After having Gus now for about 3 months, my SO was making it very clear that
our highest priority was to get a second ferret.  Rather than going to a pet
store, I searched the classifieds in many locak papers and found someone in
East Chicago, IN who was selling a 7 month old ferret.  It turned out to be
as much of a rescue as anything.  She was kept in the basement in a cage by
a 12 year old boy and was filthy and horribly thin.  She was eating cheap
soft cat food.  The owner said she got out about 3 times a week.  so he was
selling her because he didn't have the time for her.  At least he had that
much sense.
 
She was very gentle and loving when I picked her up.  She like to be held
and give kisses and gave no hints of any agression or biting.  I started to
worry if Gus would be way to aggressive for this cute thing.  Boy was I
wrong!
 
After getting home and taking a bath (boy was that water black), Cleo (as
she was named by my SO) and Gus sniffed at each other through their cage
doors and everything seemed kosher.  But when I let her out, I heard my
first ferret hiss.  Whenever Gus got within 1 foot of her, she would his and
sometimes even lash out.  He'd try to be socialble, but she wouldn't let him
at first.  Luckily there were no significant fights, just a lot of hissing.
 
That night, I decided to put them together in the same cage to see what
would happen.  I smeared ferretone on each of them.  She'd lick Gus, but
when he tried to lick her, she'd hiss again!  In a few minutes, I found her
asleep in Gus's box in his cage and Gus laying down on the carpet outside.
He is 2.5 pounds and Cleo is less than a pound.  I thought "Gus, you wimp!
Stand your ground!  Don't let this two-faced thing push you around!"
 
Well, after the first 24-48 hours together, they now are sleeping together
and seem to be very friendly.  I guess they just had to sort out things.
 
One last thing - I've never seen a ferret eat so much so fast as she has.
In two days, she's gobbled down probably a pint of Iams Kitten food.  I
swear she already looks fatter.
[Posted in FML issue 1854]