Dear Ferret Folks-

Yesterday, I found this in the FML:

>Just because ferrets can't speak in human language doesn't mean they
>aren't trying to tell us things in their own way. Sometimes we need
>to watch more closely to see what they are trying to tell us.

Now, I am not trying to pick on the author,(TLE) who gave several
excelent examples of reasons why she believes ferrets feel emotions.
I am a believer already. Big time. I have proof. Her name is Puma.

Yes, Puma. I don't write about Puma as much as I write about Ping
because, well, Puma wants to eat me and over time that gets personal.
The first time she lay in my husbands arms like a little baby otter,
looking up at him with big eyes...well, he was her hoomin. And she was
his baby girl. Even now, after so much time has passed he picks her up
and snuggles her down in his big freckled Popeye arms and she looks up
at him with 'that look', the one that steals your heart and stashes it
under the sofa and you never get it back. Heck, you don't even miss it.

When Puma looks up at me she does it from the floor. She wears her best
Clint Eastwood face, which is hard to do with no chin whatsoever, but
she manages. "Oh. You." She treats me to a deep assessing look that
lets me know I do NOT measure up in any of the ways that matter, and
then she carefully walks *around* me. Slowly. She doesn't hurry.

Then her Daddy scoops her up for another "I wuv youuuu" session and her
little head turns to give me a long look from the other end of the sofa
where she and my husband are sitting. Instantly her eyes go from liquid
gems to something bad...it is a sensation like dragging nails down a
chalkboard, and it's all for me. Her little head turns back up to face
my husband and instantly, her fur is prettier, fluffier, she holds her
paws in a really cute way. My husband coos, and admires her tail. Her
widdle tail. It is a special tail. On the underside, tight near the
tip, there is a round white spot. So soft.

TLE is absolutely right. Just because ferrets can't speak in words
doesn't mean they don't speak. But just like hoomins, not every message
is a pretty one.

Alexandra in MA

[Posted in FML 5509]