Hi all.  I didn't get to read the FML over the weekend, nor on Monday, so
I'm reading all of them today (Tuesday).
 
In response to Kate, I've got a couple of ferrets, and one cat, who would
not take treats from my hands.  Nutmeg just doesn't seem to understand at
all and so will not take anything from my hand or even from the floor.  Sam
will lick the treat but will not take it.  I have to lead his face down to
the floor with the treat so that he will eat it.  Java is getting better
about taking the treats, but I think that's because Mercury is usually
finished with his in an instant and will try to snag any other treat I
offer to anyone.  The cat, Diesel, is so very dainty about accepting food
that she'll sort of tug the treat out of your hand and let it drop before
going for it.  Unfortunately, this usually results in one of the piggy cats
getting it.  Unlike Java, she hasn't figured this out yet.
 
As for Liz, I give all my ferrets the same thing for stimulation: other
ferrets!  Oh, I also give them rattle balls to throw around.  They seem to
end up in the litter box usually, except for the girls, who like to put
theirs in the drip cup under the water bottle.  Outside of the cage, the
ferrets have lots of jingle and rattle balls, a crocheted easter egg, one
of the drain-pipe tubes (a new edition that seems to be a hit)m, and a
bunch of small stuffed things.  I must admit that my guys don't seem to
play with toys very much.  Skittles plays the most, and she usually just
collects the stuffies and stashes them, usually behind one of the cages or
carriers.  The rest of the kids spend their time running around mostly.
 
The question was asked about how long you can hold off surgery once a
female ferret shows a swollen vulva.  I just asked the same question of
my ferret guru.  I was told that you can wait over a year, but the ferret
will be bald as a bowling ball by then.  I've been on watch with my girl
Nutmeg for the past little while.  Recently she confirmed my suspicions
by developing a swollen vulva.  am forced to wait to take her in for
diagnostic x-rays and eventually surgery.  As long as she does not stop
eating or lose weight or become ill in any way, I'm okay with the wait.
I'd like to hear other opinions, tho.
 
Gotta run. Work needs to be done. Take care, folks.
 
Anastasia Kidd
Plainfield, NJ
 
PS: Do you have any idea how difficult it is to clean ferret cages with a
sprained/abused knee?  Someone remind me not to go nuts in the garden on
the first really good weekend of spring!  And I have trouble getting over
the ferret gate on a good day...
[Posted in FML issue 3012]