Hi Lisa & Erick
 
I'm afraid I'm as guilty as anyone.  I often just do a quick scan for
posts that sound urgent and don't really read the whole thing.
 
Young ferrets, less than 2, frequently have that "invisible human"
attitude.  They are simply too busy to bother with you... doesn't mean
you aren't important or that they don't love you, they just have a very
short attention span that's usually focused on making sure that there's no
radical changes in "their" territory (which includes all household
residents) and playing.  As they get older, they begin to appreciate their
humans a little more and allow you to interact with them more.  Daily
treats of hairball remedy or a couple of tartar control cat treats will
get them in the habit of searching you out a time or two a day for an
instant of their precious attention and will later expand into time to
cuddled for a moment or two.  These very same impatient youngsters often
become "lap ferrets" when older.  Keep snatching the little snot up and
let her squirm while you get your quick hugs & kisses ... she sounds just
like my Sniffles who'd just as soon eat a bug as be kissed.  Repeated
handling speeds up the settling down for petting process, but it still
takes a year or two.
 
Please read the article "Litter Box Legerdemain" at
http://www.geocities.com/ferretsfirst/litterbox.html
for tips and clues on the reasons for the poop problem.
 
Debi Christy
Ferrets First Foster Home
 
Practical & easy training, care, & maintenance articles available at
http://www.geocities.com/ferretsfirst/
[Posted in FML issue 3793]