this may sound odd, but has anyone ever experienced a ferret *not* from
an abuse/neglect situation that seems to have an emotional handical or
developmental disability?  i only have what little i know of child/human
psychology to go on here, but i swear, loki is almost sociopathic in his
behaviours.  of course, we love him all the same, but... he seems to have
no concept of right and wrong, no concept of when he's being "bad".
discipline has no real effect on him.  he doesn't seem to respond to human
affection particularly, nor does he socialise with the other ferrets very
often.
 
he frequently doesn't use the litter areas, often just stopping in his
tracks to "go" on the spot.  he is a lick-lick-bite ferret, but doesn't
seem to be aggressive or playful... it's just like he's doing it because
the hand/foot is there.  it's not for attention, as far as i can tell.  i
don't mind it--just keep my hand away from his mouth when i'm holding and
petting him.
 
he seriously seems to regard chris and i as nothing much more than
food/treat dispensers, and the other ferrets as creatures to either be
bulied or ignored.
 
the only thing that sets him apart from the others in his background is
that he was suffering from severe diarrhea and an inflamed anus when
i got him.  he also had (and still has, naturally) a piece of his ear
missing--presumably injured in a rough fight with a shipment-mate.  the
diarrhea cleared up, but his rectum has always been a bit troublesome.
he's developed a funny walk to go with his broken butt.
 
we've treated him no differently from the others, though, and he was but
a 12-14 week old kit when we got him.  it's just interesting to think
about--i wonder if the severe butt trauma at such an early age, or the
lack of cagemates att he petstore, or some combination of the events in
those first few weeks of his life actually stunted his emotional and
psychological development...it's also interesting to note that he seemed
normal as a young kit, and didn't begin to deviate from normal fert
behaviour until maybe 5 or 6 months of age.  he's almost a year old now.
 
i know some of the people on these lists have to be at least somewhat
"into" animal mental health issues...figured i'd see if anyone has any
theories.
 
oh yeah--he's a champagne, has hearing and sight intact, more or less in
perfect health, physically.
 
-kat-
 
=====
,',',     __
\    `'`,/  \ ()o=;
 `'`','`/  . \/ /
       (  / \" /
        \(_  \(_   ferrets may nip, but people just suck.
[Posted in FML issue 3581]