ferrets

When a large number of ferrets come in, it’s really impossible to keep many of them together. We try, but it just isn’t practical. We try to keep the bonded pairs together, but unbonded ferrets have to be separated from their friends or risk never being adopted.

My rule is that if a ferret is used to playing with other ferrets, it needs to go to a home either with another ferret (preferably one from his group, but not always), or to a home that already has ferrets.

When people want to adopt a friend for their existing ferrets, I have them bring their ferret(s) to the shelter and try them out with a potential new friend. Usually we know within a few minutes if it’s going to work.

If it is not going to work, one or both ferrets will usually jump each other, biting and screeching, rolling around on the floor, and defecating! It’s quite alarming, although most ferrets don’t do more damage than putting a few dents in each others’ necks. They end up covered in poo and seriously needing a bath, though! They might be frightened, but I’ve never had any serious damage occur.

We don’t consider that a good match.

Tomorrow: Acceptable squabbling

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