From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2011-07-30 18:16:08 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Introducing new ferret
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I am very sorry for your recent loss.
In my experience, a great deal depends on individual personality, irrespective of age or sex. I recently had year-old female rescue come in who required emergency surgery. Once she recovered, she was clearly feeling lonely and I opted to put her with my 7 year-old ferret Sadie, who in the past has accepted foundlings. They got along immediately, and Sadie was able to make Isabella feel nurtured. Isabella was adopted today into a home with two youngsters, they got along right away. And Sadie as acquired a 7 1/2 year-old male and a 5 1/2 year-old female as new permanent companions.
On the other hand, I have another year and half old female who was integrated into a group of males last year when she came in as a rescue. Unfortunately, all these boys have died in the past 6 months for various reasons, except for one male, close to her age. She has not accepted any other ferrets except for this one male. She is extremely aggressive with all other ferrets.
Sometimes it is obvious which ferret has strong Alpha tendencies but not always.
I agree with you that a 7 year-old should not be stressed out by an aggressive youngster. I would suggest checking with the local ferret shelters and asking whether they might have a docile or submissive ferret who might be a suitable companion for your grieving senior Bridget.
As for Lexi, I would also ask whether they might have an energetic youngster as companion for her.
You might not have considered getting 2 more ferrets, but you may wish to think about it. You would be giving a home to two shelter ferrets, as well as, providing a better companion for each of your resident ferrets.
Tressie
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/