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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 8:58:59 GMT -5
Hi all, i don't know if this is going to sound a bit daft, whenever i talk to people about it they always look at me as if im crazy but if anyone is going to understand what im talking about its going to be you guys. What am im wanting to know is how many of you work a full time job and keep ferrets. I currently work about 28hrs a week and my husband works full time but i know somewhere in the foreseeable there might be an opportunity for me to move up the ladder at work, but this will probably mean working full time. There are days as it is where i struggle to give our four ferrets the exercise they need (thats more because not all of them get on together, but thank god thats changing and they've started sleeping together) and i'm worried that taking on a full time job will have an effect on them. So for those of you who do have full time jobs, how do you do it? How do you balance the two? I would potentially working shifts if i applied for the job and was successful so i'm worried that will totally throw them and that they'll get grumpy with me for not being around as much. We are currently making plans to build a new, super cage for them to increase their run around space and to encourage them to play in it while we're our rather than just using it as a bedroom so hopefully that will help them, but they are free roaming, they only sleep in their cages. Am i just over thinking things or will it effect them as much as i think it will? Many thanks for any advice.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 6, 2013 9:10:49 GMT -5
I work full time, and run a business. We have one room fully ferret proofed, and one group of ferrets are in that one all day. The other group comes out in the evening for about 3-4 hours for playtime with us. Next day it's switched up.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 9:29:15 GMT -5
Mommy Guilt! I totally understand it. I worked rotating shifts (2 days, 2 swings, 2 mids and 4 off) for 20 years. Your little guys do have each other, and a playroom will help. On the days when you are too tired to do much of anything, you can always lay on the floor with blankets and pillows, and let them romp all over you. And I found that my husband was really good, stepping in and helping. So my family had two primary caregivers, and even though he did things very different (don't even ask about daddy dinners), everyone benefits. Too bad someone doesn't invent a antiGuilt pill. I think all women (and some men) really could use a good dose.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 11:33:42 GMT -5
Its definitely a case of guilt! They have pretty much had my undying attention since we adopted our first last December and im worried that they'll think they aren't getting the attention they are used and i don't want them to think they've done anything wrong etc. Im pretty much their primary care giver. I'd definately give the pillows and blankets idea ago though, thanks
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 14:47:40 GMT -5
Hubby and I both work full time. What you could start to do right now if you think your schedule may be in for a change is to slowly begin to implement it now. That way, by the time it does happen it won't be so much a of a shock.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 15:12:45 GMT -5
I already work 28 hours, so its really only one extra day and they have gotten pretty used to being on their own for eight hours. I have to leave them over night in November (my mam is going to come and check on them reguarly) and i have no idea how i'm supposed to cope with that when i can't leave them for eight hours without worrying. I think we're going to set up some sort of webcam or something...
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Post by katt on Aug 6, 2013 18:46:43 GMT -5
Many (I'd almost venture to say most...?) ferret owners work full time or more. It is very doable. When I got my boys Shane and I were both going to school full time and I was also working to support myself and pay for school. Many times I was working almost full time in addition to my school schedule. For the last 2 years I have not been in school but have been working full time. First a standard 5 days 8 hours job, and then working four 10's (which often turned into 12 hour shifts). We are no longer working but in less than 2 weeks we will be starting medical school, which is a full time job and then some just in itself. While it isn't always easy we have always been able to make time for the ferrets. Yes, some days they just don't get out - not many, but there are some. It happens, they get over it, and we make up for it with extra loves later. Ferrets are very adept at adjusting their schedules to fit ours. Honestly only one day difference is not a big adjustment. Another thing to remember as well is that though our ferrets love us, and need interaction, you don't have to be interacting with them constantly while they are out. They will find plenty to do by themselves - exploring, stashing things, wrestling, playin tag with each other, getting into stuff... We try to let the boys out as much as possible when we are home. The bedroom is ferret proofed and we let them run around while we read or study. We take breaks during studying to play games of chase, and they have no problem interrupting us when they want attention either by climbing on the bed and stomping across our papers or attacking our feet. haha We take them on short walks when it is nice enough out, whenever one of us has to go to the bathroom we take them with us for a short change of scenery (and when I wash my hands I flick the water at them and chase them around - Koda loves the game lol). We hand wrestle with one hand while holding flash cards with the other, we scoop them up whenever they come close and give them snuggles or play peek-a-boo with the blankets... We have always been able to make time for them and give them plenty of attention and lovin's and play time. To help alleviate the days when we are super busy or have a huge test to cram for I just bought the big Marshall's 11 panel playpen and cover. This way we can use the cover as a mat. Then when we don't want to worry about Koda eating everything within reach or Kenai forgetting where the litter box is every 10 minutes, we can put them in the pen. Then they still get some play time out of the cage. Even if it's not as good as free roaming the bedroom or playing chase with mom, it will be better than nothing on those days when life is just too hectic. Even then though they always get love every day. Even the few days that are too crazy to let them out, we give them snuggles and loves. Hopefully the pen will reduce those days, as few as they are. When we are gone during the day or at home but not in the room, the boys are always in their cage. We rotate toys and bedding. We also have foraging toys that help to keep them occupied during the day. To be honest though they sleep most of the time we are gone - remember that ferrets sleep 14-18 hours a day. They will probably snooze while you are at work and be ready to gogogo when you get home. I think that it is going to be more of an adjustment for you and your conscience than it is for them. It's okay, all of us crazy ferrents totally understand! hahaha Oh and I always miss my ferrets after a day of work! So you are definitely not alone there either. My boys are well travelled. Before Shane and I moved in together we spent about half the week at my house and half at his. The boys had a small cage at his house (and the FN at mine) and always came with me when we stayed there. We also make a lot of 2+ day trips to the cabin, trips to Fairbanks (6 hours away) to visit family, etc. The boys have a small travel cage that we use so they can come with us. I don't like leaving them behind, I worry a TON and miss them! (On top of that my best friend, who was the only pet sitter I really trusted, left the state). Anyways, very long story short - you can always find a way to make them fit into your schedule, and they will always adjust their schedule to fit yours. It isn't always easy, but it is doable.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2013 4:13:16 GMT -5
Hurricanekatt, your post has made me feel one hundred percent better. I read about all the things that people do with their ferrets, and all the out time they get and i just assume that all these people couldn't possibly have full time jobs/education commitments. I think before starting full employment i'm going to have do some serious thinking about how to organise everything properly to make things much easier and to massively plan down to every tiny detail their new cage to make sure it has everything they need for stimulation because at the minute their cages have food, water and beds in and all their toys are kept in a toy box so we can supervise. So i need to think of some toys which will be okay for them unsupervised and to somehow put in a dig box i think (our last dig box was turned into a litter box ¬_¬) Its going to be pretty big, something like 6-7ft wide, 5ft tall by 3ft deep, so i should have plenty of room My trouble is if i even attempt to do something, like the dishes or make dinner, then they sit on my feet because they think they're getting something, or Suki climbs up my body. This is by far her worst habit. She does it on bare legs too and it doesn't half hurt It isn't remotely possible to block off the kitchen from them. They only way would be to build a gate and fix it to the wall, but we rent so that's not really possible. I think you're right about it being more of an adjustment for me though, i have a horrible conscience; im one of those people who should not be allowed anywhere near a ferret shelter. I nearly came home with a fifth at the weekend because of this-i only went in to donate some food-and its been playing on me that i had to leave this poor guy at the shelter because my hob attacked him and things have only just started to settle after we introduced two jills two months ago. Its so hard trying to be sensible ¬_¬ I don't actually travel at all at the minute. Both my husband and myself have family up north (a three hour drive) and i haven't been up to visit since Christmas, when we only had one ferret. He now has to go on his own because nobody is willing house them if i was to go up. I have a travel cage and everything but we have no cause to use it. I refuse to go and leave them behind for reasons like that, to me, they are my family and leaving them behind is not an option. I actually got pretty offended by it, but never mind. For going away in November, its to a wedding and we have to stay in a hotel because its in the middle of nowhere, as English weddings have a tendency to be, so its really not possible to take them and im dreading it. My mam has agreed to look after our four but she doesn't know a thing about ferrets and isn't too keen on them either so im freaking out that if something goes wrong she wont know what to do. I know that our smallest, Kiko has a tendency to get bones wedged in her teeth and she struggles to dislodged them so i have to stick my fingers in and pull them out, and i don't think this is something she would be comfortable doing, they'll just have to have muscle/organ meat while im away. Thank you so much for your advice, im feeling pretty good about applying for the full time job now, even if not so much about traveling
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Post by katt on Aug 7, 2013 16:19:02 GMT -5
I know what you mean about getting offended. I have has a few run ins with my family (mostly extended) in regards to my pets - especially when I still had my iguana, Tito Rex. There have been several minor to moderate...butting of heads (for lack of a better term) over the years. My pets are my BABIES. They are family. A lot of people just don't see animals that way though unfortunately. Will your family not let you bring the ferrets in a travel cage? It's not like they take up much space in a small travel cage... *shakes head* I don't understand some people.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2013 17:28:14 GMT -5
I see them as my babies too. I used to get massively broody, and it made me pretty down about not having my own children and that has stopped completely since adopting ferrets. Even people with animals wont let them in the house ¬_¬ We took Suki once when we just had the one, and she was fine, the family just didn't like it and she was limited in her out time and i didn't like leaving her in a small cage all day so i doubt it's something we'll be able to remedy any time soon :/
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Post by katt on Aug 7, 2013 18:14:09 GMT -5
I see them as my babies too. I used to get massively broody, and it made me pretty down about not having my own children and that has stopped completely since adopting ferrets. Even people with animals wont let them in the house ¬_¬ We took Suki once when we just had the one, and she was fine, the family just didn't like it and she was limited in her out time and i didn't like leaving her in a small cage all day so i doubt it's something we'll be able to remedy any time soon :/ That is unfortunate. I have family who won't let the ferrets over too. The only people in my family who are animal people are myself, my mom, and my youngest sister. And I'm way more of an animal person than them even. The rest of the family are just not animal people. Thankfully Shane's parents, who are NOT animal people, have both been very tolerant of the critters. As for the baby thing I totally agree! I have super strong maternal instincts. I REEEALLY want kids. Everyone in my family had kids young so thats what I grew up with and knew and always pictured for myself. I'm already older than any of my aunts or uncles (I have several - I have a HUGE family) when they had kids. But there is NO way I am ready for kids either - I need to finish med school first and probably residency too! But I still get "baby cravings." I used to get them really bad, but that has drastically dropped since getting the ferrets. They fill that NEED to have something to take care of (Shane fills a bit of that need too, let's be honest here haha), the need for a "baby" to nurture and mother and fawn over.
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Post by unclejoe on Aug 7, 2013 20:21:35 GMT -5
It can be done. When i was working full-time, lo, these may moons ago, I got up 1 1/2 hours before I had to leave anyway, to eat, shower, etc. I would let the fuzzies out to run around when I got out of bed. I'd only have maybe 10 minutes for them before they had to go back in the cage, but it was enough time for them to exercise and eat soupies. When I got home, they I opened the cage and they came out when they were ready. Mind you, mine have run of the house except the bathrooms. You're already crazy because you own ferrets, but you'd really be daft to turn down a full-time job in today's world.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2013 3:05:15 GMT -5
I know, its something i've wanted for ages too and the chance of the same job coming up part time is slim so im pretty sure i'm going to go for it, (and hopefully get it) It'll take them a while to adapt no doubt but hopefully they wont be too mad at me :)I'll buy them a new cat tree or something to make up ^_^
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Post by Sherry on Aug 8, 2013 9:10:22 GMT -5
They'll definitely adapt Such a shame about the families and their unwillingness compromise on the babies coming up. But kudos to you for sticking to your guns
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2013 20:36:22 GMT -5
I work FT, 40 hours a week. My partner works FT, 40-80 hours a week. I am also an independent contractor with occasional side business I work on as well. I pretty much exclusively take care of our 9 ferrets and the house. We compensate our busy schedule by having 4 huge FN cages attached to a bunch of tunnel connected to a room they have 24/7 access to. I don't get to play with them a lot, usually when I try to the ferrets just curl up with me and cuddle in a pile. I'll often let them free roam for 15-25 minutes or so when I'm working on some house chores.
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