I really really want a sugar glider. But I'm not sure If I can get one soon. But I really want a small pet. I was thinking I could get a ferret but then I would have to wait a really long time to get a sugar gliders. I mean, I already have 2 cats at 2 houses (so 4 cats.) I can't just go get a pet for "the meantime" and we don't have enough money to get them close together anyway XD
So what I'm asking is,if you have a ferret,can you please list the pros and cons? Here's why I'm not sure I can gt a sugar glider for awhile 1.you have to get 2 at least 2.more expensive 3.more expensive diet
There are things I like more about each of them. I DO want sugar gliders more though.
You can take sugar gliders with you! That's a big pro to me! I've always wanted a pet that I can just put in ny pocket/pouch
You can walk ferrets! Sounds pretty fun so thats a pro
Sugar gliders are more,you know,different! I have heard ferrets are kind of like small cats and dogs. I don't want a pet that is more expensive but acts like a cat (cause I already have cats and they are cheaper)
Ferrets are cheaper:pro!
I can let ferrets around my cats
Sugars have softer fur:my sister says she felt one and they arent that soft
Ferrets have easier food
People say ferrets are easier
Suggies live a lot longer:12-15 years Ferret life span:8-10 years (maybe a little older)
Gliders can GLiDE! Lol!
Sugar gliders smell less
Ferrets bond easier
They both can bite (but so can most animals!)
U need to clean ferret cages more often
Umm I guess the fact that ferrets don't crab is a pro?...sorta?
What are the pros and cons of both of them? If you have both which do you like best?
I have heard ferrets smell but have also heard that they dont if you clean there cage every day
Which is more expensive?
If you know other small animals you like you can tell me if u want. I want something intresting. Bunnys are cute but a bit boring (sorry just my opinion!) I was thinking chinchilla but I've read they don't really cuddle you or a anything
Sorry for all the questions! Thanks guys!btw I'm on an iPhone that's why there might be some typos

There was a thread about owing ferrets not too long ago - I think they are adorable too, but after reading up on them I have opted out lol.

http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=37309&SearchTerms=ferret

^^ That's me! Yeah, I read all that and decided against them...and you should always get 3 incase one dies I've heard...so keep that in consideration.

I had a ferret when I was 13.. I always had her out of the cage to play, well one day I left her in the living room while I went to get something to drink and she somehow managed to get on the table and get my moms keys to "play" with well she lost them.. we couldnt find the keys for 2 days and we ended up finding them in a drawer in a totally different room haha.. They love to hide things and mine did smell pretty bad and I kept her cage cleaned every single day... I would still have her now but my brother who was 8 at the time let her out one day while I was gone and he opened the front door and I never seen her again.. her name was yetti :)

Ferrets you should have more than one: 2 or 3. The advantage to them though is you can adopt a group through many ferret rescues(not as many rescues for gliders). You could also consider fostering first - that way if you decide they're not right for you, you just have to wait until they find a home. You could also foster long-term if vet bills are going to be a major concern as the rescue will cover their vet bills.

Ferrets WILL get cancer. Their lifespan is more like 5-7 - longer if you go through a non-marshall farms breeder though. However, you know that will happen up front. They aren't prone to self-mutilation and hurting themselves like our suggies tend to do. They do require vaccinations yearly(a good time to check for the cancers).

Their diet is easier, but probably costs about the same. They eat a lot! And poop alot! Even if you clean their cage frequently, they do have a slight musky smell. Go to Petco and see if that smell bothers you - yours will NEVER smell that bad on good food(high protein, grain free cat food is best - feeding a mixture of 2-3 types) and cleaning the cage, but that is worst case scenario lol. You can make cage sets similar to those for suggies - they love crinkly things.

You do need to be careful with tiny spaces(like with suggies) and they can get up under furntiure - recliners are VERY dangerous for ferrets - they will get up in there and when you lean back, they're killed :( You need to make sure they don't have access to anything rubber - they like to eat it and it can cause blockages.

They are very playful and can be around most cats and some dogs. Be careful walking them on a leash(they wiggle out of anything!), but the leashes aren't dangerous like they are for suggies. So just keep your eye on them the entire time you have them on a leash.

Another pro I can think of is its MUCH easier to find a ferret vet than a truly knowledgable suggie vet. Either way you go, I'd find a vet first.

My recommendation actually if you want something more temporary until you can get a suggie would be a pair of rats. They are willing to hang out on you for hours at a time, they love toys and exploring, are less messy and much less costly than any of the other pets you are looking at. They couldn't play with the cats, but you can take them out on walks(they sit on your shoulder, you walk lol) They can be taught tricks. Their food is simple and much less expensive. Bonus is, if you get them a very large cage, you could use it for suggies after they pass on(in 2-3 years). And would be easier for one parent to care for if you can't take them back and forth.

Thanks for the link!
That's a good idea! So I wouldn't he stuck with something i don't like!
But rats is a no because my mom is TERRIFIED of rats lol Actually it was hard to get her to be not so scared or gliders and ferrets
Actually my sister used to be like obsessed with ferrets but decided no (because she goes from liking one animal after another, XD she started liking bunnys before she got a ferret.)
@kaylee lol! I have heard of that! They steal things! Also I'm sorry you lost yeti
Yeah I don't want them to smell as bad as petco does so I'll clean there cage a lot.

Ever considered a hedgehog? Never had one but just a thought!

Ferrets should NOT be near cats. They kill small dogs by ripping out their throats. My ferret often trys to attack my cats also. Its their natural instinct.

Haha know I've got something else consider!
Really? I've never heard that they are dangerous with other animals. Maybe it's just thee aggressive type. And I'd never let an aggressive animals near my cats
I would just die if my cats died like that. Gosh I don't know if I should even consider ferrets anymore

Ferrets: I've gotten to be the proud foster mom of several ferrets in my lifetime. They stink! They are loads of fun, but can pack a mean bite.

Their diet is best made fresh every night and they thrive on a whole prey model diet with fresh meats, bones, and organs; nothing else. No fruits, no veggies, no grains. I don't think there is any dry food I would feed other than Orijen Cat and EVO Ferret. I had one 6 year old foster that had never had anything other than mice, chicken, pig organs, and live goldfish (they love fishing!) and we think that is why she lived to be 8 1/2 cancer free before she passed on!