HI EVERYONE.
THIS CONNIE FROM LA.  I JUST BRIEFLY WANTED TO RESPOND TO AND REASSURE THE
COUPLE WHO POSTED A FEW DAYS AGO ABOUT THEIR NEW FERRET NOT BONDING.  HE
SAID HIS WIFE DIDN'T FEEL BONDED WITH THE FERRET AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT
FERRET AFFECTIONS WERE LIKE.  I HAVEN'T READ US IN A FEW DAYS SO THIS MAY BE
OLD NEWS.
 
ANYWAY MOST YOUNG FERRETS ESPECIALLY IF MORE THAN ONE IS IN THE HOUSE DO NOT
SEEM TO BOND TO HUMAN FRIENDS AS FAST AS SAY DOGS OR CATS.  THEY ARE VERY
HYPERACTIVE AND BUSY SO THEY DON'T USUALLY CHILL OUT AND VISIT WITH U OR LAY
IN YOUR LAP OR ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE HELD AND CUDDLED UNTIL THEIR BATTERIES
RUN DOWN ABIT.  THIS IS NOT A LACK OF INTEREST OR AFFECTION FOR U.  ONCE
THEY MATURE A LITTLE AND CALM DOWN THEY'LL BEGIN TO LIKE TO CUDDLE AND BE
HELD.  EX. K.C. WILL INITIATE PLAY BY RUNNING AROUND MY FEET OR STICKING
HIS NOSE UP MY PANT LEG.  HE'LL DO HIS LITTLE SNAKE DANCE AND SKITTER
BACKWARDS MOUTH OPEN.  THIS IS A FORM OF AFFECTION MEANING COME PLAY!!  THEN
HE;LL RUN.  WHEN I MADE THE LONG TRIP FROM N.Y. TO HOME,(LA.) HE LAY BY ME
ON THE SEAT THE WHOLE WAY.  TO ME THAT IS AFFECTION.  MIND YOU K.C. IS 5 OR
SO.  WE'VE ALSO BEEN THRU ALOT TOGETHER.  HE USED TO LIKE TO COME INTO THE
SHOWER WITH ME AND HE LAYS AT MY FEET SOMETIMES WHILE I DO MY HAIR AND
MAKE-UP.  IT'S NOT ACCURATE TO COMPARE AFFECTION FROM A DOG TO AFFECTION
FROM A FERRET AND I THINK ALOT OF PEOPLE DO THIS.  I DON'T FEEL THAT
EVERYONE IS CUT OUT TO BELONG TO A FERRET.  BUT GIVE IT TIME ,THIS COULD BE
WEEKS OR MONTHS.YOU HAVE BECOME FAMILIAR TO EACH OTHER.  THE FERRET WILL
LEARN TO RECOGNIZE YOUR FEELINGS AND WISHES AND LIKE WISE YOULL RECOGNIZE
HIS.  I KNOW WHEN K.C.  WILL CUDDLE OR WON'T,I KNOW WHEN HE WANTS TO BE
PICKED UP,THIS IS PLAIN AS HE STANDS ON HIS HIND LEG AND TUGS AT MY PANTS
LIKE A CHILD WANTING UP.  I KNOW WHEN HE'S SCARED OR HURT OR NOT FEELING
WELL CAUSE HE'LL LITERALLY RUN TO ME IF HURT OR FRIGHTENED AND COME WANT TO
BE HELD IF NOT FEELING WELL.THIS MAY NOT ALL BE A LOT OF AFFECTION TO A DOG
OR CAT PERSON BUT TO ME IT IS GREAT.  I HOPE AS TIME GOES BY YOU'LL FEEL
LOVED BY YOUR FUZZY TOO.  I HAVE HEARD MANY PEOPLE SAY THEY GOT RID OF THEIR
FERRET BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS AFFECTIONATE ENOUGH.
 
WELL SORRY FOR THE RAMBLING BOOK,IT WAS CLOSE TO MY HEART.IN THE MEANTIME
MANY FERRET MOUTH KISSES (ANOTHER OF K.C.'S AFFECTIONS),TO ALL!DOOK DOOK.
 
                                   CONNIE AND THE WEENIERAT, K.C.
[Posted in FML issue 1347]