From:
Claire Curtis
Date: 2002-01-21 19:14:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Help...new ferret owner!
Hi Juli --
Ferrets are veritable houdinis, but often are too curious not to get
lost. So there is a very good chance you found a couple of escapees
rather than abandoned ferrets. If that's the case, there may well be a
very worried ferret mom or dad out looking for their kids. Tell the
local vets, put up a note at the grocery store, and at the local pet
store. Also call whatever shelter is nearest you (there is a listing on
the yahoo site.)
Second -- many ferrets are very social. The two guys you found, since
they were outside together, were doubtless buddies. Ferrets have been
known to pine away and die when an especially good buddy dies. Don't
separate them! If you can't find their folks, and end up keeping them,
make sure they get together often. Maybe you could keep the two at your
house one week, then move both of them to your sister's the next.
The stress of being separated also might very well be what is causing
something so abnormal as eating feces (no they don't normally do that.)
Also make sure you are giving them appropriate food; at least a high
quality kitten food (such as Ekanuba or Iams) but preferably a ferret
food (such as Totally Ferret).
Meanwhile, you're doing the right thing in asking here -- and check out
the websites in the "links" section. Also as Russ said, a book like
"Ferrets for Dummies" is a very good start.
Good luck!
--Claire
> I'm a new ferret owner. We found Lucky in my sister's back yard and
> took it in....(we think she was abandoned because my sister actually
> found 2..she kept one and I kept one))