Hello everyone!
 
COUCH (OR BED) DIGGING
Both Bill and Tina wrote in yesterday's FML to report that they are having
problems with their ferrets invading their couches.  As you both wisely
recognize, ferrets can be injured or killed in a couch, and so it is in
everyone's best interest to put a stop to your ferret's sofa-surfing.
Depending upon your ferret's point of entry, you may or may not be able to
ferret-proof the couch.
 
If your ferret is entering through the bottom of the sofa (or your bed's
boxspring for that matter), remove the flimsy dust cover on the bottom of
the sofa (or boxspring).  You can replace it with one of two coverings: 1.
Cut a plain, sturdy sheet to fit the bottom of your sofa (or boxspring).
Using industrial staples, staple the sheet to the bottom of your couch (or
boxspring), being sure to pull it as taut as possible.  2.  Cut a piece of
plywood to fit the bottom of your sofa (or boxspring).  Screw the plywood to
the sofa frame (or boxspring frame).
 
If your ferret is entering through the seat of the couch (under the
cushions), you might try cutting a sturdy sheet and stapling it over the
existing fabric (under the cushions) to reinforce the fabric and prevent the
ferret from entering the inner-workings of the sofa.  You will still need to
be sure that your ferret is not under the cushions whenever you or a guest
sits on the couch, however.
 
If all else fails, I would recommend that you consider purchasing a
futon-style couch.  The modern futon sofas are really quite attractive, and
they are reasonably comfortable as well.
 
SLEEPING TIME
Bill reports that his one-year old ferrets sleep twenty to twenty-one hours
per day.  While this sounds like a lot of sleep time, I don't think that it
falls outside of the normal range of sleep time for ferrets.  They play hard
when they are awake, and they make up for it with lots of sound sleep.  My
only suggestion is to make sure that you are providing them with plenty of
activities to satisfy their curiosity and to keep them entertained.  I've
noticed that bored ferrets will sleep more than most.  Provide them with a
variety of ferret toys - e.g.  cardboard boxes with holes cut in them, dryer
tubes, etc.  and change them often.  Provide them with a toy, and when you
notice that they stop playing with it, exchange it for another.  When they
tire of that one, give them the first one back.  Ferrets thrive on exploring
new items.
 
Cheers,
Gina Hart/Sage Ferrets
[Posted in FML issue 2142]