Hi Ferret Fanciers!  And healing thoughts to all sick fuzzies and parents.
 
I have a question about Ferret Math... I've been on holiday - and able to
spend all my time with Oliver for the past couple of weeks, but this is an
unusual situation.  Soon, I'll be away during the day, doing physically
demanding work and will return to being pretty pooped at the end of the day
- which means that I may not have the energy to provide the play-time to
Oliver that I should.  He LOVES to play and go for walks - dooks like mad.
I feel quite guilty at times when I just don't have the energy.  Mind you, I
ALWAYS give him loads of attention - tons of kisses & cuddles - but an
11-month old ferret needs to play!  He does play by himself, too.
 
Now, I've been thinking about a buddy for him - and one of my concerns is a
change in OUR relationship - I wouldn't want Ollie to think that he's being
reduced to second fiddle with the introduction of a new fuzzie - and it
would be horrible for me to be reduced to second fiddle if all Oliver's
attention went to the new ferret.  Of course, I'd love a new ferret every
bit as much!
 
I have checked out his reaction to other ferrets.  He has no opportunity to
play with other ferrets - we don't know any (ferrets just catching on in my
part of the world) so I 've taken him to the pet store a couple of times to
see how he interacts with other ferrets.  The first time, the little kit
(male also) danced around and teased him so much, he was spurred into action
- but ONLY after a lot of coaxing on the part of the kit.  Finally he chased
him a bit and then pinned him to the floor repeatedly... he seemed to be
concerned that tht kit was going somewhere he shouldn't (under the
fishtanks) and chased him out and pinned him.  The second time, the
salesclerk in the petstore held Oliver while I held two kits in turn.
Oliver curled up in the clerks arms and semi-dozed.  When the clerk
literally put the frisky kit ON TOP of Oliver, he paid no attention.
 
This makes me wonder if he would like a brother or sister or if he's happy
being the only fert in the family.  My husband is overseas for a year (left
almost 2 months ago) and there are no other animals or humans in our home.
 
Ollie has free run of the apt. day & nite.  (VERY ferret-proofed!!) He
sleeps on the bed with me, jumps in the shower with me, is loving, cuddly
and affectionate, and is generally a well-behaved boy.  He sleeps quite a
bit, and I'm pretty sure that's what he does all day when I'm not home.
 
Well, FMLers, what should I do?  Please help me decide.  Since joining the
FML two weeks ago, I've notice that most members have two or more ferrets -
and HAVE had people ask me, with concerned looks on their faces, if I'm
going to be getting a buddy for Oliver.  (If I did, I imagine it would be a
kit - as I mentioned ferrets are just catching on locally so there are no
shelters and our local SPCA receives ferrets very rarely.  We live in
Newfoundland, Canada)
 
WAITING FOR A SOLUTION TO THE FERRET MATH EQUATION...
 
Andrea
Dooks and kisses from Oliver
[Posted in FML issue 1706]