From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-12-14 16:26:21 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Ferret time calculation (?)
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I doubt there is any way to know how another
species or another human perceives time.
Among humans there is the condition called
progeria which causes premature aging. I
haven't seen anything indicating that because
they age faster those individuals perceive
time differently than other people of the same
age, though it is an interesting question and
i don't know if anyone has looked into it.
The bits and pieces I have encountered have
hinted that as with some older humans who
are dying, some children with progeria seem to
be able to be in the same situation with grace
and acceptance, but that happens with a
number of children who have other terminal
medical problems, also. So, I don't think that
indicates a difference in perception of time.
My guess, and it is only that, is that a day is a
day is a day, but that aging, experience, and illness
lend their own changes in perception. For me
these days a week or three will go by so rapidly,
but I'm just a couple of years shy of 60. When
I was a child, with fewer memories and more
that was new to learn in just everyday life each
day seemed so long.
Another guess of mine is that the attitude matters
in perception of time. One of our old vets, who
moved away when he married for the career needs
of his wonderful wife, used to say that he loved
working on ferrets because (and this is just a
paraphrase):
"Cats live in the past so they remember who
gave them the shot and can hold a grudge.
Dogs live in the present so they are more aware
of the shot. Ferrets live looking toward the
future so they think, 'Okay, but what's next?'
and look forward to that."
I doubt that the ferret felt like there were months
of pain, Uli.
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Ulrike" <ferretlove.uk@...> wrote:
>
> My question is about how ferrets or animals perceive time. I know it's not
> exactly right but say ferrets live around 8 years, we live 80 years. So are
> 8 years as long for a ferret as 80 years are for us? And if a ferret is
> sick for 5 days, is it like we were sick for 50 days? I had a problem when
> my Piper suddenly developed symptoms and was put to sleep 4 days later. But
> if the 4 or 5 days were actually more like 40 - 50 days for her then it's
> like us getting silent cancers that can kill within 2 months once symptoms
> occur. I just want to know whether a day is longer for ferrets than for us
> because we may think "oh, she was only in pain for a few days" when actually
> for her is was a long time.
>
> Ulrike
>
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