# Where could I get meself a mink? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 27, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656 "2001-05-27T05:01:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SophieAZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5fc32e/32.png) [@SophieAZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SophieAZ)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/21 "2001-05-28T00:26:51Z")
Just out of curiosity, after reading the preceding posts about the pros and cons of having a mink as a pet - what is the plural of mink? Is it mink or minks? ---
**Author:** ![fnord1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fnord1966](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fnord1966)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/22 "2001-05-28T00:30:54Z")
I belive it is mink. I have a farm where I raise mink. I have a farm where I raise minks. I have a pet mink. I have several pet mink. I have several pet minks. Yep, mink is plural for mink. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/23 "2001-05-28T04:57:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by red\_dragon60 \* > \*\*A chinchilla is a mouse, so that would rule it out. I have seen them at pet stores though. > > Thanks for all the help! \*\* Cite please! Their scientific name is _Chinchilla lanigera_. Common house mouse _Mus musculus_. However, yes they are rodents I s’pose thats what you’re getting at. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/24 "2001-05-28T18:21:23Z")
1.Getting a mink. Someone admired Mae West’s coat, saying,“Goodness! What a lovely mink!” Miss West purred, “Goodness had nothing to do with it.” 2.Chinchillas as pets. I had a pair as a kid. A friend of my dad’s raised them, and gave them to us. They were ill-tempered biters. When I attempted to reach into the cage to pet one or pick one up, they would spray me with urine. Now I stick with pets that seek out affection. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/25 "2001-05-28T19:33:39Z")
There is a reason that wild animals are still wild. They don’t domesticate easily if at all. Sure it can be done. Sigfreid and Roy have “tame” cats. My guess is you still can’t trust them. Hell there is still an "old wives tale " about leaving a tabby cat with a human baby. Give me a dog any time. ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2001, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/26 "2001-05-28T20:13:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Whammo \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by red\_dragon60 \* > > \*\*A chinchilla is a mouse, so that would rule it out. I have seen them at pet stores though. > > > > Thanks for all the help! \*\* > > Cite please! > > Their scientific name is _Chinchilla lanigera_. > > Common house mouse _Mus musculus_. > > However, yes they are rodents I s’pose thats what you’re getting at. \*\* Well sure, let’s get anal about it 😃 You pegged it. I saw some at a pet store and thought they were quite rodent-like at the time. So yes, you are correct. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/27 "2001-05-31T04:49:36Z")
you know… i bet if you were to shave one it WOULD look like a mouse! ---
**Author:** ![fnord1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fnord1966](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fnord1966)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/28 "2001-05-31T06:46:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Whammo \* > \*\*you know… i bet if you were to shave one it WOULD look like a mouse! \*\* My thoughts exactly : [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=46222](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=46222) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/29 "2001-05-31T17:12:39Z")
Someone told me that chinchillas have extremely brittle bones, though, and you have to be EXTREMELY careful how you hold them. What about a mongoose? ---
**Author:** ![fnord1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fnord1966](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fnord1966)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/30 "2001-06-01T15:16:07Z")
Riki Tiki Tavi? If you had a mongoose, you would have no need to fear poisonous snakes, unless your in Ireland, then it would just be a pet. Although if it ran away I am sure all the snakes that were cowering in fear would come slithering back ifto your defensless homes knowing you are alone without protection. Thats when your fearless mongoose would come flying back from his excursion with the neighbor mongose(s) killing all the evil reptiles, saving their leader King Cobra for last, and just as he delivers the mortal bite, he will be bitten by the snake, and die. Everyone will be sad and have a funeral, but then you will learn that the neighbor moongose had a litter(?) of babies, you get one, and he becomes your new protector. Wow, thats what happens to your mind early in the morning when you have too much caffine. ---
**Author:** ![MinkMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minkman/32/19170_2.png) [@MinkMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MinkMan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656/31 "2001-06-01T16:01:22Z")
Nothing to add, but I thought I should post in this thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-could-i-get-meself-a-mink/66656.md?page=1)