Being naughty during reward for being good?!

[Blue]

Maisie ran into the litterbox, either did her business really fast or faked it, and ran up to me for a treat. I figure I'd treat her anyway.

As she is eagerly licking the salmon oil off my finger, she poops right there on the floor!!!! WTH???

Up until now she's been really easy going, not particularly brilliant, and not in the least bit manipulative. She hasn't even figured out that when she clinks her bowls together during waking hours, I usually come and check on her. So I have really hard time believing she's suddenly turned into a Machiavellian mastermind. She's almost 3, I got her in June from a home where she was being left in the garage on her own. Could it be possible that she's only now "blossoming" after years of neglect?

The other small possibility is this. She was in a sheet at my feet by the sofa. I got up to check on her because I thought she was under the couch and strangely silent... and I stepped a little bit on her Luckily I was barefoot and noticed right away. I didn't even get to fully stand. I followed her around and she showed absolutely no sign of pain. I know that's not necessarily enough to tell, but she also ran up the stairs as fast as usual. Is it possible she was hurt in some way that provoked this? It wasn't immediately after, about 20 min.

I don't know. I'm confused, and annoyed, and feeling guilty all at once. I mean seriously, licking and pooping at the very same time? Help me out please!

[Heather]

I would say that she probably had to go, foxed you and really couldn't hold it and went while getting her treat. If you're concerned that you hurt her when you stepped on her, take her to the vet. It's always better to be safe than sorry
ciao

[Blue]

Thanks, Heather. I thought of another reason last night -- perhaps I've been treating her too soon after the deed (her paws are still in the box sometimes) and she thinks she's getting rewarded for pooping, rather than pooping in the right spot?! That would be more in line with her personality as I understand it. But I guess I'm going to have to be really attentive to possible foxing now. It isn't obvious, because she pees in small amounts quite a lot. (Territorial peeing, maybe, but she also does quite a lot of it in the box.)

She's fine physically (as she ever is, anyway). I mentioned it just in case, because that was two completely out of the ordinary things in one night. Three, actually -- we also had a romp outside, and she spent the whole time running around. She's fast!

[Deleted]

Maybe she was just worried that if she stopped to go potty, the treat would go away.
She sounds like she was fine or she wouldn't have raced up the stairs. It almost sounds like she realized what she had done and wanted to get away fast.

Typical Ferrent feelings: confused, annoyed, guilty (and sometimes) slightly amused all at once.
Each of us feels that way at least once a day over something ferret related.
Sigh...

[Deleted]

I swear Loki was faking me out. I was treating him when he went to the bathroom outside. Then I noticed multiple times were he squatted like he was going and looked to me for the treat. It was only after he moved (post treat) that I realized he didn't actually go to the bathroom.

[Blue]

Well I'm pretty sure now that she was trying to figure out what exactly it was that got her the treat. I was treated (haha) to a whole bunch of variations on a theme this weekend. It's pretty fascinating seeing their little brains trying to puzzle it out. And frustrating. But at least she's not trying to be bad!

[Deleted]

She's a smart one indeed.
You'll have to keep your eyes out on Maisie. She's going to be trying all sorts of things to get that treat. Who knows what she'll come up with.

[Blue]

Yeah, I think I need to start teaching her tricks to channel her treat-seeking energy!