From:
Moxie and Nexus
Date: 2005-09-01 13:52:00 UTC
Subject: when ferret goes into rut
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20050901135200.77949.qmail@web80723.mail.yahoo.com>
I have a 4 year old hob that I got when he was five months old. He was born 9/8, and he went into rut in late February. He is now going through his coat change and rut should end soon. He doesn't stink as bad now. At the peak of it, he smells bad and marks urine on anything he can walk over such as shoes, table legs, etc. He will get a beautiful coat when it turns cold and will go back into rut late February again. He gets a daily walk, and during the peak of rut, he always wants to go outside. He scratches at the door. Maybe he thinks a female is out there. Another difference I have noticed between him and the other seven ferrets I have owned is that this one is very aggressive towards other animals and would kill. The cat has to stay away from him. He is also the only ferret I own. I think he would kill another one. My husband was totally against neutering him, so I told him he would have to put up with the smell. I do bathe him when he gets really stinky, but that
only lasts for a day. He is totally spoiled. He has been a lap ferret since he was a baby.
Most people wouldn't be able to put up with the smell and urine marking. He is allowed in the living room and our bedroom where he has a bed, other than his own room (told you he was spoiled). I don't allow him in the kitchen or office where the small animals are. I also don't have any carpet, as he would certainly mark that.
I don't know when your boy will go into rut. I don't know if it goes by the season or the age. I'm sure others on the list will know.
Moxie, Nexus, Smudge, Ziggy, and Chuckie
God Bless America
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