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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 20:59:38 GMT -5
I think my girl is lonely: she keeps coming up to my hand for food, even when food is in her bowl, so I think she wants the interaction more than the food. She follows me around the house when I'm doing chores, which is adorable, but I wish she could speak English so she could communicate what she wants from me.
I've tried tummy rubs, jingly balls, popping her in a pillowcase and tickling her through it, and putting her on a towel which I then gently move across the floor. She's not fussed.
A second ferret isn't an option immediately: Gwyn was an emergency rescue, as in, the kids next door said "we saw this family down the street throw her in the road, we can't leave her out overnight because foxes, do you want a ferret?". So it's been a lot of things to learn + absorb + get in a short amount of time.
Until I can look into the practicalities of ferret no 2, any ideas for social/interactive games? Like playing fetch with dogs, I guess.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 22:48:56 GMT -5
I do alot of hand play with my business.
2/4 of my business have a tendency to get a bit unintentionally nippy due to being overly excited. I tend to play roughly with them, and when I feel they are getting too excited, I put it downa notch and play softly. When They continue, I tell them not to be rough, and/or I cease play.
We use alot of boxes, rice filled boxes, normal empty boxes, boxes and play pen filled with packing peanuts and alot of tunnels. I get really involved with play sometimes and chase around with them, they absolutely love it and have a ball. All of my ferrets play differently and have different interests. Some will enjoy rice boxes, others not-so-much. Some will love fishing for raw prawns in a bowl of water, others will not. I try to have a variety of things around so that everyone has something that interests them. I even let one of my ferrets stash socks because she adores socks. We now buy her own socks just for her to stash under supervision and she has a ball digging around and finding the socks. It's really enriching. Sometimes I hide some meat for them to go find, sometimes raw, sometimes freeze dried and they need to look around and sniff to find it. I sometimes get a blanket and move it up and down, the ferrets play under it and have some real fun.
With the tunnels, I may grab one and run up and down the hallway, they try to run up and get in it, then try to climb their way up to me as I drag the tunnel.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 22:51:41 GMT -5
Sounds like she's also bonded with you. a few of mine follow me around as well, it's super cute. I also notice that some will do it around a certain time and I realised that they have caught onto the schedule, every day in the middle of a long play time, or after playtime I give them some egg. They'd see me go to the kitchen and follow me. Yuuki my albino would stand up on my leg as I whisk the egg on the bench so I would have to lift him up so he sees what I'm doing.  |
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Post by Heather on Nov 23, 2016 0:00:54 GMT -5
Another thing to note too....age. How old is this ferret? An older ferret often likes to putter around. You are her focus her saviour, her bestest friend. This is an honour. She doesn't want another ferret, she wants you, she may just want a head and neck scritch and a quick snuggle. Offer her tubes to rumble around in...but chances are she just wants to be with you. You wouldn't be horrified of this if she was a small dog, don't be because she's a ferret. They're all different. She sounds like my Mimsy, all she wants is to be included. She doesn't want to do hand games, or tug, or tickles. She's happiest curled up in my lap while I answer questions on the forum, happiest when I stop to gently massage her
ciao
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Post by Sherry on Nov 23, 2016 12:24:11 GMT -5
If she is young and energetic enough, walks are also an option. Get her used to a halter indoors, then let her drag the leash for a while, then with you holding it. Do NOT let her back up to the point the lead is taut, or she will slip the halter before you can move lol.
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Post by unclejoe on Nov 23, 2016 19:54:38 GMT -5
Couple suggestions... instea of a pillow case, try dragging her around in a plastic bag, even a grcery bag. Ferrets love crinkly bags. And try a ferret-sized box, with the sides cut down to 3-4 inches. Attach a leash, rope or string to one end and pull it around. If she doesn't jump in it when it goes by her, put her in and drag it. Every ferret I've ever had has loved a drag box. I've had 4 at once in them, little battles for control of them,it's just the best toy, but you have to supply the propulsion. Try a cheap cat fishing pole toy. All that said, we've found that the males are a lot more playful that the females, but we have some fun ones here
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