Hello all,
I just wanted to know everyone's views on extremely skittish ferrets.
My Loca, the poor thing, still runs and hides whenever she hears a loud
noise or you walk towards her too fast. We've had her for about a month,
and although she has gotten better, she still scares very easily. For
the first week or so, her tail would puff out and her hair on her back
would stand up whenever she got scared. This doesn't happen anymore,
but I still feel so sad when she runs and hides.
I got her from a pet store, so who knows what she endured when she was
there. But now that she lives with me, I want her to know that she will
always be safe and never has to run from anything ever again. While our
other ferret, Munch, is more my boyfriend's ferret because he got her
before we lived together, I think Loca favors me (don't tell him that).
I fell in love with her the first time I picked her up. There was just
so much sadness but still so much strength in her. We bonded
immediately, and I just want her to know that she's ok, and will be ok
from now on.
I spend a lot of time with her, I pick her up when she allows it, she
sleeps with me sometimes, and I never play rough with her. I also try
to move around slowly and speak very softly to her so she knows that she
can trust me and my movements. Does anyone else have any other ideas
about what to do? I feel so sad that she, even if it was just for a
minute, was so scared of humans that she felt the need to flee from them.
I also realize that she may just be skittish by nature. It's just so
crazy how no 2 ferrets have the same personalities. Munch always had
such confidence, and was never afraid of anything. She's also a lot
more independent, and only since Loca has come home has she become
affectionate. I love Munch tons as well, but Loca just stole my heart
because she is the more vulnerable one. I feel like I still need to
protect her.
If anyone has had a similar experience or any tips, please e-mail me.
Thank you
Meghan, Munch and Loca
[Posted in FML issue 4825]
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