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Post by sakuraferret on Mar 27, 2011 19:57:07 GMT -5
I was wondering if it is possible to develop a bond with a ferret, and how it is different from a bond with a dog or cat. And what are the best circumstances and methods for developing a bond with a ferret? Are ferrets naturally bonding animals or is it something that takes a lot of work to achieve?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 20:05:03 GMT -5
it's easier with a single to bond, because you're their everything. their playmate etc. holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=71 that's for single ferrets. if i remember correctly you don't have ferrets yet? anyway, i got my first ferret about 5(i think) years ago christmas time. we bonded strong, and then i got him a playmate, well i was still bonded with him quite abit, but not so much my girl now. he they never really did bond, and well after he past i got a new little girl, well those too are bonded now. both my girls are bonded to me, but not quite so much and when i had my boy alone. it is very different having a single then more then one.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 20:06:16 GMT -5
I think it depends a lot on the ferret. Pixie is very bonded to me. She follows me around, will sleep in my lap, kisses my face and feet. Most ferrets are complete spazzes the first year or 2 of life, and take a bit to calm down. I think, if you spend enough time, you will develop a good bond with the animal. Trixie is bonded to be too, but in a different way than Pixie.
I wouldn't say it's like a dog. Ferrets are so absent minded and ADHD that they get easily distracted. A dog is able to focus much better. But that all depends on the ferrets personality.
I think the best way to bond is just spend as much time as you can with them. Holding them, playing, petting, taking with you.
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Post by sakuraferret on Mar 27, 2011 20:13:26 GMT -5
Thank you so much everyone!
Correct, no ferrets yet! This will be my first one.
I got really scared for a moment, wondering if it was just not realistic to develop a bond with my ferret. I think that is why I am siding with a single ferret right now, because I really want that bond, and I have enough time to be a single ferrent right now.
My game plan for now is to find the sweetest ferret possible, to adopt a marshall boy, and raise him single and see how I can do with bonding. Should life get busy, of course i'll get him a brother! But i'll have lots of time for a long time I think.
I feel SO much better. I understand ferrets are not dogs, actually I am not sure a dog is right for me. I want a pet I don't need to be "dominant" over for their happiness (small dog syndrome), and my fiance is allergic to cats. I think a ferret fits the bill! ^^
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 20:18:01 GMT -5
ferrets do fit the bill, but at times they can be over the top annoying and crazy expensive, but in the end, when you watch them in their cage, sleeping oh so cutely(is that a word?) its worth it. but i am going to say that a ferret nation cage is quite the best cage out there. i had a super pet cage for the longest time ever and they are REALLY horrible, you have two tiny doors and have to tear the cage part off to clean the whole thing.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 21:06:00 GMT -5
I know exactly what you mean about the "small dog syndrome". I had a chihuahua for 15 years. I was 10 when we got her, and she bonded with me immediately and never left my side. If I left the room for more than 10 minutes she would start crying and howling until I came back. She would lash out at anyone who tried to touch me (even my mom, whom she loved as well!). I loved that dog, she was an amazing companion, but after she passed I knew I couldn't handle another.
As far as ferret bonding.. I agree with what was said above.. It definitely depends on the ferret! I have 2 babies, a male and female, hardly 4 months old.. the male pretty much wants nothing to do with me. He will play with me if I butt in on their play time, but for the most part he just ignores me. He is VERY independent! I'm just his butler, lol. My little girl, however, is the sweetest d*mn thing in the world - she cuddles, kisses, and loves to be near me.. but it isn't as suffocating as my chihuahua. I definitely feel a bond with both of them (they are my babies!), but she tugs at my heart strings a lot harder.
Lastly.. take horse656' advice and skip the superpet cage and go with the FN!! If you don't have room.. well.. consider making room, haha. Soooooooo worth every penny. I ended up paying a boatload for mine because I live in a small town where the only pet store had to special order it for me (a previous relationship left me with bad credit and unable to get a bank account, thus no online ordering), but it was so worth it. Not only will you be happier, but so will your future fuzzy.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 21:11:01 GMT -5
Agree - FN is worth every penny
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Post by sakuraferret on Mar 27, 2011 22:19:40 GMT -5
I heard good things about the Ferret Nation cage. I am not sure if Japan has this cage though...hmm...research time!
Thanks so much again by the way...I feel tons tons better and still exited about the baby. I hope the next 3 or so weeks pass FAST!
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Post by Sherry on Mar 27, 2011 22:43:04 GMT -5
Sakuraferret, as for bonding with a ferret- it's not uncommon for a ferret who has to be given up by a loving owner for that ferret to develop something called "shelter shock" holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=healthinfo&action=display&thread=102They can and do bond so closely that they will essentially "will" themselves to death when separated from a beloved owner or cagemate. Never underestimate how deeply these little ones feel.
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Post by sakuraferret on Mar 28, 2011 0:34:00 GMT -5
They can and do bond so closely that they will essentially "will" themselves to death when separated from a beloved owner or cagemate. Never underestimate how deeply these little ones feel. Oh yes, I remember reading about this when you showed it to me. I was under the impression the bond was only between ferret and ferret...if it can also be between ferret and human, that is simply amazing! I'm sorry for not catching that.
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Post by Heather on Mar 28, 2011 1:30:21 GMT -5
I had a pair that was turned in to me, Lady Calypso and Captain Jack. Not all ferrets that are turned into rescue are there because their people want to get rid of them. This pair were loved deeply by their people and they really loved their people. Both ferrets initially looked at the new home as a big adventure. About 3 days in Calypso realized that her original skin- momma was never going to carry her around and snuggle her any more. She now had to make a home with ferrets other than Captain Jack. Neither fuzz knew how to play, they had been loved to pieces but had never been allowed to be a ferret. Carried and snuggled everywhere, never allowed to be on the floor, even their cage had been broken down so that there was only one level. Poor food and next to no muscle tone, neither ferret could run very well and if you picked them up they laid quietly in your arms and would do this for as long as you wanted to hold them. Calypso, started to slip into depression, no longer eating, sleeping in dark corners, refusing any play. Life here was too fast, too rough for this fragile little girl. Captain Jack made friends with Fun-Go and learned to be a rough and tumble fuzz. Calypso faded away Perhaps, if she hadn't had a spinal injury before she came she might have been able to adjust better. Maybe, if she had been allowed to play with Captain Jack by her people....but then maybe she wasn't allowed to play because of the spinal injury. I will never know as this wasn't a factor that was mentioned when the pair were dropped off here. I fought for her, but she never really recovered, never really got over being left by her people. It was a truly heartbreaking episode. The bond between human and ferret can sometimes be very subtle. It doensn't mean it's not there. My guys come looking for me. Yuri and Napoleon used to follow me around while I cleaned all the litter boxes around the house...Yuri still does. I have a number of the little ones who will put their paws on my leg when I'm working around the house or drawing wanting up to be snuggled. It may only be a quick kiss and they're on the move again. Ferrets are rather like having an ADHD kid, but they love you just the same. They're rather like the active child, just because they don't hold your hand doesn't mean they don't care. They bond every bit as strong if not stronger than a dog...it's just different ciao
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Post by shilohismygirl on Mar 28, 2011 8:08:34 GMT -5
Can a ferret bond with it's human? YES, yes triple yes a million times. They can be worrisome, aggrivating, and very expensive to deal with, but oh my god, the bond that I feel between the ferrets and my husband and I is vast. Love them, play with them, teach them things, and allow them to teach you. I swear I have never had a pet that is so interactive, just for the fact that they need and depend on you for everything. They might not always want to be held when there are neat things to get into, or there are times when they would rather wrestle each other than bask in your warmth, but that doesn't mean they don't love you. They do little things that end up being so huge to them-like, Hiro follows me around just wanting to be cuddled sometimes. Or yesterday, I stuck my head into their cage to snuggle a sleeping Oz, and he gave me sweet kisses right on my eye. Or when hubby is sleeping and they're out, Fiddler will go sleep with his dad. Or, they'll just run up to you dooking sometimes, trying to entice you to play. Shiloh will come nibbling around my toes for attention. I know that more than many pets, the do appreciate my efforts because they couldn't subsist without them. Like any pet, they want to love and be loved.
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Post by sakuraferret on Mar 28, 2011 18:51:58 GMT -5
Oh thank you so much everyone! I can't wait to get my baby! I hope me and my fuzzy will have that sweet bond and tons of great memories. I will just remember it's my ADD kid and it will be wonderful im sure.
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Post by miamiferret2 on Mar 28, 2011 20:43:51 GMT -5
I really think single ferrets bond more with their humans. My ferret is 8 months old and is already VERY attached to me. Kind of odd too because when they are young they are not affectionate at all but he is. He sleeps next to me, he lays at me feet and he LOVES it when I rub and pet him. He follows me everywhere too. He even tries to groom me. he basically thinks I'm a big hairless ferret. LOL. I wanted to get another ferret to keep him company but my husband is against it because of all their illnesses and the high vet bills. But he is not lonely at all. He is very happy little ferret actually. If you have never owned ferrets, I recommend that you read a lot about them, visit a shelter, volunteer at a shelter, try to know as much as possible before you bring one home. And just get one and see how it goes.
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Post by angelfish on Mar 29, 2011 0:10:17 GMT -5
We've only had out guys for a few months, but I can surely say that if I enter their room they come straight at me asking to play. My little DEW will roll onto her back right on top of my foot so that I can rub her tummy. My baby will follow me around the room as I pick up and place her front paws on my knee if I'm kneeling for something. She also will lay still in my arms while I "groom" her ears. My boy isn't quite so lovey but even he will nap in my arms from time to time. I think we're definitely bonding, but bonding depends on the animal. We have two cats, one who will sit in you lap all day every day while the other will only cuddle at night or when we're asleep. They're definitely bonded to us but they show it in their own way. I think our furbies are the same way.
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