Some of you people are probably going to crucify me for this, but I am at
my wits end.  My female ferret, Rio, is absolutely unbearable.  I adopted
her, and her brother, Mishu, about a month ago from a neglectful (NOT
ABUSIVE!!) owner.  Their cage was filthy and filled with pine shavings,
their nails were a half inch long, their ears were dirty, and they were
eating cheap cat food.  They also had no toys.  I immediately changed all
that.  Now, they sleep on sheets, have litter boxes, good food, treats
galore...you get the point.  NO reason at all to misbehave as she now is.
It has stemmed from one fact: she BITES.  She does not "nip." She attacks:
clamps down, head thrashes, until she draws blood.  She does this everyday,
so many times.  So, I started with 5 minute time outs, added hissing, added
scruffing.  I went to 10, 15, 20 minute time outs.  So, she starts pouting
in the cage, acting sick.  When I let her out, and she ATTACKS, as if to
say "You can't do that." Well, since I now had a dozen cuts and scars up
and down my arms (and back and feet), I decided to let her out until she
bit, then put her up for the rest of the day.  Needless to say, she lasted
for about a half hour, tops, before she decided to attack.  This is not
nice, yes, I KNOW.  So, at this point she has decided she will not go in
the litter box anymore.  She uses another corner of her cage.  (Believe me,
I keep the litter box clean enough-it's cleaned everyday).  So, I order
Bitter Apple, thinking "This is it!  This must be the secret!" UUUHHH, NO.
She bites anyway.  I am very serious.  Not as hard of course.  But she
keeps biting.  Then, when I inevitably wash my hands (I'm a bit
compulsive), she is on me like an attack dog.  Now, she gets a
nasty-tasting bite and time out.  So, she has resorted to digging out ALL
the litter in the litter box.  She waits until I am looking and starts to
dig.  When I say "NO!" she quits and keeps testing me.  Sure, I know she is
mad about being put away, but what other choice do I have?  What am I
supposed to do with this psycho ferret?  What is wrong with her?  Vet says
she is healthy.  Her brother is Alpha-Ferret and is so gentle and laid-back
and sweet.  What is the problem?  I am really at the end with this.  So
far, I have lived through the questions (What happened to your arms??  Are
you ok?), and I have been willing to cover myself with a disgusting spray I
always manage to get a taste of.  I have been patient and gentle until this
point.  What else can I do?  I don't even want to look at her.
 
ANY help (NO criticism or flames, thank you) at all is desperately needed!
 
Thanks,
Deziree
[Posted in FML issue 3049]