We I've read all the news on ferrets and are satisfied with what I
read.  But I do still have a couple of questions that I hope
someone can answer for me...
 
First off...our ferret patty, is descented and still has a definate
odor..Not over powering but an odor...Is this something that we just
have to live with? or is there a solution to removing it.  She
stays in my sons room and as soon as turn the corner to enter the
smell is very apparent.
 
[Ferrets will always smell to a certain extent.  We give ours baths with
mild shampoo every week or two.  That keeps it enough under control that
our noses don't complain much and that visitors don't notice.]
 
Also she is extremely playful (only about 10 weeks old) and we all
love rough housing with her.  She pounds over to us or chases the
children and nips their feet, but of course this is only in play.
My question is that we were instructed when she nips or bites to
correct her, but will she learn the difference when she is allowed
to do this in play and not do it when held etc.[?]
 
[This seems to be very much dependent on the individual ferret.
Toby never bit when being held or roughhoused and rarely ever licked us.
Mocha attacks socks.  Nothing we've done has *ever* made any difference (except
possibly she bites harder next time)  Nicia licks us to death.  Mocha
and Nicia will put their teeth on us but not bite when being rough-housed.
Nicia's "Leave-me-alone-I-wanna-sleep-now" grip is unbreakable.
None of them have ever broken skin.  So, when visitors rough-house, we
warn them - "don't pull back if she grabs you" and disentangle her
manually if she does.  Nobody's been mangled.  Startled maybe.....]
 
Last one which I really didn't get much response to before.
 
TOILET TRAINING?
 
Do babys go more and subside a bit when mature?  The only thing
 
[You're not kidding.  When small Mocha and Toby went thru half a can each
of Feline Growth per day.  Output matched the input :-)  Input (and output)
did trail off a fair bit towards the 4th or 5th month.  At the same time
that Toby died, Nicia stopped eating altogether for more than a whole week
(more details at the end of this issue) when she finally started eating
again (and she always did love her food) it took 5 days for her to get
thru a can - and believe me she was hungry!]
 
I despise about her is she will poop anywhere.  To the point
when we play with her we are always on guard to watch her where
she goes..my biggest fear is she will poop under a couch or chair
and no one will notice...(Need I go on?)  This is my biggest
question...I hope some one can advise me PLEASE!!!
 
[We haven't been particularly successfull in 100% house-breaking our ferrets
either.  However, the "output" from three adult ferrets isn't particularly
high (especially if you remember to wake them up and let them do their
business before letting them out of their cage), and we find that the
ferrets will choose a few specific places to go.  By patience,
litter pans in places where they've decided to use, and some discipline,
you should be able to get them, if not perfect, pretty close.  The ferret
books appear to have good methods for training.]
 
Thanks for letting me spill my guts out to you all but this is a
new experience for us and we do love her lots.
 
THANKS....Laurie [log in to unmask]
                                                                          
[Posted in FML 0020]