From:
the return of weezilarchy
Date: 2001-10-24 10:55:00 UTC
Subject: EH/ developmentally disabled fert?
this may sound odd, but has anyone ever experienced a ferret *not* from
an abuse/neglect situation that seems to have an emotional handicap or
developmental disability? i only have what little i know of child/human
psychology to go on here, but i swear, loki is almost sociopathic in
his behaviours. of course, we love him all the same, but...
he seems to have no concept of right and wrong, no concept of when he's
being "bad". discipline has no real effect on him. he doesn't seem to
respond to human affection particularly, nor does he socialise with the
other ferrets very often.
he frequently doesn't use the litter areas, often just stopping in his
tracks to "go" on the spot. he is a lick-lick-bite ferret, but doesn't
seem to be aggressive or playful... it's just like he's doing it
because the hand/foot is there. it's not for attention, as far as i can
tell. i don't mind it--just keep my hand away from his mouth when i'm
holding and petting him.
he seriously seems to regard chris and i as nothing much more than
food/treat dispensers, and the other ferrets as creatures to either be
bulied or ignored.
the only thing that sets him apart from the others in his background is
that he was suffering from severe diarrhea and an inflamed anus when i
got him. he also had (and still has, naturally) a piece of his ear
missing--presumably injured in a rough fight with a shipment-mate. the
diarrhea cleared up, but his rectum has always been a bit troublesome.
he's developed a funny walk to go with his broken butt.
we've treated him no differently from the others, though, and he was
but a 12-14 week old kit when we got him. it's just interesting to
think about--i wonder if the severe butt trauma at such an early age,
or the lack of cagemates at the petstore, or some combination of the
events in those first few weeks of his life actually stunted his
emotional and psychological development... theories are naturally
welcome. it's also interesting to note that he seemed normal as a young
kit, and didn't begin to deviate from normal fert behaviour until maybe
5 or 6 months of age. he's almost a year old now.
=====
,',', __
\ `'`,/ \ ()o=;
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( / \" /
\(_ \(_ ferrets may nip, but people just suck.
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