Hello all! My best girlfriend told me about this forum and told me to check it out. She is on the Rats Rule! forum also. Recently in March, my fiance and I became a part of the ferret parenting world when we purchased/found Roxie (our Sable). My fiance had always had an affinity for ferrets but his parents never let him have them because of the all too famous "smell" people talk about. Granted, I'd heard of this as well, and a friend of ours had two that were "smelly". But I believe strongly it was because he was not diligent about changing the litter or keeping the bedding clean. Anyway, I'm rambling. I'd never really "gotten into" ferrets. We recently became hobbyists in fish and fish tanks when we moved in together in January into a small little cottage. So, we've been spending alot of time at a pet store that we love and the people there are friendly and knowledgeable. Best part is they get their ferret babies from a supposedly reputable breeder called Path Valley and sell all Path Valley foods. The babies always look clean and healthy and HYPER
So, we'd been playing with the babies every saturday when we went in and one Saturday I feel in love and brought "Roxie" home that day. $340 later after buying stuff for her.
I'll openly admit I didn't research on ferrets, but you better believe I read every website imaginable on ferret habits, training, health etc and bought a book as well. Roxie is a loveable hyper little booger and I'm very loving and caring for her. I may not be a ferret professor, but I keep her nails clean, her ears clean (she hates that),her cage immaculate (but I know to keep a little scent in the litter box for her to continue to use it. There's hardly any smell because of this. We bathed her for the first time this weekend and she went crazy! Itching and running around like a crazy animal. it was comical but I'm wondering if it was because it was her first bath and she was freaked cuz her oils were gone. Normally we just used baby wipes for "accidents" or if she was too musky smelling. She's well litter trained....has been since we brought her home. She had a problem with being QUITE vocal,whiney to a point actually in the beginning for a while. Not sure if that was because she was taken from her play mates (she was 8-10 wks when we brought her home) or because we spoiled her from the beginning
My one concern is she sneezes ALOT. I think the little boo boo has allergies! we just used the last of the pine bedding for the bottom of the cage and bought Aspen instead to see if that helps, but now that I'm reading that no bedding on the bottom is best, I feel like I wasted my $13 on the huge bag! Well, anyway, this past weekend we went for our usual trip to House of Tropicals and my fiance hinted to me that they had new baby ferrets in. He and I had been discussing the possiblity of getting a 2nd for Roxie's sake because he and I work so much that we honestly only spend a couple hours with her at night after all is said and done (we let her run around, but she gets hands on for a couple hours). And I began feeling really bad, like a bad "mommy". So, we found Peanut this weekend. She's a little itty bitty thing! I can't believe Roxie was that little! and she's the runt of her litter! anyway, we have them in two separate cages for now because we were told to get them accustomed to one another, especially since Roxie is bigger and may unintentionaly (or intentionally) hurt Peanut. We took Roxie with us to find Peanut and she "took" to Peanut right away, licking and grooming her. It was quite cute. we bought a bigger cage (we have a two story Super Pet for Roxie right now) This one is a three story Super Pet with tunnels and slides and it's neat. So, we've been letting them romp around together. We bathed them together, and they are getting equal attention. My only concern is that Roxie doesn't know her own strength. She has gotten quite rough with Peanut a few times since saturday and we've had to scruff her up and be stern. She's stubborn though, most hard headed little runt I've ever known!
Also, I am concerned Peanut may be deaf. my fiance thinks she doesn't respond to noises or our voices like Roxie did because she's still gaining her coordination and getting used to her new world. but I am still concerned. Any advice on the best way to tell if Peanut is deaf? I've heard that deafness in ferrets is common. but I don't know how to train a deaf ferret! peanut is not as well potty trained as Roxie is. Roxie was using the litter box the day she came home! Peanut is not as diligent.
So,I'm a newbie in ferret land....and i love it. but any advice fellow ferret mommies and daddies can give I'd relish! Thanks
