Introducing Fuzzy to His New Family

 

In This Chapter

•  Assessing your fuzzy’s social tendencies
•  Helping your new pet adjust to his new environment
•  Making all your pet introductions
•  Showing your kids how to safely interact with the ferret
•  Joining fuzzy and fuzzy for the start of a beautiful friendship
•  Controlling your ferret around strangers

Bringing home a new ferret often means that you must face the delicate issue of introducing your new family member to your existing family members. It may not be as easy as you think. Take, for example, your domestic kitty that’s used to being king or queen of the roost. An arrogant ruler, no doubt. Your cat will be dethroned, as will your spouse or any other member of the household, when your new ferret takes his spot by your side.

Knowing how to interact safely with your fuzzy on a one-to-one basis in his new surroundings is imperative, and this chapter tells you how. This chapter also offers insight into the social aspect of ferrets. These creatures aren’t all they appear to be; they’re even more wonderful than I can put on paper. That said, I discuss sticky subjects such as how to teach your kids to be safe and appropriate around fuzzbutts. Finally, I explain how to introduce your fuzzy to Fido and Fluffy, as well as to those neighbors who just have to stick their noses in your business.

Warning!

You should quarantine any new ferret you bring into your home for at least two weeks until you know for sure he isn’t sick. Although he may look healthy when you bring him home, he may be harboring parasites or transmittable illnesses. Some serious ferret illnesses will flare their ugly heads only during stressful times, like a sudden change of environment. To quarantine, find a comfortable cage for your new ferret and house him at least two rooms away from your existing clan. Always feed and clean your new ferret last and remember to wash your hands thoroughly between handling ferrets. Wear another shirt over your clothing when handling your new ferret and leave it in the new ferret’s room when you leave or go back and forth between ferret rooms. Most importantly, remind all members of the household to follow the same rules, or else the quarantine isn’t a quarantine at all. When the quarantine period is over, the introductions can begin!

Ferrets as Social Animals

Ferret-owning humans swear up and down that ferrets are incredibly social critters. The fact is, polecats, ferrets included, are solitary animals with territorial tendencies. They don’t act like dogs, which seek out other dogs, form packs, and travel around in groups. If you were to release three ferrets of the same gender in your backyard, they would more than likely go in three separate directions. In the wild, polecats defend their territories fervently against polecats of the same gender. (Naturally, if a member of the opposite sex enters a polecat’s territory, she’s more than welcome to stay awhile.)

The need to be solitary and territorial is, for the most part, kept under control by our beloved domestic ferrets under normal circumstances. But make no mistake about it: Although they play with and tolerate each other to the delight of all onlookers, ferrets maintain little unspoken territories, and at times they squabble with trespassers or thieves. However, there’s a reason that thousands of ferret owners coo to themselves as they watch their babies pile in big sleepy heaps at the end of the day. Ferrets, after proper introductions, will view other ferrets as littermates and play about accordingly. They’ll wrestle and dance as though they’re the best of buddies, and in many cases, they can be the best of buddies. The simple fact is that ferrets establish a hierarchy amongst themselves and stake out microterritories in their tiny domains. In this way, are they really that different from us?

You and Your New Ferret: Making the Most of Your Friendship

Most ferrets enjoy the companionship of humans. It probably won’t take long before your new fuzzy sees you as the perfect playmate — assuming you’re willing to play nicely with him. To get to that stage, you have to make your fuzzy comfortable in your arms and in his surroundings. Sometimes, it takes a little bit of patience and extra understanding before you begin to feel that your ferret has bonded with you.

Remember

Your body movements and tone of voice can influence his reactions to you. The age of your ferret and his history (some ferrets come with emotional baggage; see Chapter Dealing with the Behaviorally Challenged Ferret) also may determine how quickly he blends into your family.

Before you introduce your ferret to other family members, get to know him better and learn how to properly interact with him. The following sections show you how.

Hold me gently, please? (Why a question mark?)

In order to introduce your fuzzy to your family and to others, you need to become comfortable holding him — and he needs to be comfortable being held. Many healthy ferrets maintain the “I’d rather be anywhere than in your arms” position. In most cases, it has nothing to do with how you’re actually holding the little guy (see Figure 7-1 for an example). There are always exceptions to the rule, though. I’ve run across many furballs who love to be held and cuddled. Usually, these guys are the older, more mature ferrets who have come to appreciate humans over the years.

To hold your ferret, support both his front and back legs in your arms (see Figure 7-1). Supporting his entire body is important. I can assure you that he’ll try to move around quite a bit and probably try to crawl up your chest and onto your shoulder — maybe even onto your head! You can adjust his position, but remember not to squeeze his little body too tightly. You may find that sitting down and holding him on your lap works better for you. Use a treat such as Linatone or Ferretone to entice him into staying put.

Remember

If your ferret decides to nip you in protest of being held, don’t reward the behavior by putting him down to play. You don’t want to give in to his bad behavior, because he’ll know what to do in the future when he wants down. Instead, if he nips, immediately tell him “No!” and place him in his cage. This way, your fuzzy will begin to associate biting with jail time (for more, see Chapter Putting Your Ferret through Basic Training: Easy as 1-2-3?).

Tip

Scruffing, if done correctly, is a safe and painless way to hold a ferret when you need him to remain still for activities like trimming nails and cleaning ears. Simply grab the large, thick patch of skin behind his neck with your entire hand and lift him up. His hanging body should naturally remain still. You should support his bottom, especially if he’s a heavy furball. However, note that the more support his bottom receives, the more he can move around. You should use scruffing mainly when more control is necessary for his safety or yours.

Figure 7-1:  Demonstrating proper  ways to hold a ferret.

Letting fuzzy set up shop in his home

I always advise people to allow their ferrets to get used to their new cages before they introduce them to the wonders of their new surroundings (Chapter Home Sweet Home: Preparing Your Ferret’s Quarters gives the lowdown on cages). This practice gives your ferret the chance to soak in all the new smells, both good and bad (people can give off funny scents!). Your ferret has a unique personality that you need to become familiar with. Only time will allow this to happen. Ease your ferret into your routine slowly; better yet, let him slowly ease you into his routine.

For starters, keep his cage in a convenient location — one that won’t allow your 100-pound dog to rattle the cage every time she runs by. The following list presents some more cage tips:

• Don’t allow the cage to become a resting shelf for your curious cat until your ferret has become comfortable with having that particular cat around (see the upcoming section “Fuzzy Meets Fluffy and Fido”).
• Instruct children and other family members to keep their fingers out of the cage until your ferret has become comfortable with all the humans around (see the section “Preparing Your Child for the Ferret”).
• If you like, you can partially cover the cage until you all get to know each other.

After a day or two of letting your ferret settle into his new home, take him to a different safe place, such as a bathroom. Sit down alone with some toys and let your ferret explore you at his own pace. Move slowly and quietly, talking softly as you encourage him to play. Watch his body language to see how comfortable he is with you. Some fuzzies are more laid back and eager to accept the change in lifestyle. Others may maintain pipe-cleaner tails for hours until they become more relaxed. When you become comfortable with your ferret’s temperament in his new environment, you can begin to give him more freedom. Let him roam first when the kids are at school and the other pets are confined to another area of the house and then move on from there.

The steps to successful bonding

Bonding with your ferret is an important part of establishing and maintaining a pet-loving, harmonious household. The rewards experienced as a result of properly bonding with your ferret will guarantee you a lifetime of love. The goal of bonding, after all, is to not only make life tolerable, but also to turn your ferret into a lap pet and you into a friend for life.

Establishing a bond isn’t something that happens naturally or overnight. It takes effort, time, and trust from both parties, and it’s an ongoing process. Here are some activities you can engage in to help cement your bond with your ferret:

• Playing: Ferrets need frequent human interaction to remain happy, and you can provide this interaction and bond with your ferret by playing with him. Whether you get down on your belly and roll around with him or teach him new tricks, play is vital to your relationship. (See Chapter Enrichment: Yours and Your Ferret’s for more information on play and enrichment.)
• Holding: One of the best ways to bond with your ferret is to carry him around with you (see the earlier section “Hold me gently, please? [Why a question mark?]” for more on this topic). You can carry your ferret the old-fashioned way by cradling him in your arms and taking him with you from room to room, or you can just plant yourselves on the couch and watch television. Time carrying your ferret around should be limited, with frequent “down time” rests in between so that your ferret doesn’t become too stressed and so he can take potty breaks.
• Grooming: Grooming your ferret is a natural bonding tool. The activity mimics the way the ferret’s mother and litter-mates would groom him in a familial environment. You should practice grooming rituals on a regular basis to enhance your bonding experience with your ferret; they’ll help to soften even the most hardcore biter. (For more hygiene information, see Chapter Cleaning Time: Not All Ferret Fun and Games.) The following are some grooming activities that promote bonding:
• Face rubbing and cleaning: Gently hold your ferret’s head, and using your thumb or thumb and forefinger, stroke his face. I usually use both hands to hold a ferret’s head, and I stroke his face with my thumbs from his nose back to his ears. For the cleaning part, you can take a warm, damp washcloth and gently stroke the face fur in the same direction the fur goes (with the grain).
• Fur plucking: Fur plucking is quite simple to do, but you must doit gently. Use your thumb and forefinger to gingerly tug on a tuft of fur on your ferret’s head or neck. You also may tug on the fur located on his neck and belly; I’ve found these areas to be the most accepting, although you can pluck any part of your fuzzy’s fur.
• A warm, damp washcloth rubdown: This is one of the most effective grooming/bonding methods, but it takes a little practice and getting used to for both parties. All you need is a small, damp (not wet), warm washcloth. Starting at your ferret’s face and working your way back, rub him with the washcloth. Move in the same direction his fur flows. You may need to rinse and warm your wash-cloth periodically.

Don’t forget his belly, his bottom, and his genitals! Remember, what  you want to do is mock his mother’s behavior. A washcloth rub-down is not only a great way to bond with your ferret, but also a good way to help keep him clean — at least a little.

All these bonding rituals are easy and can be done just about anywhere and at anytime — even while you’re watching television. In addition to having a calming and soothing effect on the ferret, the grooming good for your own blood pressure!

Fuzzy Meets Fluffy and Fido

If you love ferrets (or are thinking of getting one so you can fall in love), chances are you already have other pets in your home. You’ll probably be able to introduce your ferret to your dogs and cats with no problems, provided that you take the necessary steps to minimize the natural tension between them. Not all ferrets have the same temperament; likewise, all cats and dogs have unique personalities that influence pet-to-pet relationships. In addition, some breeds of dogs (generally speaking) aren’t as good with ferrets as others.

As a rule, ferrets get along better with cats. Ferrets and dogs together present unique conflicts that you should monitor closely. In the following sections, I explain how you can introduce your ferret to both cats and dogs, and I briefly cover other small animals in case you have your own miniature zoo at home!

Heeeere kitty, kitty!

Ferrets and cats can make great companions, depending on their temperaments. I have three fat cats, and each one responds differently to my ferrets, and vice versa. Butch is usually neutral around my ferrets, often feeling too crabby to ferret around. Sometimes, though, he gets a wild hair up his heinie and waits patiently around the corner for a ferret to amble by so he can make a tackle. Old man Smokey has zero tolerance for ferret behavior. He either stays up high or throws haphazard swats toward any fuzzy that’s curious enough to cop a sniff. He then runs away and hides. Snickers, the youngest of the clan, is always up for a good wrestle. He tolerates ferret antics and enjoys getting down and dirty with all the furballs. They bite each other, take turns chasing, and play hide and seek. Snickers, however, usually wears down the ferrets. Eventually they’ll run away and seek solitude in a hidey-hole after an hour or two.

You can do your part to try to make all your pet relationships like the one Snickers (or even Butch) and my ferrets have. To smooth the feline-ferret introductions in your house, follow these steps, one cat at a time:

1. After your ferret gets comfortable in his new surroundings (see the previous sections), allow kitty to move freely about the outside of the ferret’s cage while fuzzy is inside.

Let them sniff each other, and watch how they react. You may see no reaction at all.

2. Take your ferret out of his cage and hold him securely while both he and kitty explore each other.

New smells are intriguing to ferrets. Both he and the cat may have puffed tails.

3. If all seems calm so far, put your ferret down and watch cautiously as the two interact.

If conflict arises, end the meeting and try again later. It may take a few meetings before everyone is completely comfortable.

Remember

Many people think that the ferret is the animal in the most danger during a cat-ferret encounter. My experience has been that most healthy adult ferrets can hold their own against cats and can even be more aggressive. Until you’re sure that your ferret and cat can play nicely together, always supervise their games. Even after you become comfortable, supervision is a good idea.

Warning!

Adult ferrets have been known to kill kittens, so never leave an adult ferret and a kitten unsupervised. Better yet, let your kitten develop into an arrogant adolescent before subjecting her to ferret torture. It’s only fair!

Nice puppy!

The relationship between a dog and ferret can be a little more complicated than the bond between a cat and ferret. Although cats come in different breeds, they all have pretty similar characteristics and are similar in size. Dogs, on the other hand, can be itty-bitty or massive in size and can be bred for certain personality traits and job functions. You must take your dog’s size and personality into consideration when introducing your ferret to her.

Remember

I’ve heard of many ferrets being killed by dogs, and the owners blame the dogs. The fault usually lies with the human who wasn’t supervising the interaction or who didn’t take into consideration the personality of the dog. It’s your responsibility to keep your fuzzy safe and healthy; it’s a dog’s responsibility to be a dog.

Common dog/ferret characteristics

Although good dog-ferret relationships certainly do exist, I tend to mistrust most dogs around ferrets for several reasons:

• Some breeds of dogs, like Terriers, Spaniels, and Hounds, are bred to hunt ferret-size game, and they may find a ferret awfully tempting. Supervise your ferret with these dogs with extreme caution.
• Some dogs are very territorial. An otherwise laid-back, ferret-friendly pup may attack a ferret that ventures too close to her food, toys, or den. Keep your dog’s stuff out of your ferret’s territory, and watch for signs that your dog is getting possessive with other objects.
• A nursing dog can get extremely aggressive toward other animals when she’s protecting her litter.
• Large or hyper dogs may inadvertently paw a ferret to death or injure his spine in an attempt to engage in play.
• Some dogs don’t like little animals or young animals and are very freaky around them. My dog Ara was great with cats but was unpredictable around kittens.
• Some dogs do well with ferrets until a fuzzy nips or chases them. A ferret is bound to nip and chase during play. If your dog can dish it out but can’t take it, don’t allow her to play with a fuzzy at all.
• Some dogs just aren’t good with other animals, including ferrets.

Of course, many exceptions exist, which is why you’ll never know how an interaction will go until you try. Some nursing dogs allow ferrets to snuggle in with the rest of the litter. Some big dogs tiptoe gently around ferrets. Because every animal is an individual, you must decide how to allow your fuzzy to interact with your dog. Use common sense. If it feels or looks unsafe for your ferret, it probably is.

The Fuzzy-Fido introduction

Introducing a fuzzy and a dog should be almost the same as introducing a fuzzy and a cat. The main difference is that the process is slower. Just follow these steps:

1. When your fuzzy is feeling settled in his new home (see the first section of this chapter), allow your dog to roam freely around and investigate your ferret’s cage — with fuzzy in the cage and with you present.

Allow this type of interaction to take place for several days. Especially if you have a large dog, don’t allow your dog alone with the cage. I have a friend who lost fuzzies to a large dog that tore apart the fuzzy cage in a matter of 15 unsupervised minutes.

2. If the cage sniffing seems to be going well, take your ferret out and hold him securely; let your dog and ferret sniff each other.

You’ll know things are going well if neither your dog nor you ferret is lunging at the other, or your ferret isn’t cowering in the corner. If either is showing aggression, stop the introductions and try again the next day. Keep up the process until they become desensitized toward each other. This may take a month or more and may never work out at all.

3. If the mutual smelling goes well, harness and leash your fuzzy and put him down on the ground with the dog in the room.

Ideally, your dog’s tail should be wagging and he should smell the ferret. Your ferret may or may not be interested in sniffing back. He may dance with excitement or just ignore your dog. Watch your dog for warning signs such as hackles up, baring teeth, or stiffened body. Every play interaction between your dog and ferret will be different from here on out and should be supervised due to the unpredictable nature of both animals.

Remember

No matter how well a dog and ferret seem to get along, never leave them unsupervised. Be extra vigilant. Dogs can be funny critters, and I don’t mean funny ha-ha. They’re quick, and you may not be able to rescue your ferret if he needs help.

Ferrets and other small animals

Ferrets are predatory by nature. Allowing them to play with other small animals — such as rabbits, hamsters, birds, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, and lizards — is, in essence, messing with the laws of nature. As I mention in Chapter Filling Your Ferret’s Belly, most kibble-raised ferrets won’t even recognize smaller animals as food. However, the quick movements made by small pets may trigger the predatory reaction in your fuzzbutt. Even if a small pet stays perfectly still, your ferret’s curiosity can take over, and, like a dog pawing during play, your ferret may kill the small animal accidentally.

Yes, exceptions to this trend exist, but I wouldn’t want to risk the life of a small pet just to see if my ferret falls into the exception category. As a general guideline, keep your ferret separated from any animal his cousins may prey on in the wild.

Preparing Your Child for the Ferret

Some adults think young, innocent kids automatically know what to do and what not to do around animals. Not so. You need to teach your child about interacting safely with animals. Although some youngsters may have more common sense than their adult counterparts, an adult is still responsible for keeping both the child and the pet safe. In the following sections, I let you know what your kid needs to know before the introduction, and I take you through the process of making the introduction.

Warning!

Never allow any pet, ferret or otherwise, to interact unsupervised with a baby, toddler, or incapacitated person. Doing so is incredibly irresponsible. The human and the pet can get severely injured, particularly if the pet is a small animal such as a ferret.

Pause the cartoons: What your child should know beforehand

Children can activate the insanity button in even the calmest person or ferret. Fuzzies already are strung out on excess energy, and kids can easily manage to activate their overload switch. That’s a given, and something you must deal with. Behavior aside, though, you must keep in mind that kids are smaller than adults. They’re clumsier, and they have much higher pitched voices. These factors alone can make an already nervous ferret even more excited; when you combine the added hyperactivity a kid brings in, you can have double trouble.

Your job as a responsible adult and ferret-owning human is to teach your child what you know about ferrets in terms he or she will understand. When you’re done explaining the following points to your kid, you can explain them again to any of his or her young friends who may also want to interact with your fuzzbutt:

• Many kids get frightened easily around animals, particularly when they get nipped or scratched. Explain to your child that ferrets are very active and playful.
• Stress to your child the importance of not running around or roughhousing where ferrets are loose. Give reasons why so she’ll understand.
• Reinforce the importance of properly holding a fuzzy (see the section “Hold me gently, please? [Why a question mark?]”). Children have a tendency to squeeze things in order not to drop them. And they insist on holding things and then rapidly and without warning change their minds and let the objects or animals drop to the floor.

Insisting that your child always holds the ferret while sitting down is a good idea. That way, even if your fuzzbutt squirms away, he won’t end up plopping to the floor.

Tip

For safety reasons, always supervise children when they’re interacting with your ferret until you feel confident that they know how to properly play.

Fuzzy, meet Junior: Making the introduction

Kids can be quite unpredictable around and in their interactions with animals. The introductions you make are very important in educating your child about animal safety. It’s important to go slowly and explain things as you go along.

The first step in the introduction phase is to go over the rules I mention in the previous section. When your child fully understands what you’re saying, go over the following to help ease your ferret safely and comfortably into your child’s life:

1. Because most children automatically shy away from being bitten or scratched, make sure your child wears long pants and long sleeves to prevent your ferret from clawing. This way, the child will find handling the ferret easier and safer.

2. Start off slowly by having your child sit on the floor in the same room with the ferret. Allow the ferret to approach your child on his own terms, but keep him from climbing on your child. This is a good time to practice patience.

3. If the ferret seems relaxed around your child, and your child hasn’t gone into hyper mode, pick up your ferret and demonstrate the proper way to hold him. Point out his sharp claws and teeth and explain why it’s important to properly hold the ferret.

4. With your child still sitting on the ground, place the ferret in the child’s lap and allow the ferret to get used to being with a new person. Encourage your child to gently pet the ferret.

5. If the meeting is going well and everyone is still calm, place the ferret into your child’s arms, again showing her the proper way to hold the ferret. Make sure you keep your hands just below the ferret in case your child decides she no longer wants to hold him. If you feel comfortable with your child’s comfort level, you can have her stand up and hold the ferret.

6. If the you and your ferret both seem comfortable with how your child is handling the situation, demonstrate how to put the ferret back down. At this time, you also can show your child how to properly pick up the ferret. Learning how to pick up your ferret and put him back down is just as important as learning how to hold him. Remind your child that she should never interact with the ferret without adult supervision.

With these simple guidelines, you should be able to determine how responsible your child will be with a ferret, and how your ferret will do with a child. Some kids and some ferrets take a little longer to get the hang of it. If this is the case with your loved ones, go slow! Never force a child or a pet to interact until both parties feel and act comfortable. Moving to the next step before your child and pet have mastered the prior step may lead to injuries.

Fuzzy Meets Fuzzy: Adding Another Ferret to Your Family

Introducing a new ferret to your other ferret pet(s) can be tricky business (and, remember, should only be done after the proper quarantining process). Like many other species of mammals, ferrets vie for top position. They do so through play wrestling and biting. Some ferrets are natural leaders; others are natural followers; and some would rather venture through life without ever encountering another ferret. You may not know which type you’re bringing home until you see him spring into action.

Here are some bits of information to keep in mind when introducing your new ferret to his new family:

• Kits (very young ferrets) are perfect squeaky toys for older ferrets, although the kits rarely see it this way. Adult ferrets can be quite possessive of youngsters. They may try to drag them around and stuff them in hidey-holes while guarding aggressively against curious visitors.
• Newly introduced ferrets often display their frizzed tails for the first ten minutes or so. This behavior is normal. Pay particular attention when one ferret aggressively tackles another and performs an immediate alligator roll, because this behavior can signal trouble. A dominant ferret may take a lot longer to accept a new ferret and in some instances will act particularly aggressive.

Sometimes, a frightened ferret screams and hisses as the more aggressive ferret tries to engage in play. Ferrets play rough, but if one fuzzy seems overly bullied or frightened, separate him and try introducing again later.

• Ferrets that have been isolated for a long period of time may feel particularly frightened at the sight of another fuzzy.
• Although ferrets are capable of severely injuring — and even killing — another ferret, it rarely happens. Of course, you should always end the meeting if blood is drawn, and you should always have a spare cage for the newcomer in case the introduction turns sour. Your quarantine cage is perfect for this.

Remember

Some signs will almost immediately tell you that the new relationship probably won’t work out: Drawing blood, one ferret literally having the poop scared out of him, and persistent screaming, to name a few. It may take only a few minutes for a newcomer to be welcomed, or it may take hours, days, or even months. Some ferrets just won’t, under any circumstances, coexist. Most ferrets eventually learn to get along with other ferrets, though. If your ferrets only display bottle-brush tails and keep coming back for more sniffs, they should become best buds in no time.

That being said, you can do certain things to encourage a successful introduction and relationship between fuzzies. I cover these actions in the sections that follow, as well as steps you can take to introduce multiple fuzzies.

Meeting on neutral ground

For your initial introduction, you should choose a ferret-proof room (see Chapter Ferret - Proofing Your Home) that your established ferret hasn’t yet explored. It should contain ferret toys, tubes and climbing furniture, as well as food and water. It should also contain secure nest boxes with small openings (see Chapter Home Sweet Home: Preparing Your Ferret’s Quarters). Another neutral place can be in your yard, with all the ferrets harnessed and leashed.

When all parties are on site, place them together and watch cautiously to see how they react and interact. If the introduction is a rough one, place them in separate cages and try again later.

Messing with their sniffers

Ferrets have a tremendous sense of smell. They identify other ferrets and objects based on the unique scents they give off. The scent of a new ferret can be intimidating and provoke aggression or fear. So, you can take some actions to get their noses used to each other:

• Because a lot of disagreements arise from one ferret not liking another’s special smell, making them smell alike can help to curtail fuzzy tension. Your ferrets are probably due for baths anyway, so break out the most fragrant (and safe) shampoo you can find and give them baths (if you want a more exotic smell, you can add a little vanilla extract to the bath; see Chapter Cleaning Time: Not All Ferret Fun and Games for more on cleaning). The boys will be busy feeling embarrassed at how girly they smell, and the girls will be busy walking with their heads held high. An established ferret will notice a newcomer, but everyone will smell pretty much the same at this point.
• You can clean all toys and bedding in your main fuzzy cage before lumping them in together. Also, don’t forget to clean the cage and change the litter boxes. These tasks give your new ferret ample opportunity to get his scent in the cage at the same time as the others.
• You also can switch the cage bedding of the new ferret with the cage bedding of the established fuzzy, and vice versa. This way, they have no choice but to live with each other’s stink. They’ll either get used to each other or resent the other even more. Usually, they get used to each other. I use this tactic when introducing most animals to each other, from rabbits to foxes. Although it doesn’t always work, it has a high success rate.

Forcing a relationship

Some ferret relationships require a little extra help to get going, to the point where it seems like you’re forcing the relationship. Hey, no one said the intro would be easy! The following list presents a few more tips for helping your tough guys get through the initial bad times:

• Carry the buggers around together. They may be so busy wondering where they’re going that they’ll forget their hatred for each other — even if just for a moment. Carry your ferrets everywhere you go in the house. Hold them on your lap together. Make them watch television with you — together!
• Stick the ferrets in a carrier together and take them to the vet for their shots and checkups. Fear and anxiety have a bonding effect on both humans and animals. Your fuzzies can share the moment and hate you together.
• Allow them to share a tasty treat off the same spoon at the same time. You also can allow them to enjoy the irresistible licks of Linatone from the same bottle.
• Bathe them together in the same tub at the same time. They’ll share a fear and anxiety similar to what they’ll experience at the vet. Plus, the shared humiliation of the bath will lead to a bonding experience like no other.
• Let them duke it out! It may be time to stop babying them. Let them spend a few (3) days screeching, chasing, bullying, and fighting, but no longer than that! Most of the time, ferrets work out their differences if you let them. Use your common sense, but keep in mind that it usually looks and sounds worse than it really is.

Easing your fuzzy into the business

Sometimes nothing you try seems to work, especially when you have one or two ferrets that just seem unwilling to let a newcomer into the group. As frustrating as it may be, you should do everything you can to help ease the new guy into the family. Because ferrets have a hierarchy amongst themselves, it’s  important to get to know everyone one by one, starting with the most submissive ferret. The theory is that by the time the ferret has met the most dominant ferrets, he’ll already have been accepted by the more submissive ferrets and have become part of the family:

1. Introduce your new ferret to a safe, neutral room with plenty of hiding spots (see the earlier section “Meeting on neutral ground”).

The first thing he’ll do is make his rounds to get to know the place and the new scents. After he knows the territory, he’ll familiarize himself with the toys and other items in the room. He’ll then dance about in play and silliness, just like any healthy ferret should do. Before long, he’ll become bored with his surroundings and look to you for more to do.

2. Introduce your most submissive and docile opposite-sex ferret into the room. (If your new ferret is a boy, introduce a girl.)

Now that your new ferret’s attention is off the room, he can focus on the newly introduced ferret. If all goes well, you should see a fair amount of sniffing, some silly dancing, and some play about the room.

3. Introduce your next most docile and submissive opposite-sex ferret into the room.

Repeat this process with all ferrets of this characterization.

4. When you run out of opposite-sex ferrets to introduce, bring in the most docile same-sex ferret.

Repeat this process as well.

5. What should remain are the unintroduced ferrets that are your typical aggressors.

The idea is that your new ferret will be assimilated into the group and become more easily accepted by the more aggressive ferrets with the blessing of the others.

Remember

Although gender introductions can be unpredictable, boy ferret meeting girl ferret statistically has the best outcome. Boy ferret meeting boy ferret produces pretty good results, too. Girl ferret meeting girl ferret, on the other hand, can be more of a challenge.

If any of the previous steps fail at any point along the way, you should stop the introduction process and try again the next day. See the section “Messing with their sniffers” and bathe each of them right before starting the process again. Introduce Ferret one or another tasty treat when things start heating up and have them share a spoon. Take things you’ve learned in this chapter and incorporate them into this introduction process. Be creative. It may take several rounds of introductions or combinations of techniques. When all is said and done, there’s no guarantee any introduction technique will work for your new ferret.

Heading Off Stranger Danger

Your new ferret may have several opportunities to encounter strangers when he enters your family and home. A meeting may take place at the vet’s office or in the park during playtime (with you attached at the end of the leash, of course; see Chapter Home Sweet Home: Preparing Your Ferret’s Quarters). It may be in your child’s classroom during a show-and-tell or in your own home. You must realize that not everyone shares your fuzzy enthusiasm; some people will be taken aback at the quick display of curiosity shown by your ferret. Others may get annoyed at how bold your ferret can be as he tries to steal their possessions and mow through their hairdos. The good news is that you’ll surely find people who are just like you and me. These people will be tickled pink at your ferret’s charming personality.

Some ferrets are natural social butterflies; others quiver with nervousness when encountering new people or places. Use common sense; don’t risk a stranger’s health or your fuzzy’s life if you already know that your ferret reacts badly to change or strangers. That said, here are some suggestions for dealing with strangers who come around your ferret:

• When allowing a stranger to touch your ferret for the first time, keep your ferret’s head under control. Offer the stranger your ferret’s bottom and back to pet in order to minimize any chance of biting.
• If you’re entertaining guests at your home or if your kids have friends over, allow time for introductions; after the fuzzy curiosity has passed, it’s best to keep your ferret caged. With so much else going on, super-vising a roaming ferret becomes difficult. He can be mishandled or get injured with all the feet moving about.
• If the stranger will become a frequent visitor to your ferret, give her a brief education on the common behavior of ferrets and on the proper way to handle them. I can’t stress the education factor enough. That, along with common sense, has allowed me to show off my fuzzies hundreds and hundreds of times with no tragedies to report.

by Kim Schilling