evans@mhuxt.UUCP (05/23/83)
Has anyone had experiences with ferrets? My wife and I had one for a few days recently. The character was a very territorial male and used his "magic marker" extensively. Fortunately the pet store was willing to take him back. One would think that such problems wouldn't exist with a female -- any comments? there must be some animal to sneak into an apartment Steve Crandall mhuxt!evans
berry@fortune.UUCP (06/22/83)
#R:mhuxt:-18500:fortune:24700001:000:312 fortune!berry Jun 21 20:02:00 1983 I too have looked into getting a ferret as a house pet. I was informed of the scent problem but was told this can to a large part be taken care of by having them descented just as one can have a skunk descented (the problem/source is the same.) I would be interested in any information you have on the issue.
murphy@hou2a.UUCP (08/26/83)
<ferrets
murphy@hou2a.UUCP (08/26/83)
Are there any ferret-fanciers out there who know of a sure-fire
way of box-training a recalcitrant adult? I have three, a male and a
female, both 4 years old and neutered, and a year-old male, also neu-
tered. Both males were very easy to box train (tho they have an occa-
sional "accident"--always on linoleum; never on the carpet). However,
the female has resisted all efforts to be box-trained. I hesitate
to speculate on the generalizations that can be drawn from this fact.
One method I tried was to put her in an open-topped cardboard box
(sturdy enough to resist small but active claws) which just had room
enough in it for bed, food dish (guinea pig water bottle mounted out-
side with tube projecting inside through a hole in the box) and a
litter box ("Litter Green"). This forced her to choose between using
the litter box or fouling her bed; she chose the former. I confined
her to this box except when she was taken out for fun 'n' games
(and when I watched her like a hawk).
The effect of this training was that she would start using the
regular strategically-located litter boxes I have in the apt., but
only for a while. Gradually she would revert to her old habits. So
back to "jail" she went; after a few days in the small box, she
re-learned to use litter boxes, but after release, as surely as
rocks roll down-hill, she would gradually un-learn the box training,
despite the good example set by the other two, and despite my
picking her up and placing her in the litter box when she began to
make those old familiar moves.
This in-and-out of the small box routine is a hassle and I don't
like having the box cluttering up the apt. I also don't like having
to confine her like that. I'm looking for a one-shot cure.
Any ideas?
Incidentally, their names are Roscoe, Otis, and Minerva; they are
a joy to have around, tho at times they are enough to make a bishop
burn his bible.
Rich Ganns
BTL Holmdel, N.J.
(201) 949-0315
389-2245evans@mhuxt.UUCP (10/12/83)
There is a group in NJ tht deals with ferrets: Ferret Fanciers Assoc. 365 President St. Saddle Brook, NJ 07662 they give a couple of phone numbers: 201 772-4882 201 478-4335 (evenings) ferreting along... Steve Crandall mhuxt!evans
murphy@hou2a.UUCP (10/12/83)
What does Ferret Fanciers Assoc. do? Do they
sell ferrets?
Rich Ganns
hou2a!murphyshuju@videovax.UUCP (Shuju Burgess) (09/07/85)
<...my ferrets ate the line eater...>
My husband is a senior at the Oregon State University School of Vet Medicine
and has chosen to "specialize" in ferrets. His senior paper topic is also on
ferrets and I thought I would try to gather some information from people who
have them as PETS. So far all the books and articles he has found have been
written by vets or breeders which don't say much about them as indoor pets.
We have 2 of our own, but don't know any one else that has them. Here are
some of the things that we would like to know:
1. age and sex of your ferret(s)
2. are they neutered/spayed, does it have any personality effects
3. are they descented, does it make any difference whether they are or not
4. personality differences between males and females
5. how trainable are they
6. are they caged at all or do they run around loose all day, how much damage
do they cause around the house when not watched
7. anything else that you would care to comment on are welcome
Be as lengthy and verbose as you want to, we really would like to hear from
you.
Thanks. Please reply through e-mail. I can be reached at
{ucbvax, allegra, uw-beaver, ihnp4, decvax}!tektronix!videovax!shuju
Shu-Ju Wang Burgessshuju@videovax.UUCP (Shuju Burgess) (09/07/85)
> <...my ferrets ate the line eater...> > > My husband is a senior at the Oregon State University School of Vet Medicine > and has chosen to "specialize" in ferrets. His senior paper topic is also on > ferrets and I thought I would try to gather some information from people who > have them as PETS. So far all the books and articles he has found have been > written by vets or breeders which don't say much about them as indoor pets. > We have 2 of our own, but don't know any one else that has them. Here are > some of the things that we would like to know: ... > Shu-Ju Wang Burgess Also, I would like to know what you feed your ferrets. They are supposedly white meat eaters, but both of our ferrets are strictly vegetarians. They do eat dry cat food though. Thanks again. Shu-Ju Wang Burgess
terry2@ihlpm.UUCP (Nelson) (12/28/85)
I am new to this news group so please bear with me. I am
considering purchasing a ferret as a pet. I would like to get
some opinions and ask some questions of someone who is familiar
with them, i.e. current or previous owners. Please respond via
E-mail. Thanks for your time.
--
..ihnp4!ihlpm!terry2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "All this is
| Terry Nelson | because of me
Keep | AT&T Bell Laboratories | and not my
It | Naperville, Illinois | employer!"
Warm =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-