When choosing an animal for your household to enjoy, there is no better way to do so than comparing and contrasting specific species. Take guinea pigs (aka cavies) and ferrets, for example. They are both trendy animals to get from the pet store or local adoption agency.
Still, if you are hung up on which pet is right for you or which is ultimately better, you have come to the right place. So, what is the difference between a guinea pig and a ferret? Let’s find out below.
The main difference between a ferret and a guinea pig is that one is a mammal (ferret), and the other is a rodent (guinea pig). Other differences include their appearance, diet, behavior, habitat, grooming, health, and lifespan.
This article discusses these things below, and we will answer some frequently asked questions afterward. All in all, it is essential to know what you will be getting yourself into, and you are making the wise decision by doing an immense amount of research before automatically jumping into something you are not ready for.
This piece of writing is your ultimate guide on what to expect between the two animals, so buckle up and get prepared for a lot of knowledge coming your way!
Which Should You Get: A Guinea Pig or a Ferret?
Which animal you get is entirely up to you. For example, getting an extremely active ferret might be the best choice if you like to entertain your animals constantly.
However, having a guinea pig might be best if you want a more affectionate animal. Nevertheless, these factors entirely depend on the animal and their behaviors. In this case, we encourage you to continue reading to learn more.
1. Appearances
First, we will discuss the appearance of each animal.
Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are innately small creatures but contain an ovalish shape-like body. They have short hands and feet with larger heads and eyes. A cavies eyes are located on the side of its head and are considered prey.
Guinea pigs have short ears and come in many colors, including black, white, cream, and chocolate. They also have many different hair lengths and textures. Cavies are roughly 8 to 10 inches long and weigh between 25 and 39 ounces.
These tiny creatures have four toes on their forefeet and three on their hind feet. Their claws are sharp and short, but you should trim them at least once a month to prevent curling. Lastly, guinea pigs belong in the cavy family, or caviidae.
Ferrets
Ferrets are also small creatures, reaching 13 to 16 inches long, depending on gender, and weighing between 1.5 and 4.4 pounds. These little critters have long and slender bodies, making them extremely flexible and able to move better.
A ferret’s fur color varies from tan, white, black, chocolate, cinnamon, etc., while their eye color ranges from dark brown to burgundy. You may often see white patches on their toes or throat as well. In terms of their coat, the density will change depending on the seasons, as it sheds and becomes lighter in the summertime while thickening and becoming darker in the winter.
Ferrets grow until they are roughly 5 to 6 months old and considered adults at one year. Their lifespan is between 6 and 10 years. However, ferrets are prone to illnesses and accidents, so their lives may become shorter, but we will discuss this further below.
2. Diet
Now that we have the initial descriptions, we will discuss what each animal eats.
Guinea Pigs
Cavies are herbivores, meaning they have a plant-based diet. These creatures do not eat meat but must get vitamin C in their diet as their bodies cannot make it alone. Vitamin C is typically found in pellets, like Kaytee Timothy Complete, a 9.5-pound bag that will last a long time, considering they only need 1/8 cup of pellets daily.
Also, guinea pigs constantly eat timothy or orchard hay and love many fruits, including but not limited to blueberries, bananas, apples, raspberries, and mangoes. These tiny creatures also love dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, carrots, red peppers, celery, and more.
Ferrets
On the other hand, ferrets are strictly carnivores, meaning they ONLY eat meat. If you give your ferret a plant-based meal, they will not be able to digest it properly. Furthermore, what you provide for ferrets should mimic a ferret’s natural prey animals, giving them at least 35% protein (or over 40%), roughly 20% fat, and 5% fiber concentration.
Many people will provide them with cat food. However, this is not ideal, as many cat foods contain grain and other plant-based items. Marshall Select is an excellent brand for ferret food. This particular purchase comes in two 4-pound bags.
3. Behavior
Knowing what behaviors a guinea pig and ferret exhibit will be extremely helpful, as one personality might mesh better with yours.
Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are typically gentle animals that are very vocal. For example, if you wake up and they hear you roaming around the room (assuming they are in the same room), then you will find them telling you that they immediately want food by squeaking or grunting nonstop. These animals also do popcorning, meaning they will jump for joy if they are happy about something.
Many guinea pigs love to be held and love affection. They will typically not bite you unless they feel threatened by another animal or if you mishandle them. To pick them up, you must ensure one hand supports their bottom while the other supports their back.
Lastly, guinea pigs love to play, so ensure you provide them with plenty of stimulation and toys. They also need things to chew on constantly, as their teeth never stop growing. Ensure you give them plenty of toys to chew on, such as those from JoysBuddy.
Ferrets
Ferrets are also highly playful creatures and love running, hiding in dark tunnels, and chasing balls. Their enclosure can be inside or outside, depending on how much space you have in your home.
Ferrets can also roam freely inside the house but be prepared for scratches in your carpet (or other areas) and for things to go missing. If you want to avoid this, get them a large cage.
However, you will still need to take them out each day so you can play with them, as ferrets love attention from their owners. This also ensures they form a strong bond with you as well.
4. Habitat
Knowing what environment your little animal needs to be happy is essential. Let us take a look at it below:
Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs need to be in a draft-free area. Their cages should not be placed on elevated surfaces or near windows and doors. Guinea pigs do not do well in humid or cold conditions.
These small animals need at least 7.5 square feet of the cage or roughly 30 x 36 inches wide for one cavy, but the bigger their cage is, the better, as they will be happier. Also, make sure the surface of where they lay their feet is soft and not hard for their delicate feet. It is also essential to ensure the enclosure is easy enough to clean.
Guinea pig enclosures also need several places to hide when they feel scared. It is vital to put soft bedding in the enclosure as well.
Ferrets
The first thing to recognize is that a ferret’s cage needs to be well-ventilated. One ferret’s minimum requirement is 24 x 24 x 18 inches high.
However, if you can afford to go bigger, we recommend doing so, as ferrets need lots of space to exercise and play in. Not only that, but ferrets need a cage that locks well, as they are often known to escape their cages.
Ferret enclosures need several places to climb and explore, as well as other hiding spaces. Consider getting a hammock or two and bedding for their space.
5. Grooming
Next, we will discuss grooming habits you should implement for a ferret or guinea pig.
Guinea Pigs
It is wise to brush your guinea pigs’ hair in the same direction as it grows, which will help remove any dead hairs, tangles, and dry leaves, twigs, or burrs that may be in their coat (assuming you let them play outside in an enclosure.)
Check the length of your cavies’ toenails, as you will need to clip them at least once a month. Lastly, it will be wise to bath your guinea pig once every other month to prevent any dirt and debris from building up. Also, this will help their coat not get too oily.
Ferrets
Ferrets typically self-groom, but they shed their coat twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. Brushing their coat at least once a day helps limit hair ingestion.
Trimming their toenails twice a month is essential to help prevent curling. You can also wash their coat only once a month. However, washing its fur too much will cause the natural oils to come off, which helps it not smell as bad.
6. Lifespan
How long will you have your small fluffy friend with you? Let us take a look down below.
Guinea Pigs
A guinea pig’s lifespan is anywhere between 5 and 8 years. This entirely depends on the animal’s health and how well it is treated. Some cavies that are very pampered and live very healthy lifestyles can live up to 10 years of age!
Ferrets
A ferret’s average lifespan is between 5 and 7 years, but they can also live up to 10 years if they receive proper nutrition and routine care and remain active. The oldest ferret record is 14 years old! However, genetics or illnesses sometimes get in the way, so always pay attention to their overall well-being.
7. Health
Speaking of illnesses, it is crucial to understand what kind of health issues your guinea pig or ferret may have. Will they be expected to come with health problems? If so, is that a risk you are willing to take?
Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are typically healthy, but they do have some concerns that arise from time to time. Most of the time, guinea pigs will have issues due to aging, injury, reproductive disorders, dental disease, or improper care.
When a guinea pig has a specific bacteria and virus, it is usually caused when it lives with other cavies. This can also develop into a respiratory issue later on down the line.
Ferrets
Ferrets are not typically recommended for children under five because they carry germs that can cause you or your household to get sick. In this case, washing your hands and not touching your face after handling them is essential.
These tiny creatures can have heart or cardiac diseases, which is typical. Some other health issues can be heart failure due to the improper function of the heart muscle, which can happen when they are over three years old. Another heart failure problem can occur due to heartworm infections.
Which Is Best for You?
Ferrets and guinea pigs are incredibly similar in a lot of areas. They are playful and can live up to 10 years, give or take. These animals are tiny creatures that will not take up a lot of room, so it entirely depends on your preference. Some people might think guinea pigs are better than ferrets and vice versa, so do all your research and find out which suits you.
We hope this article was helpful. If you have any other questions or concerns about guinea pigs or ferrets, we highly recommend you look at our other articles for more information.
