To: John Rosloot
re: more on the new arrival
 
John,
 
        Welcome to the list, and boy, do I understand bubbling over about the
`bubbling over with new ferret-parenthood' -- I'm the proud mom of a 15-week
old myself, and I got her at 8 weeks just like yours, and I asked questions
and told stories on the list constantly, and I still can't wait to get home
and see her everyday.
 
        Trella (pronounced tray-a) was small when I got her, too, in fact I
got her because she was almost the smallest (which I think is really cute) --
the smallest seemed a little inactive, and I was worried about her -- Trella
was the one who showed the most interest in meeting me, too, so she was the
one.  I don't know what she weighed when I got her, though my hands are quite
small and her body was barely longer than my hands.  She was so adorable.
Technically, she's grown to full average ferret size now, 1 lb. 6oz., I think,
but even her vet said she looks quite small even for a female.  But I don't
mind, because it makes her retain that cute baby look, I love it.  If your
worried about her getting big enough to defend herself against Buddy (or any
other friends/foes), I wouldn't -- Trella could hold her own against my
roomie's 60lb. boxer/shepherd as soon as we got her, and scared the wits out
of the cat 3 times her size for weeks.  (Now Raven's only twice Trella's size,
and they're best friends; sometimes they wrestle so much we get tired of
listening to them and have to separate them for awhile!
 
        I wish I had tips for you on the messy ferret baby thing, but mine
seems to be the same way.  She plays in her litter even when it's dirty,
(though I never let it get very dirty -- I use the clumping scoopable kind)
and food dishes in the corner seem to be no deterrent to her using it as a
bathroom.  So I'll ask, too -- does anyone know if this will get better?  This
particular corner I mentioned is in the kitchen, which, as far as I'm
concerned, rules out putting a litter box there (I refuse!).  I'm really
stumped on this one.  I've tried her on different kinds of litter, but she
seems perfectly happy to go in the one in the living room -- it's just the one
in her cage she'd rather not use (unless she's shut in).  She's only done this
about a week, but it's really getting on my nerves!  PLEASE any suggestions?!
 
        By the way, I think Cassidy is a great name -- it's really cute!
 
Laura L'Heureux and Trella, too
U. of Illinois VM96
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[Posted in FML issue 0342]