[Several of Zen's posts combined here.  BIG]
 
>From:    "Sharon Brandt (and Snickers)" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: birds and dogs and ferrets....OH MY!
 
Not sure why anyone would get upset with your post... Don't know Indiana
well enough to know if your county is along the North end, if it was we
drove past going to and from the GCFA show.  Spent Saturday night in
Elkhart IN...
 
>From:    Karen O'Keefe <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Iams v. TF
 
We use Totally Ferret mixed with Iams cat (not kitten) and no one has ever
said our ferrets looked like they were starving...
 
BUT here Totally Ferret is quite a bit more expensive than Iams.  If they
were closer in cost we'd consider dropping the Iams.  If Totally Ferret
were cheaper we'd only buy the Iams for the cats.
 
Also we pay by the dollar for the pounds...  The company wouldn't want the
pounds back <grin>
 
>From:    Lara Tyminski <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Totally Ferret
>I hear so much about Totally Ferret.  Why is it considered so good?  As far
>as I have heard, the ingredients for most, if not all, commercial pet food
>is from products not fit (meaning unsafe) for human consumption.
 
"Not fit for human consumption" does NOT mean unsafe.  Tasteless blemishes
on fruit make them unfit but not unsafe.  Ferrets by the way are not human.
Carrots are unsafe for ferrets but are "fit for human consumption".  People
shouldn't perhaps chew on bones while ferrets should.  Humans shouldn't
much on grass but hay is quite good for our goats.
 
>By no means am I accusing the company of any wrong doing, I'm just aware of
>the practices behind these products, and the lack of regulations governing
>them.
 
There is no lack of regulations on pet food manufacture.  Just different.
 
But since you are Canadian, your government is a different government so
has different regulations than our governement here in the US.
 
>From:    Yvonne Arruda <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: pregnancy and ferret litter
>I am 3 months pregnant and was wondering if ferrets, like cats, can
>transmit toxioplasmis (sp?) through their litter.
 
Yes but its rarer than with cats.  BTW if you were already exposed BEFORE
your pregnancy it doesn't matter, it won't be a problem.  (According to Dr
Williams and other vets and doctors)
 
>From:    Mary Zahnle <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Chicago Ferret Show
>I'd also like to thank Diane Killian for honoring our oldest ferret, Orion,
>with the Best Geriatric award.  I was hoping the big guy would do well, but
>was truly surprised by his placing.  Thank you Diane!
 
Diane's snoozing right now...  Oh her behalf (and since I was stewarding
and saw it all) I'll respond, No thanks to YOU for taking such good care
of Orion.  He looked GREAT!  All we judges do is notice - the ferrets win
the awards.  The thanks should go to the ferrets and the owners that let us
judges admire them.  Orion looked much younger than his age - that is a
compliment of course.
 
>From:    Dale Nupp <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Show 07/24/99
>It's time to seriously start thinking about the ferret show and fun fest,
>just nine months away, near Reading, Pennsylvania for the benefit of the
>WarmFuzzy Ferret Rescue.
 
Shirley talked to us about the show while we were both in Chicago.  No way
we'd miss this one!  And certainly no way we'd not contribute!  Warm Fuzzy
is one of our favorite shelters!
 
>From:    John Gordon <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Central IL Ferret Connction meeting & other stuff
>Enjoyed the Chicago show.  (Zen -I'm the guy who thanked you for your
>posts late in the afternoon).
 
Hi!  I think I remember...  Were you the guy I then introduced to Diane
though she was trying to talk to someone else?  Talked to quite a few
readers that day.
 
>From:    Margaret Merchant <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: It's the Maggie
>Although I had thought of trying to find them homes (they are actually
>fosters at this point, seriously, honest) I am being threatened with slave
>labor to pay off my weasel debt.  Yes folks, it looks like William and
>Harry will be staying here.
 
Can't think of many people we'd rather have those two stay with...
 
>From:    [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Angora Ferrets
 
Wow I missed a doozy of an article on angoras!
 
>Well, as far as I have understood, the "European Fitch" is a ferret raised
>for fur purposes.  They have longer coats and may be a little larger than
>a "regular" domestic ferret.
 
They are merely ferrets with a genetic quirk that changes their undercoat.
Fitch ferrets are not different than other ferrets.  Well except for their
fate.  Swedish ferrets in general seem to have longer coats than others.
They also have polecat ears.  The angoras I'm familiar with are Swedish.
 
>Many breeders and ferret clubs consider the Angora ferret to be a
>mutation of genes.
 
Its not a topic for much consideration.  Their history is no secret.
They came from a fur farm originally.  It was a quirky mutation that was
"caught" and bred for.  But the mutation saved them from becoming fur as
they are less suitable for "harvest".  Lucky break for them.
 
You are quite right that it isn't really much different than genetic
mutations that lead to new colors and patterns.  Nor those that lead to
larger or smaller ferrets.  Or those with longer or shorter tails.
 
Being the most noted ferret show judge that has written about angora
ferrets.  Body conformation of angoras is no different than others.  In
particular the Swedish angoras have nearly iodentical conformation to their
shorter haired cousins.  BUT they do not have a standard coat.  They also
tend to not match the standard patterns.  The few points they lose there is
enough to keep them from winning at shows.  The AFA discussed angoars at a
judges meeting - I brought angora ferrets to the meeting for examination.
They at this point are considered "experimentals" and where they differ
from the standard is considered a fault.
 
>I am not sure there are enough Angoras to warrent that, tho.
 
That seems to be the case.  A few come through the rings but only a very
very few.
 
>I also know of a pet store (now out of business) that sold Angora kits.
>They sold for $250 each and came from a breeder in FL (now not there).
 
Actually the breeder was in Sweden.  Lars and Nadine were importers.
 
Swedish ferrets are more energetic and that does unfortunately exhibit as
more aggressive.  This is both good and bad.  The angoras really don't
differ from the non-angoras from the same source.
 
While visiting Lars and Nadine, Diane and I have sat on a floor with dozens
of angora ferrets craling all over us.  Angora ferrets have and do live
with us.
 
Yeah they are kind of funny looking but I like them.
 
-bill
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://www.zenferret.com/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 2471]