As a cat owner considering introducing a ferret into your family, you may be wondering if these two pets can get along. Cats and ferrets share many traits, from their curiosity to their love for play, which can help them bond. However, both are predators by nature, so it’s essential to take careful steps to ensure their safety and comfort.
Read on to discover how cats and ferrets can coexist, their similarities, and important tips for a peaceful introduction.
Similarities Between Ferrets and Cats
Cats and ferrets are predators with similar diets, temperaments, and pet needs. These shared features make these animals easy to keep as pets while helping them get along with each other.
Diet
Both cats and ferrets are carnivores, meaning their main diet consists of meat-based foods. These animals have instincts to hunt or scavenge for their prey. Cats and ferrets need diets high in protein, and you can even give cat food to your ferret, which is convenient when purchasing pet food in bulk.
Temperament
Both ferrets and cats are curious animals and love to explore new things and strange objects. They love to chase around and climb, which is why they have the potential to develop a good bond. However, ferrets can occasionally be too active for some cats, as they like to wrestle, tumble, and play. Depending on their personality, cats may love to be active with ferrets, or they may be annoyed by them.
Pet Needs
Another similarity between cats and ferrets is that their pet needs are almost identical.
- A play area
- Litterboxes
- Toys
- Treats
These things can even be shared between the animals if you need to save money, though it’s recommended that your pets have their own respective toys and litter box to avoid territorial squabbles.
- A play area
- Litterboxes
- Toys
- Treats
Do Cats and Ferrets Get Along?
In most cases, cats and ferrets get along quite well. However, it all comes down to the temperament of your cat and your ferret, respectively. If their temperaments are complementary, these animals can play with each other, but you should still supervise each play session.
Will Cats Hurt Ferrets? Can the Ferrets Hurt the Cats?
Cats will mostly ignore ferrets, as they’re not overly excited about hanging out with animals that are not cats. However, there can be situations in which a cat is extremely afraid of a ferret or where the cat is too playful and accidentally hurts the ferret.
Can They Coexist?
Cats and ferrets can coexist and even play together, but you need to introduce them properly and always be there when both animals are roaming free, to prevent possible problems.
Things to Consider Before Introducing Cats and Ferrets
Animals have a similar instinct to humans when meeting someone for the first time: They’re going to get either a good or a bad impression. Therefore, it’s your job to provide a proper introduction between your cat and your ferret to give them the best chance of getting along.
- Is your animal old or sick? Introducing your cat and ferret if one of the animals is old or sick may not be the best thing to do. It may cause stress or anxiety in the sick/old animal and simply be traumatizing.
- Does your animal have a high prey drive? This is a question that you should ask yourself before introducing your cat and ferret to each other. It’s especially applicable to cats, as they are larger and heavier than ferrets. If your cat or ferret has a high prey drive, it’s best to keep the animals separate to prevent possible incidents.
How to Make the First Introduction Between a Cat and a Ferret
The first introduction is crucial to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Here’s a list of things to know:
- Use neutral grounds — Start the introduction on neutral grounds because both animals are territorial.
- Keep the ferret in a cage — During the first part of the introduction, keep your ferret in a cage.
- Keep a safe distance — If both animals are reacting positively, you can let your ferret out of the cage.
- Put them on the ground — If everything is still calm, you can place the ferret on the ground.
- Supervise them — Supervise the animals while playing.
- Use neutral grounds — Start the introduction on neutral grounds because both animals are territorial. Don’t use the area where you keep your ferret, and don’t be in the room where your cat frequently spends time.
- Keep the ferret in a cage — During the first part of the introduction, keep your ferret in a cage. Allow the cat to approach it so the animals can sniff and get a sense of one another. It may even be helpful to tire out your ferret before the introduction to make it calmer around your feline.
- Keep a safe distance — If both animals are reacting positively, you can let your ferret out of the cage. However, keep a safe distance between the animals just in case something happens.
- Put them on the ground — If everything is still calm, you can place the ferret on the ground and allow your cat and ferret to sniff and touch each other. However, look out for any signs of biting and scratching.
- Supervise them — Supervise the animals while playing. If you notice scratching, biting, or any similar behavior, break things up and correct your animals on the behavior.
Tips for Keeping Cats and Ferrets in the Same Household
If the introduction goes well, you can keep up the same routine and allow the animals to play while under your supervision. Here are other tips for keeping cats and ferrets in the same household:
- Avoid unsupervised interactions.
- Provide each pet with their own space in the home.
- Feed the animals separately.
- Ensure that both animals are vaccinated.
- Spay and neuter both animals.
Final Thoughts
Your cat might get along with your ferret, or they may display slight aggression. It all depends on the temperaments of both animals. It’s best to introduce them slowly and see how they act; if they get along, great! If not, simply separate the two and don’t force any interactions between them.
Featured Image Credit: Miroshnikova Arina, Shutterstock