Quote Originally Posted by BigDan35
Does anyone in here have a Ferret or a Chinchilla? How are they as pets? I've been thinking about getting them recently but am still undecided. Ferrets seem like really cool, really fun animals but they are illegal in California. So how would one in California go about getting a Ferret. Any other useful, positive, negative information anyone can give me on a Ferret or Chinchilla? I'm just tired of having the normal "rats, rabbits" and would like something a little more exotic.
I used to breed ferrets (but don't own them anymore)...the basic overview - very smart, social (to a funny extent), mischevious and will steal anything shiny that they can get their hands on. They dance, sing (chatter and bark). Downsides - smell musky so you need to bathe them every couple of weeks, they poop and pee by backing up (usually to a corner)...but anywhere they can back up (but can be litter box trainer). They can also get anywhere they can fit there head...so like snakes they can hide in the smallest of spaces...so you have to "ferret proof" your home. My recommendation is to buy one from a breeder...the ones at pet stores are fixed very early on so they stay very small and have lots more health problems. My ferrets that weren't fixed would hit 7 - 12 lbs of solid muscle...versus the 3-5lbs small pet stores ones.

Sorry I don't know anything about Chinchilla's.

Also, I don't advocate getting an illegal pet...but that is up to you.