I cant wait to have ferrets, Im going to have to wait till Ive got less of my present pets left though so Im not in a rush for any of them to go to the bridge. They sound a lot like rats, without the short lifespan.

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gsds (Henrick and Bella), the cats (Syd, Lilly, Elvis and Dizzy), the gerbils (Honey, Lisa, crusty, Millhouse, Flanders, Bart and Homer), the rats (Valentine, Flower, Petal, Blossom, Koda, Cava, George), the mice (Minnie, Pop, Seudag, Caraid, Silver, Trouble, Athena, Pandora, Aphrodite, Meep, and Springtime)

They are a lot like rats but naughtier! They also seen hardier than rats. I will never be without my rats but neither would I now be without my ferrets. Id recommend males from a good rescue (can highly recommend my one who vaccinates, neuters and microchips them). Unneutered males do rather smell somewhat disgusting.

I dont think I will be getting any more rats or mice, Ive lost so many recently (a gerbil, 2 mice and a rat) without a chance to get over loosing one baby before the next one goes, and I have so many oldies who are looking their age now too.

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gsds (Henrick and Bella), the cats (Syd, Lilly, Elvis and Dizzy), the gerbils (Honey, Lisa, crusty, Millhouse, Flanders, Bart and Homer), the rats (Valentine, Flower, Petal, Blossom, Koda, Cava, George), the mice (Minnie, Pop, Seudag, Caraid, Silver, Trouble, Athena, Pandora, Aphrodite, Meep, and Springtime)

I know that feeling Gill. I knew this year would be bad as I have several oldies and long term poorly ones, and most of them went within a couple of weeks. I lost a heart rat yesterday with a PT and its broken my heart. All he ever wanted in life as to be loved and cuddled. He licked and bruxed and boggled until he went to the Bridge.

Thats the bit I cant cope with, rats are such people orientated animals, so with very little encouragement they soon become part of the family, I cant get my head round loosing a famly member every couple of years . Im so sorry you lost your boy and I know just how much your heart will be breaking right now (hugs).

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gsds (Henrick and Bella), the cats (Syd, Lilly, Elvis and Dizzy), the gerbils (Honey, Lisa, crusty, Millhouse, Flanders, Bart and Homer), the rats (Valentine, Flower, Petal, Blossom, Koda, Cava, George), the mice (Minnie, Pop, Seudag, Caraid, Silver, Trouble, Athena, Pandora, Aphrodite, Meep, and Springtime)

I have an amazing vet and even she was in floods of tears with me yesterday. Jackson was so bonded to me he just wouldn't leave this life and kept hanging on bruxing and boggling. We had wonderful cuddles though even though my heart was breaking at least I could say goodbye properly. His group are missing him as much as me though.

I can't give up rats... thought about it for a bit yesterday - but I would rather have loved them than never loved at all.

Well Im at the never again stage right now but who knows if I will be able to say no in the future if a needy rat happens along

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gsds (Henrick and Bella), the cats (Syd, Lilly, Elvis and Dizzy), the gerbils (Honey, Lisa, crusty, Millhouse, Flanders, Bart and Homer), the rats (Valentine, Flower, Petal, Blossom, Koda, Cava, George), the mice (Minnie, Pop, Seudag, Caraid, Silver, Trouble, Athena, Pandora, Aphrodite, Meep, and Springtime)

yeah its true mine do too my girls cant have anything nice a while ago i bought a load of lovely second hand hammocks and stuff gave the girls a georgiouse spotty double hammock that lasted a day then they got a monkeyface hammock with snuggle pouches they shredded that theyve had quite a few that just got shredded or mangled beyond use.normaly within 24hrs.
my boys though are fairly good charlie keeps stuff nice hes had this pouch thing for ages and its still intact with a little bit of chewed edged but still nice.my other oys are good to there hammocks are usually still hanging by clean out day.
my new boys got a brand new cube that my lovely daddy kindly bought them as a welcome presant its intact but thy havechewed the insides to bits and the stuffing got used as nesting matereal so took it out and gonna keep it for my none chewers they got the tardis and a few cheap hammocks now instead
they will prob hate me for it but untill they stop shredding they can live wit cheaper stuff

I have tested everything on all my own rats and I have girls that are terrible chewers. I have found that the double and triple deckers are untouched as there is nowhere for them to chew out. The choobs I put side exits in so again they don't chew out the sides. I use very thick polypropelene webbing and the rats hate chewing and I have never had one of them chewed. All my hammocks are stitched around the edges and quilted to try and stop them burrowing.

I try and stay one step ahead of them.