Pester is a thorn in the side of Peekaboo for sure, they really never
showed signs of bonding as cage mates might or as I have seen ferts do
in the past.

Yet finally just yesterday I saw Peekaboo preening Pester ! That was an
excellent sign! This morning I find them curled up together in the same
hammy! Another good sign!

It seems a truce of what ever ire they create/maintain has been exacted
albeit is not a solid fact, close but no banana. Yet there is more than
a glimmer of hope they will bond and be friends more than two ferrets
that tolerate each other.

Over the years having watched a dozen or so rescues and two store
bought ferts I have had I have come to the conclusion the personalities
of a ferret closely parallel those of humans more than as demonstrated
by other animals. RePete just had it in for Pete and would attack him
every chance he got so I had to be very careful of how they were
accompanied around each other. That never changed. The instant RePete
came here, Pete's personality changed. In an instant he knew he was not
tolerated and was hated but by the new guy. He was safe with me but he
retracted inside of a trapped personality.

This made me very sorry that I took in RePete although I loved them
each, the pairing was a mistake. Pete died one day and I think his
crash was more from this strain than from anything else even though
they were always separated and had solid partitions in the cage so
each had their own area.

Ferrets are very emotionally sensitive animals. Great care needs to be
exacted for a successful happiness and calm demeanor.

I have a small area on the side of my yard where all the ferts rest in
peace. I almost come to tears knowing they are there as I respectfully
pass by. It amazes me how a darn weasel can capture the heart and
emotions of a human as they do, but they most certainly do. Just ferts
being ferts is enough to do that, and more.

I guess the most amazing act was my ability to communicate with
Byte-me. The most significant display was where Byte-me would always
start at the end of my bed and climb up to get under the bed spread and
sleep. I loved to find that warm lump in bed with me but she began to
choose the side of bed I slept in. So one day I slid my hand under the
bed spread, found her and carefully lifted her to relocate her to the
other side where I set her down but then put my hand on top of her, not
petting or stroking but just gently resting my hand on her. I did pet
her a bit but kept my hand on her and she stayed very still. I spoke to
her so she could hear the tone of my voice which was a no anger tone. I
got into bed on my side, Byte-me slept the rest of the night in that
exact same spot. From then on she always without failure would go to
that spot to sleep knowing that was her spot.

The others would join her and use that same spot to ball up and snooze.
The only time they would leave was to use the paper in the corner I put
there for them to use. It used to crack me up to wake in the dead of
night to have this tiny one pound ferret wake me getting out of bed,
plopping to the floor, walking on that paper crinkling as she walked on
it, and then a bit of quiet before . . . . . . Brrrrrrraaaaaaaaap! Some
ferret gas. That would crack me up. Then the clawing of her getting
back to her spot to finish the snooze. I deeply miss that.

Gordon, Peekaboo and Pester

Aarrow-Ranch Aviation
Mechanicsville, Virginia  23111

[Posted in FML 6380]