With permission, I am forwarding the letter I received from Frances Stepp ([log in to unmask]) regarding her ferret problem. I have sent her a whole passle o'ferret information but if anyone else has any suggestions or knows who she can contact in the U.K., please pass on to the mailing list or e-mail her directly. (Chris, could you add her to the list?) BTW, Frances has since informed me that she has learned this ferret is a male. >FROM: FRANCES STEPP, 100024,415 >TO: Katherine Fritz, 71257,3153 >DATE: 04/11/92 at 22:42 > >SUBJECT: Ferret care & feeding > >Katie: > I can't begin to thank you for your info and consideration! >The (CIS Pet/Animal) forum has been such a great source of info and >support (this situation is emotionally tough for me!) > Last night I spent two hours on cross-talk with Lenny (Staff)! >She was marvelous to me! > I have down loaded the (ferret) info from the forum and that >has gotten me through the inital stages. Let me give you a little >background.... > I am in the UK! But American. Country is rabies free, so no >problem in that area....But there is whole lot more trouble in river >city.... > I live in one of converted apts in a victorian manor house. >The owner went on vacation Wednesday night (April 8) and I volunteered >to feed and care for her animals (Assuming in my mind that said animals >were being properly cared for initally!!!) This is a whole other prob >all together!!!! I knewn that she had a ferret (I know not, why) >but did not ever see it. So on Thurseday, coming home from >work earliy, I decided to make animal rounds earily (we had beautiful, >sunny weather, not common for this country!) so that the animals could >enjoy the weather as well (dogs, goat, etc). She told me not to bother >with the ferret because the gardener would do it, because she knew that >if I saw it I would go ballistic!!! being the animal lover that I am. >Well, because I did not know the gardener at said time, and being >concerned with care, I decided to look in on ferret to be sure that it >had been fed and not forgetten because I could have taken care of it at >the same time as everyone else. She had told me that ferret was >mean. NOT SO!!!! But she would have had every right to be, if she >had! > When I went to look in on it, I nearly died!!!! Poor little >thing!!!! How she servived all this time is only be God's graces! > She is in a large enclosure which in itself is nice, however, >the conditions is the issue. Anyway, the enclosure is like a small >shed about 6 feet by 6 feet and you can stand in it. It has a mesh >door and then a solid door. It is outside, but currently, the weather >is nice and she is confortable. > I wont horrify you with the conditions of the enclosure, but at >the moment that I was despertly trying to clean this, the gardener had >come in to feed it and was as horrifed as myself. He and I cleaned >all the garbage out. I have a sheep farmer living next to estate and >he told me I could have all the straw that I needed. So we put down >straw on the bottom of this shed because it was WET. I gave her FRESH >WATER (She didn't even have that at this time!!!) and placed her back >inside. We left the solid door open for the rest of the day-light >hours so she could get fresh air and sunshine and to air out the foul >smell in this place. You should have seen her with the fresh water and >with the straw. She drank the water like you would not believe and >immediately proceeded to roll around in the straw. I came back to check >on her and she had made her a little nest!!! And sleeping. > I am sorry to say that I did not know enough about ferret >behavior (I have cats) to know just how weak she had been. In 48-hours >she has made a complete turn around. I have been keeping an eye on her >during this time to be sure she is alright, and I could not be more >satisfied in her recovery. Last evening when I brought her more food >and fresh water, her stool was solid like normal and she was more >active. Before she had diarreia(SP?) because the jack-ass owner was >feeded her MILK (even I know better than that) and foul at that! And >the straw was removing the mositure and smell. I removed the straw >again and put down fresh again during that time. This morning, her >eyes were clear. Before they had been glazed over but I did not know >this was not normal. I know now. She was also beginning to display >behaviors associated with ferrets! While I was feeding and watering >her, she was running all around me, putting her little nose in >everything and cittering at me! I was wearing a sweat-shirt with hood >and pockets. She was determined to check every nook and cranny! And >smell of course. The oder is now completely gone and it just smell >like straw now. > I had some friends over today. They use my place to wash and >work on their cars. We had another beautiful day and we took the >ferret out in the lawn and made a circle around her so we would not >loose her, so she could scurry about and excercise plus enjoy the grass >and fresh air for a bit. Boy, did she enjoy that! The oder in her fur >is substantially less and her coat is becoming sleek again. I leave >the door open during the day so she can air out and get fresh air. I >close it at night, to help keep the chill out. > Problem now is that the ferret is not mine by law but the >landlady's. My fear is that once she takes over responsibility again >that the poor thing will go back to the terrible conditions I rescued >it from. Owner is back Easter Sunday! Yes, it will not be pleasant >holiday for me!! The other animals have been improperly cared for as >well but not as bad as this one was. > Anyway, the RSPCA (SPCA's English counterpart) here has far >more authority that the US and if they take it into care because owner >is not caring for it, then I will take it from the RSPCA. They will >giver her to me.I'm in a difficult situation because it is my landlady >and she lives in the same building as myself. It will be a mess at the >very least. > I have had lots of support from her employees on the estate >(gardener, building, handy man) and from friends and relatives. I >could move, but this would not do anything for the animals. So I have >championed their cause. On Monday the Estate Agent (Realtor >counterpart in US) is coming to visit me and see problems (she is also >cat lover and was not happy when I talked to her about this >yesterday!!). And I will be calling the RSPCA Monday for advice. Adn >this is where I stand now. I will probably end up taking the ferret at >some point in all this, but when is the question. But be assured that >I will make sure she is cared for in the meantime. > I am feeding ferret "Kit n' Kaboodle" cat crunchies. Many >ferrets in UK but no "ferret chow". Doc says cat crunchies are fine >for now. If I end up keeping her, I will yell to Mom in US to send me >some ferret food and book on care. Your info has been very helpful. >I was not sure if they had long sleeping times like cats but now I >know. I have not pet water bottle. However, I have given her one of my >cat's old ceramic dishes for her water and she can't move that. I make >sure to change her water every day because of this so that it is >fresh. > If I become a part of the ferret family, I will take take the >little thing to the vet's for a check up (not a prob in this country) >and I thank you for the ferret assoc. addresses and I have kept them on >file in case I need them for this case or for later when I may become >ownerof one and want more info. And I will buy her a water >bottle (smile). > I have also discovered that their little claws make lovely >criss-crosses on the hands when they are active in your arms!! I >believe that her claws will also need to be trimed but I will wait for >vet's analysis on this because I'm stupid in this are as well. > I do not know how old she is. She is blound though and has a >wonderfully sweet disposition. I am surprised under the situations >that she was living in. She has not tried to bite me AT ALL during all >this time (and she does not know me). She did try to nibble on my nose >while she was crawling on me and smelling my face, but not hard. > I would be eternally greatful for any suggestions on care that >comes from the experienc of living with them! One questions comes to >mind is, do they normally stay at ground level in the house or do they >climb and curl up in places sort of like cats. (I don't want to step >on her!)??? Do they climb your curtains??? Do they use a litter box >in your house??? > Katie, thanks for you info and concern. I do appreciate it and >any other things you may come up with. > Thanks > Frances I have a second, equally long letter from Frances from 4/12, but will send it later -- lunch is calling my name!! Katie [Posted in FML issue 0247]