I've had my one ferret for a few years now, and always planned to get another one when I had the means. (Also, my boyfriend is moving down here and we planned to go together to get another.) She wasn't at all unhappy being an "only child," and always gets lots of love and attention (and treats :-). I was about to leave for a business trip when a desperate neighbor begged me to take her ferret. I agreed to find it a good home (intending to ask the FML and keep her until I found one), and asked a ferretless friend to watch the new girl until I got home (there were previous arrangements for my ferret). I picked up the new ferret a few days ago. The two beasties get along (both being previously "only children"), they play and seem to be enjoying themselves, but aren't super-affectionate yet. There wouldn't be a problem keeping them together. The problem is, I'm not bonding with the new girl. She's adorable, I like her and she's a good ferret, but I just don't feel anything towards her like I do for mine, that deep, instinctual love -- which I felt from the first moment I saw her. I'm trying to give the new girl a chance, but I have the sinking feeling that she'd always just be "the ferret I happened to get" rather than one that I chose and that chose me. My ferretless friend took excellent care of her and said that if the two ferrets didn't get along she'd take the new one for good. I'm thinking that should be the way it is; we can get them together for playtimes; and I'm getting my second ferret in a few months when my boyfriend is here, so mine will have a playmate here as well (not that she minds being the only one here). Somebody please tell me I'm not a bad person for feeling this way. I really do want what's best for this little fuzzie, and I know she'd be well cared for with my friend and my ferret would still see her often. I just feel like I'm being heartless for not wanting to keep her. It's like I know in my heart she isn't the right ferret for me, and I want her to be where she's loved immensely and totally cherished, rather than with someone who likes her, but nothing more. [MB] [Posted in FML issue 3166]