hello all
thanx for all your suggestions. I've incorporated as many as I can,
but try to keep the list light hearted and under two pages. I know
there are a lot more links I can add, but since the IFC has a lot of
them, emphasizing that they should go check out those links at the
IFC I think will work out best.
Selina
_________
This is meant to be a brief summary of ferrets by 2 ferret fans. We
have strived for accuracy but we recommend that you check our list
of references for details.
Thinking of a Ferret? Does your life lack chaos?
No
* kitten on speed! (they can be a lot to deal with)
* Ferrets have a short life compared to dogs or cats (~6-9 years),
with high medical bills (start saving!)
* litter box hit rate rarely approaches 100%
* they require more care than a cat
* having a ferret requires a lot of ferret-proofing of the house -
it's like having a toddler that can fit through a 2 inch hole (kits
can fit through a 1 inch hole). They jump, they climb, they destroy,
they eat stuff that a vet have to go in and remove..
* they play with their teeth, and they can be rough. they know they
have tough skin. they don't know that you don't!
* they have a strong odour
* can't find your keys? A ferret will hinder, not help
Yes
* kitten on speed! (they stay playful throughout their lives)
* they are affectionate and can form strong bonds with humans and
animals
* they require less care than a dog (if you don't count ferret
proofing)
* they have a lovely smell - ferret owners don't pay for musk cologne
* they don't need a lot of room - excellent apartment pets (but are
not caged pets)
* they're small and easy to take along (or even sneak in - see FFZs)
Behaviour
* Sleep cycle - ferrets sleep up to 20 hours a day, although some
sleep less than that. They are crepuscular, but will happily match
their human's schedule
* When very excited, ferrets will war dance, bouncing around like
crazy with their mouths open. Their tail may look like a bottle
brush. This can look aggressive, but it's just the ferret having ta
lot of fun
* Ferrets sleep very deeply, sometimes to the point of appearing dead
even with handled. This is called DFS (Dead Ferret Syndrome) or SND
(Sleeping, Not Dead). Kits and deaf ferrets tend to do this more
often. Test if the ferret is alive with some ferretone under the
nose, or hold up to your ear and listen for a heart beat
Food
They are obligate carnivores, and require a meat-based diet ideally
with no carbohydrates. If they are fed kibble, it should be a high
quality kibble with as much meat protein as possible. For example,
there is now a variety of grain-free, high protein, evolution-based
kibbles available for cats. Another option is to feed a raw diet (e.g.
raw chicken or turkey, including ground bones). Some people also
supplement with live prey. They have a high metabolism and should
generally have access to food at all times. Meat based treats are
recommended
Enrichment
Ferrets are intelligent, as carnivores they are capable of problem
solving and will get bored without stimulation. They love new
experiences, but will quickly get bored with just about anything.
Some examples of ways to keep ferrets entertained:
* exploring new places - ferrets live to explore, and will often
choose exploring over treats
* play with them
* digging box - ferrets love to tunnel
* scented toys - ferrets have an excellent sense of smell and are very
interested in new scents - the nastier the better (paper take-out
bags, raccoon urine, etc)!
* Toys to stash
* Some ferrets love to play with balls
* Things to knock down, knock over, dig up, or just generally destroy
Ferret Noises
* Dook! This is a happy, excited noise
* Hiss! This mean the ferret is really annoyed.
* Bark! Usually when surprised or scared
* Scream! This only happens when they're in pain, scared, or fighting
* Crash! This means the ferret has knocked something over (probably
something valuable)
Watch Out!
Common Illnesses - Adrenal, Lymphoma, Insulinoma
Communicable Diseases - Aleutian Disease, Epizootic Catarrhal
Enteritis (ECE)
Vaccinations - Canine Distemper, Rabies
References
* Bob Church's chicken gravy (Bob Church is now advocating a raw
diet) http://www.texasferret.org/gravy.shtml
* a ferret food chart - http://www.ferret-universe.com/care/food.asp
* another ferret food chart -
http://www.mdferretpaws.org/care/food_treats.html
* Ferret Mailing List - for the most up-to-date ferret news -
http://ferretmailinglist.org
* Ferret Health List - online group where vets answer ferret questions -
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
* International Ferret Congress - education on domestic ferrets -
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
check out their Critical Ferret References, an up-to-date list of
online medical resources
* Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue and Evacuation Team -
http://www.ferretemergency.org/
* Aleutian Disease - http://www.ferretadv.com/
* South Florida Ferret Help Line - http://www.miamiferret.org/
* Ferret Free Zones - don't sneak your ferret in here -
http://www.webabout.com/fog/ffz.htm
* Ferret Aid Society of Toronto - http://ferretaid.org/v3/
* Support Our Shelters - US based organization helping all ferrets -
http://supportourshelters.org/
* Prairie Wildlife Research - helping the ferret's wild cousins -
http://www.prairiewildlife.org/
* Ferret for Dummies, Kim Schilling - the most complete ferret owner's
manual you can find
* Biology & Diseases of the Ferret, James G. Fox - medical
* Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery (Paperback), John Henry
Lewington - medical
* Essentials of Ferrets, Karen Purcell - medical
* A Tao Full of Detours, Fara Shimbo - behaviour - available at
http://www.ferretware.com/
* Just for fun - http://www.ferretcompany.com/
[Posted in FML 6105]
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