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Post by WhollyJules on Aug 17, 2019 0:51:05 GMT -5
Thank you so much for letting me join! Recently I became a "feral" ferret parent.  A little backstory: Besides my inside kitty Izzy (first time ever that I have had ONLY one kitty ), I take care of a small colony of feral kitties (very feral and skittish). I have two feeding areas set up for them, one using bales of straw, pallets, heavy-duty container, and a large tarp. Another feeding area is set up inside my storage shed with cozy pet carriers, pallets and such, and lots of straw. Why am I telling you this, you ask?  Well, on August 5th I went out to take food to the feral kitties and lo and behold, a tiny little NOT-A-KITTY!! was looking at me through the slats of the pallet that blocks access to larger critters from my straw bale feeding station. Oh my word! That tiny little face! I was in shock with it not quite sinking in that I was looking at a ferret! A very friendly, non-feral  ferret. Turns out she also liked staying inside the shed in one of the large carriers I have in there that is filled with straw. Tried to get her a good home, did not work out...after 10 long days and little ferret escaping to my shed twice and the comforts she found there. Their home was way too noisy and too many large dogs and even larger family yelling matches for my little peep. I hated (not!) to tell them that I decided to take her back. I did tell the little girl that loves her that she can take her for walks as soon as I get a harness and leash, so that helped. I am SO glad it did not work out because I was filled with anxiety the whole time she was not...HOME! There is much more to this story, but that is it in a nutshell. I still need to give her a name! They were calling her Roxie, but I'm not sure it that suits her or not. <sigh> I've been working on getting proper nutrition into her. On the 15th when I got her back, I started her on a basic, no frills raw diet—but have questions because I am thinking my kitty raw diet may not be ideal for her, being a ferret. She did take to raw right away, which I am so happy about. She is skin and bones and her coat is in awful shape. Poor little peep! She is using her makeshift litter box (I have one ordered, it just isn't here yet) like a little champ too! I have tons of questions, so will make my way to the appropriate forum to ask them soon. So that's my little introduction. Sorry, I tend to get "wordy" at times, LOL. I am so happy to be here! Photo of my little girly at outside bale feeding station on day I found her...eating...kibble(!). Oy. When you are starving, any food will do.  |
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Post by caitmonster on Aug 17, 2019 13:04:27 GMT -5
Oh that's wonderful that you're able to give her a good home!!  I'm so happy she found her way to you. It sounds like you are comfortable with raw feeding already, and as far as I know ferrets and cats have extremely similar dietary needs (if not exactly the same!). I'll throw a couple links here for general reference: An example menu with explanations of what cuts and types of meat to include: Basic Frankenprey MenuList of more helpful links for raw-feeding ferrets: INTRO TO RAWBest of luck! Glad to have you, even if by serendipity! |
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Post by peacexlovexpets on Aug 18, 2019 15:13:50 GMT -5
Where at in Iowa (I'm in Ames)?
If you she has two blue tattoo dots in her ear, she is a Marshall ferret, which means she is spayed and has her first distemper vaccination.
Also-for a ferret, don't use a clumping litter (as they wipe their booties after they poop and it can get stuck in their bunghole). We use horse stall pellets at our hose and they work great (pine pressed pellets, about $6 for 40lbs at Theisen's). And as far as litter boxes go, ferrets are more likely to use a box that is easy to get into/has a really low lip on to climb over (I make mine with about a 1.5" lip) and is big enough for them to fit their entire stretched out body in comfortably.
Best of luck with your new baby! Ferrets are such a joy...I started with two rescues and have gotten up to four in sixth months, so they are very much potato chips where it can be difficult to stop yourself at one.
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Post by WhollyJules on Aug 18, 2019 16:44:07 GMT -5
Caitmonster:Thank you for the links! They should perhaps let me know if my present kitty raw diet will work, or if I need to do a bit of tweaking for my little girly. Peacexlovexpets:And thank YOU too! I'm in Spencer (NW IA). Not sure if you're familiar, but great to "meet" a fellow Iowan! I will look for the little tats. Her cute little ears are so tiny, so it should be interesting. Yup, I knew to not use kitty clumping litter, or even clay litter, for numerous ferrety reasons, but thank you for bringing that up because ya never know. I bought a bag of Fresh News, a paper-based pelleted litter. For litter boxes: I've been using canned cat food flats (of which I have many!) that come with the cases of canned food I order for my feral kitties. She has taken to those with no hesitation. I also did receive a hard plastic corner litter pan that is attached inside her wire dog cage, and she uses that too with no issues so far. <knock wood!> Both of these "litter boxes" fit the low-sided description you gave me. Well, if any more show up at my feral kitty feeding station/shelter, they'll have a home with me, LOL! I kind of think this was a one-off situation though, but my heart is open. I should probably start a new thread for this, but here goes: I so need to find an alternative to my large dog cage. It is just not going to work. Too much spacing between the bars. My little Houdini has made the great escape three times now. I have had to barricade that thing like Fort Knox to keep her from escaping. If I had had more advance notice she was going to be showing up and pulling at my heartstrings <grin> I would have found an alternative cage for her. But, that is in the works. My goal: I especially like the Ferret/Critter Nation cages, but can't afford until after 1st of the year. Formed poos are on my radar right now. They are getting better, but not quite there yet. Yay for a raw diet though, they are coming along! I think she had been eating the ferals' kibble, and canned, at night and the folks that had her for 10 loooooong days were feeding her...God knows what. Little girl said she was feeding her frogs and insects. Oy. Thank you both so much for your help—and getting to know you a bit! Jules
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cockneyferret
Adolescent Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 253
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Post by cockneyferret on Aug 18, 2019 16:58:34 GMT -5
Good to see that she's found you and you'll be able to give her a furever home.
Keep us posted about her progress.
Best of luck
Neil
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Post by peacexlovexpets on Aug 18, 2019 17:45:45 GMT -5
I lived in Estherville for a summer internship, so I've been in the area! If you need a cage for her until the 1st, perhaps wrapping the dog crate in some chicken wire and zip tying it together would suffice? I would be concerned about sharp edges though. Is she going to be an inside noodle then? Most people only cage at night and free roam if someone is home to supervise, so you really only need a cage for her to sleep in. If that is the case, you could probably get one of the smaller Kaytee animal cages that are big enough to hold a water bottle, food dish, small litter pan and a hammock/blanket for the time being. I still use mine whenever my boys travel with me, so it's not like it would be a purchase that would go to waste when you get a new cage. You can usually find one or two of them on the Des Moines craigslist under pets, I'm sure Mason City would have one listed in the near future. www.chewy.com/kaytee-complete-guinea-pig-kit-color/dp/184963?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Kaytee&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo5ro5b2N5AIVCyCtBh1N0g4HEAQYASABEgLGL_D_BwEI don't know how much experience you have with ferrets, but would you say she is small because she is a baby or small because she is full-grown but malnourished? My little girl (she's kind of a chunker) is very petite in her feet and face, but has a belly on her and is just about 1kg. She is a Marshall, so they tend to be a little bit smaller than a breeder bred noodle. |
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Post by unclejoe on Aug 18, 2019 18:58:53 GMT -5
I'd love to live where I could have an indoor/outdoor ferret.
FWIW, we use clumping litter. it is pure clay, nothing added. our lovelies wipe their butts once out of the box and the only problems we have are poop streaks and dirty footprints on the laminate floors. To limit that, we have at least foot of newspaper around the boxes. So then they poop on the papers. Ya can't out think a ferret.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Aug 19, 2019 8:42:21 GMT -5
How lucky for you and the little one. U can also use baby blankets under potties. I get all mine from thrift store.They also love burrowing in baby blankets in their cages. Do watch where you step on any fabric on floor. Other safety things include giving your ferret blankets a shake before putting in washing machine--- I recently closed up my Annabelle in dishwasher. It had dispensed the pod even. I just happened to put a stray cup in when I found her. Sooo very thankful---now I am sure noone is in there before closing the door. Here is a link to ferret safety toys. They love chewing on rubber---it is among the leading cause of deaths. holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/ferret-proofing-and-safety/If you click the HFF Website above---You will find all kinds of information |
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Post by WhollyJules on Aug 22, 2019 14:44:16 GMT -5
If you she has two blue tattoo dots in her ear, she is a Marshall ferret, which means she is spayed and has her first distemper vaccination. I checked and she has three blue dots. I think the extra one may have been a mistake? At least I know she is spayed and got her first distemper vax! That is a huge relief to know. Thank you! |
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Post by WhollyJules on Aug 22, 2019 15:00:45 GMT -5
I lived in Estherville for a summer internship, so I've been in the area! How cool is that?! It sure is a small world! I have come up with a solution, but will be doing a separate post/topic dedicated just to the cage issue. My little Houdini (not her name!) is an expert at escape, LOL. So I had to figure something permanent out sooner rather than later. Because my home is kitty proof, but NOT ferret proof, she will be inside her cage and not free roaming. Only time she will be free roaming is if I am right there to closely supervise. I just can't risk it right now. Maybe in the future with a whole lotta ferret proofing done. I had/have zero experience with ferrets, but I'm learning tons, and I love my little girly more and more every day. She is so sweet and a riot to learn her little ferret quirks. Biggest things I've done is have a safe place for her to sleep and eat, and good nutrition. Dog cage, although not ideal, is getting more escape-proof every day, LOL—it is starting to look like Fort Knox. And since I have been a kitty raw feeder for around 15 years, she is getting a raw diet. Her poos are sloooowly getting better. ETA: She is small, but not sure what normal is for a ferret (will be Googling after I post!). Her little face is about the size of a golf ball, and she weighs around a pound-ish. Thank you so much for your input!! |
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Post by WhollyJules on Aug 22, 2019 15:03:36 GMT -5
Good to see that she's found you and you'll be able to give her a furever home. Keep us posted about her progress. Best of luck Neil Aw, thank you, Neil! She is my first "ferret experience," so it has been eye-opening to say the least. |
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Post by WhollyJules on Aug 22, 2019 15:13:53 GMT -5
I'd love to live where I could have an indoor/outdoor ferret. FWIW, we use clumping litter. it is pure clay, nothing added. our lovelies wipe their butts once out of the box and the only problems we have are poop streaks and dirty footprints on the laminate floors. To limit that, we have at least foot of newspaper around the boxes. So then they poop on the papers. Ya can't out think a ferret. My little rescued peep is indoor only.  Hope you didn't misunderstand from my photo of her outside at one of my feral kitty feeding areas. I had never seen her before, she just showed up there on August 5th looking for food—now she is inside only. She is (but getting better) skin and bones, her hair/fur is very coarse but getting softer. Oh my word, thank you for the visuals and descriptions of poo "issues." Also for the ideas. She does poo in her litter box, but uses newspaper to pee on. I gave her both options...just inside her cage. And you are so right about not not out thinking a ferret...she proves that to me on a daily basis, LOL. |
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Post by WhollyJules on Aug 22, 2019 15:44:51 GMT -5
How lucky for you and the little one. Aw, I feel like the lucky one. Thank you for the tip! I've been using old shirts (no buttons!), but am going to get some cozy soft baby blankies for her to burrow into. I discovered that she LOVES to play in packing paper...the paper that some vendors use for packing material and are long, wide and paper-sack-like stuff. She has a blast. I also "repurposed" a cat sack (lambs wool inside/smooth material outside—or vice versa) and made her a little cubby-cave with a small box inside the 'cat' sack and added a soft shirt in the box and packing paper outside it. She goes inside it and burrows right in. Yeah, I'm not going to let her be free roaming until I ferret-proof our home. It is kitty-proofed, but ferrets I am learning, take things to a whole new level.  Awesome! I will go check it out. Thank you very much! I've been learning about dig boxes, play boxes, tubing, and the list goes on, LOL. |
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Post by unclejoe on Aug 22, 2019 16:41:26 GMT -5
keep up the good work. we use old shirts. paper and plastic bags are good toys, but remember they quickly lose their novelty, so variety is good for them. We've found that whenever we get an amazon shipment it's fun to leave the box and all packing material (except styrofoam pnuts-starch are ok) on the floor and let them explore. leave a plastic bag or 2 laying around for her to check out. I have brought home unopened paper bags and left them on the floor and the danged ferrets somehow know they can be opened and there is an inside.
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cockneyferret
Adolescent Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 253
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Post by cockneyferret on Aug 22, 2019 18:22:50 GMT -5
I didn't really expect ours to like bags, until I tried it(thanks unclejoe). They go nuts for bags, especially my wife's handbags....ooops.
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