Over the years, I've seen many posts here regarding cats and ferrets
that get along well.  I need help making this happen in my household,
or getting as close as we can.  I'll give as much info here as I think
is necessary, but if you have other questions, please feel free to email
with them.
 
The Animals: 3 ferrets (1-year old male...the largest MF ferret I've ever
seen..around 4 pounds, 5-year old male, 5-year old female) in 2 cages
(the 1-year old is by himself as he won't let the others sleep if they
share a cage), 1 cat (unknown age, longhair who moved from outside)
 
Attitudes and History: The cat was an outside cat at one time, which is
how we ended up with her.  She was a hunter, and once chased a neighbor's
dog out of our yard.  The 1-year old male has never been out in an area
where the cat is, so we don't know how they will get along.  The two
5-year olds had the run of the house at one time with the cat.  At that
time, the male (the most gentle ferret I've ever encountered) was
terrorized by the cat.  She never put her claws out, but batted at him.
His sister (the hyperactive one) decided to put the cat in her place, and
ran circles around the cat... until the cat trapped her in a closet and
terrorized her.  That effectively ended their time out together, as both
ferrets cowered or hid instead of playing.  Now, the ferrets get time out
in their own room, with the cat closed out.  Recently, we started looking
to ferret-proof the entire house and let them have the run of it,
especially with another larger, younger addition to the business.
 
This Week: We came home from work to find the older ferrets' cage open
and the male not in it.  The cat did not meet us at the door, which was
unusual, and really worried us.  After some frantic searching, we found
him asleep in the back (protected) corner of the closet of their room.
At first glance, he appeared fine (thirsty was all), but on closer
examination, his back was covered with surface scratches (under the fur).
None were deep, none were bleeding when we found him, none on his belly.
However, we found a cat claw stuck in the fur on his back (note, not in
his skin, but in his fur).
 
It's now been a couple days since that time, and all seems physically
to be fine with him (the scratches are healing, he's eating, drinking,
peeing and pooing fine).  Mentally, he's still a little extra timid, but
getting better each hour he's out.
 
Thoughts: The cat did not kill him, nor did she do major damage to him,
which she was completely capable of.  She played with him, toyed with
him, or tormented him.  We have no way to know her attitude during the
time he was out.  But it's apparent that she was a hunter before we got
her and has not developed a love for the ferrets in the time she's spent
with us.
 
Obviously, we never intend to let them out together unsupervised.  Our
desire is to find a way for the ferrets to be out every hour we're home
and awake.  We're asking for any advice anyone has on how to make this
possible.
 
Debbie
[Posted in FML issue 5160]