Hello everyone!
 
Just thought I'd post and share my joy at having welcomed two
new ferrets into my household!  This is the first (well almost the
first) time I've had ferrets as pets, and I can see why people
say they don't know how they ever survived without them. :)
 
I did try to take care of a ferret once, about a year or so ago.
She was a real darling, had been abused by a breeder who used
her as long as she was able to have babies, then she was dumped.
I kept her in my bedroom and let her run around. Within a few days
I was having trouble breathing at night, and I had to give her away.
At the time I didn't know what I do now... so all those who think
they might be allergic to ferrets, here's my two cents (scents?):
I have two ferrets now, Sprocket and Ivanova, and I am not having
an allergic reaction at all. I don't know exactly why I reacted before,
or why I am not now. But if you are allergic, any of these factors
may have come into play:
 
* the ferrets now live in my livingroom, and are not allowed in my
bedroom.  Perhaps sleeping next to a furry for 8 hours a day
compounded any problem I might have had.
* I upgraded to a brand of kitty litter that doesn't contain so
much dust.  I have been told that I may have been allergic to the
kitty litter.
* the first ferret had not been bathed in a looooong time, and
had just had her operations (I think?)... the strong scent may
have triggered me.  The two ferrets I have now don't seem smelly.
(Both are descented)
 
Your mileage may vary.
 
It's so wonderful to have two little critters who are happy to
see you come home, happy to play with you, and who will actively
seek you out to play with.  If I go somewhere in the apartment,
they are right there, curious and hoping treats might be involved
somehow.  If I sit and read without paying attention to them, they
will play with each other quite happily, but sooner or later
I will look down and see two little faces watching me, waiting until
I emerge from behind that silly newspaper and decide to play.
 
Ivanova is five years old, Sprocket is seven (yep, 7).  He is still
amazingly active, no broken teeth, no problems, they both just had
their checkups and were given a clean bill of health (well except
for a few ear mites that were given the boot via eardrops).
The woman who used to have them, had them since they were babies
(kits?), and suddenly decided she was allergic to them and was
going to get them put to sleep in two weeks if she couldn't
give them away.  Luckily my friend Pegge heard of this and
phoned me before that deadline of death! I'll never be able to
understand how someone can care for a creature for 7 years,
especially little ferrets with their own personalities, and
decide to get them put to sleep for no reason.  I hope I never
understand that, actually.
 
Also, on a strange veterinary note, when they were given to me
poor Ivanova had nails so long that the longest nail on each
back foot was actually *pulled away* from the toe, upwards.
This looked incredibly painful, but after her nails were clipped
the toes returned to normal, just a week later! Do ferrets heal
phenomonally fast?  Imagine my surprise at telling the vet "Better
look at her back toes" and him saying "They look fine" and me
looking and saying "But...but..." :)
 
I look forward to getting the FML, thanks to all of you who
post... I find many answers in this list, and as you all know,
first time ferret owners can have many questions. :)  Thanks again!
 
Lorene Turner, Ivanova & Sprocket duFerret - [log in to unmask]
*********************************************************************
           "I want to be a pirate on the river Saskatchewan"
*********************************************************************
"I like to think that there's a little Hamlet in all of us. Not that
melancholy stuff. Or being a prince. But I've always believed that we
should have a little Danish in us.  Especially in the morning."
 -- Leslie Nielsen
 
[Posted in FML issue 0927]