Jan 16 2009
What makes a better pairing: male/female, male/male or female/female?
The answer to that question is, “It depends.”
Factors include:
- Age when ferret was neutered
- From mass-producer of ferrets (Marshall Farms/Path Valley/FFF) or privately bred
- Current age of ferrets
If you’re talking about a ferret from a big breeder like Marshall Farms, etc., those ferrets were neutered and descented at 4 weeks of age. They’re basically sexless, except for a difference in size. Ferrets do have personalities, and obviously you have to take that into consideration, but in general any pairing will work if they’re young.
If you’re talking about a late-altered ferret (one that was neutered at 6 months or older) then in general a male/female combo works best.
Taken as a whole, a male/female combination is most likely to work, whatever the age. However, if the ferrets are under 6 months of age, they’re usually open to any age or sex.
What you need to watch out for are the females over 2 years of age. For whatever reason, females tend to get less and less willing to accept a friend as they get older. You’re most likely to succeed introducing a large male to a female over 2, but that’s not a certainty. They seem to get more territorial as they get older.
Of course, not ALL females are like that. If a ferret has been raised alone, you’re more likely to have problems. If it’s been raised in a large group, you’re less likely to have problems.
Once a ferret is 6-8 months of age, it’s basically an adult and has formed a strong personality. This is when you start to run into problems with one ferret not necessarily liking another.
The best way to find a friend for your ferret is to try it out with the new ferret. Obviously this isn’t always possible at a pet store, which is why I strongly suggest going to a shelter. That way you can try them out and you’ll know ahead of time if they will get along. You don’t want to get home and have World War III breaking out in your living room!
Good information! Thanks very much, Barb!
I would venture to add that if you’re only able to afford ONE ferret, go with a female, as they are usually very independent, and will bond very close with their hooman. (but then ferrets are like potato chips, and it’s SO MUCH more fun with 2 or 3, or as many as you can responsibly afford!)
Supporting ferret shelters is extremely rewarding as well!
Honestly, it really depends on the ferret. I have “singles” here at the shelter who are male and who do quite well as single ferrets. Buddha and my Little Nicky are two.
I have an almost 2 year old male ferret named Nijon and i was thinking of getting him a friend for my birthday so he has someone to hang out with while i’m at school and i was wondering if i should get a girl or a boy. He’s from a mass market (Path Valley) so he was neutered when we bought him. The only other ferrets he’s been in contact with are the ones that he shared a cage with at the pet store. He does play-fight with mine and my sister’s cats though and assume that goes a little towards socialization but i’d like your opinion. (please respond via my email incase i lose the link to the page or forget)
~Steot
The best way to see if your ferret would like a friend is to take him to a ferret shelter and let him pick out a friend. A 2-year-old male should be fine with any ferret who likes him. You want to try to stay close to his age (1 year either way is fine). I’ve found that just because a ferret gets along with a cat or dog, doesn’t predict whether or not it will get along with another ferret. Most males of that age are open to new friends, but some just want to be an only ferret.