
| Grooming | Rats don’t need any help grooming themselves, unless they have mobility troubles in their old age. | Ferrets are prone to ear infections unless you clean their ears frequently. They also benefit from nail trimming, and brushing their fur and teeth. |
| Temperament | Rats are generally friendly, smart and curious towards their owners. Depending on their background, some rats can be more skittish and take more time to tame. | Similar to dogs, young ferrets like to nip, but they become more affectionate and companionable once trained. Ferrets also bond closely with their owners. |
| Exercise | Rats enjoy time out of their cage to explore and run around, but much of their exercise needs can be met with a large enough cage. You can give them shelves, branches, etc. to climb on, and an exercise wheel. It’s typically not recommended to take rats outdoors. | Ferrets are very active animals and need daily time out of their cage to stretch their legs. Like dogs and cats, you can walk ferrets on a leash and take them for trips outside. |
| Health Concerns | Respiratory disease and mammary tumors are two of the most common health problems in rats, requiring ongoing medication or surgery. | Insulinoma and adrenal disease are common in ferrets. Ferrets can also catch the same cold’s and flu’s that we do. |
| Vet Care | Rats are considered exotics, so vet care can be just as costly as with a dog or cat. Both rats and ferrets are prone to certain health conditions that require ongoing medication. Rats don’t require any vaccines, and it’s not necessary to spay or neuter them. | Ferrets are also considered exotics, and vet care expenses can really add up. Ferrets require yearly vaccinations. Female ferrets can develop a life threatening condition if not spayed early on. They also have a tendency to eat things they shouldn’t, and get blockages! |
| Legality | Pet rats are legal in most places, except for the province of Alberta in Canada, and certain areas of the United States. | Like pet rats, ferrets are illegal in some places, or may require a permit. Check with your city or town before adopting. |
| Cohabitation | Generally, it’s best to only keep rats with other rats. While cats and dogs are sometimes docile towards rats and vice versa, the size difference makes interaction risky. | With careful introduction, ferrets can get along with most dogs and cats. But not rats, mice, birds, rabbits or any other animals they might consider prey. |
| Training | Rats can be litter trained, and learn tricks. But they don’t have any specific training requirements. | Like dogs, young ferrets need training not to nip or claw at furniture. They can also be litter trained. |
| Activity Level | Rats need 1-2 hours of time outside their cage with you per day. They can keep themselves occupied inside their cage the rest of the time if you give them lots of toys and other enrichment items. | Ferrets are high energy pets and require several hours of active play and exercise per day. With that said, they also sleep for 12-18 hours a day! |
| Sleep Schedule | Rats tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, but they nap throughout the day and night as well. Their sleeping schedule is pretty flexible. | Ferrets naturally sleep for most of the day, but will sometimes adapt to your sleeping schedule instead. |
| Attention Needed | Rats definitely appreciate time spent with you! But rats are also able to entertain themselves with toys and other enrichment items inside of their cage for most of the day. | Ferrets become bored very easily and need more time outside of their cage than pet rats. 6 hours outside the cage each day is a recommended minimum for ferrets. |
| Destructiveness | Rats need to chew things daily to wear down their ever-growing teeth. They will nibble on your clothing, furniture, and even electrical wires if you leave them unattended outside of their cage for too long. | Ferrets can be similar to dogs and cats in terms of destructiveness. They might claw at your furniture, carpets, etc. but usually respond well to training. |
| Safety | Though rare, it’s possible to catch an illness from your pet rat, such as salmonella, or rat bite fever. | Ferrets can carry salmonella too. Ferrets can also transmit rabies to humans, so they need a yearly vaccine. |
Do rats or ferrets make better pets?
Rats and ferrets both make awesome pets, but the right one for you will probably depend on your living situation, budget, and how much time you have to spend with them. If you’re busy and work a lot, or go to school, rats may be the better option for you. They’re somewhat less maintenance, don’t require extensive training, and can entertain themselves more easily than ferrets.
If you’d like an exotic animal that’s a bit more similar to a dog or cat, ferrets might be for you! They live more than twice as long as rats, so you have more time to get to know them. They have higher exercise needs than rats, so if you need an excuse to get out for a walk around the block, you can take your ferret with you!
Can rats and ferrets live together?
Rats and ferrets can’t live together. Ferrets are carnivores and natural predators of rats, so they will kill and eat rats. Rats tend to display either fearful or defensive body language towards ferrets. Usually it’s not even recommended to keep them in the same room together: the smell of ferrets can stress your rats out, making them more susceptible to illness.
Keeping both in the same household can be challenging, because both species love to figure out how to escape rooms and cages. If you want to keep rats and ferrets, it’s best to take precautions like never taking them outside of the cage at the same time, and washing your hands in between handling the different animals. It’s also best to give them each separate areas of the house to explore.
A note: some predator species like cats and ferrets can be more docile towards rats than others, because they aren’t used to hunting. But I still would never recommend letting ferrets “play” with rats. Ferrets are twice the size of rats, and what might seem like playful behavior for a ferret is still likely to cause the rat great stress and fear.
Conclusion
Both rats and ferrets can make great pets, but there are several differences to consider when choosing between them. Rats are smaller, less expensive, and aren’t super picky eaters. They’re also a little more independent and can be left alone for a few days.
On the other hand, ferrets are larger, eat a carnivorous diet, and have a longer lifespan. They’re more active and require more hands-on playtime and attention from you.
Both animals are very social and enjoy spending time with their owners. Regardless of which one you choose, you’re in for lots of entertainment and great companionship. I hope this article helped you pick out the perfect pet for you!
