Lori Howerton <[log in to unmask]> wrote with some question about
her Mom's new ferret:
 
> 1)  My mom just got a year old spayed & descented female.  She is a
>     sweetie but has not dooked ONCE in the week she has had her.  No
>     ferret War Dance either.  She gives kisses and will play with us
>     for about 2 seconds and then just wanders away...
 
As far as not playing much, maybe she's just more interested in exploring
her new home right now.  Many ferrets either never or rarely make "dooking"
noises.  Our four vary greatly in the sounds that each makes.  I'm sure if
you spend enough time with her she'll eventually value the times you play
and cuddle with her.
 
> 2) Christine & anyone else, how do you take your ferret to the
>    grocery store?  Don't the employees and the owner freak out?!?!
 
I'd love to be able to take some of our fuzzbean out and about more places
with us, but around where I live I don't think many places would allow a
ferret to come into their place of business.
 
> 3) My mom's ferret (her only one) as well as my two have never had
>    meat.  They eat Iams kitten food.  Is it absolutely essential to
>    give them meat?...
 
As long as your ferrets are getting a high quality cat/kitten/ferret food
there should be no need to feed your ferrets meat of any kind.  We tried
with our kids just to see if they liked it and they treat any sort of meat
as poison (i.e.  the look at us like, "Why would you expect us to eat
*THAT*?") You also don't need to let your ferrets eat live animals.
Sometimes a vitamin suppliment like Ferretone or Laxatone may be good for
your ferrets.  Our Atlas didn't like any treats at first, but now he loves
Ferretone (but won't eat any other little goodies offered to him).
 
Hope this helps,
Mike
 
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Michael C. Burkard          |              _    Dancing Dookers
Work: [log in to unmask] |       _____C .._. Delightfully Digging!
Home: [log in to unmask] |  ____/     \___/  Feisty Fuzzies in a
My opinions only.           | <____/\_---\_\    Frenzied Frollick!
[Posted in FML issue 1410]