From:
caitlyn@mizuhoradio.com
Date: 2009-02-21 23:32:58 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Re: Jak-Jak has new sister, need intro advice
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Here is a post I disagree with:
> A 7 year-old ferret is an extreme senior
Some are, some aren't. I have an approx. seven year old here named Ella
who thinks she's a kit and loves rough play and wrestling. Nyssa,
despite being in the early stages of lymphoma, became my dominant alpha
just before the age of seven. For the next year she'd thrash any and
every ferret who started a wrestling match with her. Podo and Kodo
didn't really slow down until they were nine. In my experience it all
comes down to whether or not a ferret is healthy and their personality.
> is not likely to accept another ferret, especially a kit.
Hmmm... When Chin Soon arrived she was 11 months old. That's a young
adult rather than a kit but the energy level is similar. Which ferret
did she bond to? Podo. He was nine and a half and was absolutely
rejuvenated by her presence. They always slept together and always
played together. Podo had lost Kodo and I thought he would never be the
same again. I was wrong. Chin Soon snapped him out of his depression
and life went on. Podo and Chin Soon were inseperable right up until
Podo passed away. He was somewhere around ten years old.
Oh, and yes, when we adopted Chin Soon I wanted her to bond to the
youngest ferrets in the business. Silly me. That came later.
> At seven a ferret is slowing down
Some are, some aren't. If a ferret really starts slowing down it's time
for a vet checkup regardless of age.
> sleeping more
Some yes, some no.
> wanting one-on-one quiet time with their human
Tell that to Ella. Quiet time is boring. She runs away. Now if you
spin her and slide her she'll come running back for more.
> doesn't generally want to be bothered with another ferret unless its
> a long-standing bonded companion.
That depends entirely on the personality of the ferret in question and
the health of the ferret. Nyssa hated newcomers all her life and gave
them hell until she got used to them. Romana always wanted more
companions. So did Kodo. So does Ella.
> A 7 year-old dragging off a youngster seems a little extreme
> unless he's never had a companion before
Nyssa was aggressive to newcomers when she was a year old and when she
was eight years old. For Ella a visitor or a newcomer is a friend to
play with. You can't make a generic statement like this.
> I would check with your local ferret shelter to see if they might
> have a more suitable companion for your new baby.
I prefer getting ferrets of any age from a shelter. In this economy the
shelters are full to overflowing and need people to adopt. Since
Jak-Jak has a new sister already I'd see how things work out before
jumping to ANY conclusions. I understand the two are off to a bad
start. It doesn't have to stay that way.
Put them in separate cages next to each other so that they get used to
each other's scent. Swap bedding between the cages. Make sure their
interactions are limited in time and scope at first. If Jak-Jak
terrorizes the little one make sure you comfort her. If he's good with
her give him praise and a treat. Let him know you like it.
Please remember that ferret parents scruff and carry off their young.
If the little one is shaking or if she relieves herself out of fear then
things have gone too far. If Jak-Jak draws blood things have gone too
far. In those cases they need to be separated again. Anything less
than that you need to let them work it out for themselves. They
probably will.
Good luck,
Caity and the terrific trio
Ella, Zephyr, and Chin Soon
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