Rehoming my two ferrets?

[fuzzyfertz]

I have come to a very hard decision. I have a male and female ferrets who are both two years old. Their names are Ringo and Zoey. I'm 20 years old and in college (now before people start accusing me that this is one of those cases where I stopped having time for them even when I started college, it's not.) In the past two years I have basically been tossed around, I lived with my mother and things were great. then my mother then passed away and I was sent to live with my grandmother, then, my grandmother passed away. NOW, I live with my loving aunt. Who loves the ferrets but also has pet allergies, and I feel so bad keeping them with us but I love them so much. I keep things very clean but she still suffers. She takes medicine but it doesn't help, sometimes she can barely breathe. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to make this into a sob story but I'm just trying to explain myself. I can feel my heart sinking just writing about giving up my babies. This isn't a 100% sure rehoming. I just need some advice. I'm so afraid that I won't find them a good home and I will wait til I can.

Basically I live in Northern Virginia, I am willing to drive up to 6ish hours to find them the perfect home. I prefer someone who already has or has had ferrets. The two things that are very important to me are the time they get out of their cage and the food they are eating. They will occasionally eat raw soupies but right now they are on a meat and organ food called Ziwipeak. (I can't decide on a food, my first idea was to get them to eat raw but the furthest I could get them to eat was a slightly chunky soup.) I will not give them to anyone feeding Marshalls or any poor quality food. I would love love loveeeee if someone could let them be free roam, that's my dream! But if they at least get a couple hours per day that would be enough. Also, I would like it to be someone who is active on the boards and could update me occasionally, I just created this account but I lurked on the old holistic forum for quite awhile.

I just need some reassurance, I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to lose them but I don't want my aunt suffering either. I'm getting tears in my eyes just typing this.

[Sherry]

Is there any way you can keep them in one room, totally away from your aunt? I've no idea about your living situation, or if that's even feasible. You could get an air purifier for that room to help control any fur.
Whatever it is you decide you have to do, I do wish you and these little ones the very best of luck. I couldn't imagine having to be in this position.

[fuzzyfertz]

We live in a two story house and they are on a different level. We do have a air purifier and it helped only a tiny bit.

[Sherry]

Only other thing I can think of to keep them is using one with a hepa filter and vacuuming daily. I'm sorry

[fuzzyfertz]

I'm pretty sure it has a HEPA filter and I vacuum usually once, sometimes twice a day! She says she's fine and that I can keep them but I feel so guilty, she has done so much for me. thank you for your sympathy

[Deleted]

My SO has allergies, if our ferret gets into our bedroom he sounds like an orchestra when he breathes (from the wheezing) thats not the worst part either, so I can understand your position with your Aunt.

We found keeping a 'ferret free zone' and good quality air purifiers helps. As does daily litter box cleaning and a cage wipe down with unscented baby wipes or witch hazel (water would probably work, our goal is just to wipe up dander and any urine spots). The biggest help is a weekly 'bath' - no soap, just water playtime**. Admittedly Im not so great about remembering to vaccuum, cuz I really hate to vaccuum but it would probably help as well depending on your vac type.

Maybe these tips you've tried, if not, hopefully they can help. I can understand the heartbreaking position you are in. I wish you luck figuring out whats best for your family and your babies.

~Kelli

**edited to add: the water playtime helps wash off dirt and dander, residual urine (I have a boy), and excess oils. Makes a huge difference!

[fuzzyfertz]

We honestly don't have a room where it can be just a ferret room or anywhere to be "ferret free". We have three bedrooms, mine, hers, and a spare room which is literally FILLED with my grandmothers and mothers possessions. The only place I can let them run around is in the living room. :\ I will definitely try your "weekly bath" and daily wipe downs of the cage. I do clean the litterbox around 3-5 times a day. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Deleted]

Our ferret free area is the laundry room and our bedroom. Just so Loki can't rub on my SO's clothes or our bedding, other than that he has free range of the house for everything but overnights.

Can they stay in your room until you get the house cleaned your Aunts allergies lessen? It's easier to pinpoint the cause of the allergy if you work in small steps. Thats how we figured out residual urine was the biggest cause of our issues.

Good Luck!

~Kelli

[fuzzyfertz]

They are actually in my room now and I let them roam the living room and I disinfect the floor after they're done playing. I don't know I feel like as hard as I try I'm not getting anywhere.

[Deleted]

my sister is allergic to so much stuff, it's not even funny. she went for one of those allergy tests, where they poke your back and rub random allergens on your skin to test your allergies.. she got about halfway through before they had to stop because her throat swelled shut. her immune system is garbage and she's violently allergic to animals, but we have 3 ferrets, a dog and a cat in the house and she's fine with an air filter and Zyrtec..

just curious, why can't you keep them in your bedroom? I have 3 housed in my bedroom, which is pretty small (9x9 ft). I've got my bed, dresser, cage, and a bookshelf. I've got a few bendy tubes and hidey holes and there's plenty of room for them to run and play, and nobody else has to deal with them.

[fuzzyfertz]

Their cage is in my room, with that my bed and dresser its pretty packed in there. It's not nearly enough space for them to play. She's not violently ill being around them but I can tell it bothers her.

[Heather]

The one thing that helped my asthmatic daughter was feeding them raw...and I would take them out in the morning (my brats free roam), take a damp cloth and wipe them down. In the evening, they all got brushed, first with a lice comb (finer toothed than a flea comb), then I used a rubber brush (like a curry brush, I was amazed how much fur actually came off), then finally used a chamois cloth. If you do this nightly there is practically no fur shed, even during "the" sheds. This sounds labour intense by it's not...maybe 3 or 4 min a fuzz. It also allows you to play the game of search and find for lumps and bumps and skin issues. It's just a thought
ciao

[katt]

I am very sorry for your recent losses, and for the tough position that you are in now. I support pretty much everything that has been posted already.

My bedroom is pretty small. It's about 9x10 feet and has a bed, the ferret cage, my CD stack, printer, a small table, and a set of wire storage cubes as my stereo shelf and nightstand. They don't mind one bit. I can tell you that it would be far less stressful on them to have a smaller play space than to leave their mom. Switching them to an all-raw diet will certainly reduce the allergens that they produce. You can sign up for the mentoring program to help switch them fully. Also, giving them regular water baths (no soap) will help to remove dander, loose fur, and dust from their coats. Wiping them down daily with a damp cloth and grooming daily will help with this as well, esp when in addition to the regular baths.
You say they can only run around in the living room, but what about outside? You could take them out on the leash - they LOVE it. Even if it's just 20 min a day there is SO much to smell and explore, it's like the equivalent of playing inside for a longer time. lol They wear themselves out exploring. Even my little Kenai who used to be absolutely terrified out going outside has a blast now. I live in Alaska, and they even go outside in the winter. They can't stay out quite as long when it's super cold, but I still take them out to play in the snow as much as I can. It's good exercise, and good enrichment. Then when get come back inside, they go nutso for a good 10-15 min, and wear themselves out even more.
Does your air filter have an ionizer? Those are supposed to help, I really like mine. Also, what size is the filter and where is it? I'd suggest perhaps one in the room the ferrets are kept in, and one in the main living area.
Something to consider is WHAT your aunt is allergic to as well. It sounds like she is indeed allergic to them, but it might be something else. We have had many people here with terrible allergies or relatives with terrible allergies who discovered that it wasn't the ferrets but their urine or the dust on their fur. With everything having been moved from your mom and grandmother's houses, perhaps there was/is some mold or pollen on their belongings. Has your aunt considered being allergy tested? That could tell you what she may be allergic to. Also, I don't know if this is an option but I know my friend managed to have her insurance cover it. She is allergic to EVERYTHING. She is also very allergic to cats, but she loves them and has a cat of her own. She is getting the allergy shots, and they seem to be working really well. It starts out with you getting the shots every 3 weeks for a few months, then once a year, then you are done after one more? Something like that. I don't remember the exact schedule, just that you kind of wean off of them. Anyways, it helps with various allergens, including pets. If you aunt has allergies anyways they could really help her all around.

Something else to think about. I know that you don't want to impose on your aunt, but if she said she doesn't mind, she probably actually doesn't mind. She loves you. People are willing to do all kinds of things and put up with all sorts of stuff for the people they love. How long do you think it may be before you can get your own place? Or is that not an option? They suck big time, but student loans can be a huge help.

Where do you live? Is an outdoor enclosure an option? Even just for a few hours a day to get some play time, and keep them in your room the rest of the time? People have converted rabbit hutches into play pens for outside. Is your bed on a stand or on the floor? My boys LOVE to play under my bed and I put boxes and tunnels and stuff under there for them, it's a lot of useable space. If you bed is on the floor, basic metal stands are pretty cheap at places like CostCo or SamsClub or even WalMart. That will expand the space available for them to play in your bedroom.

Perhaps talk to your aunt and tell her what you are thinking and feeling. I know it's a tough choice and I know you will do what you need to do. I really hope that you are able to work out a way to keep them though! Good luck and best of wishes. I really hope that it works out for you! *hugs*

[Deleted]

Maybe you could downsize your bed and other furniture and just keep them in there and let them free roam there. Put a nice baseboard on the bedroom door. You could also put panty hose over the central air vents (if you have central air). They are VERY cheap, effective filters for places that still require air flow.
I do think the first thing to do is find out if it is the fuzzes that affect her. She may be affected by a lot of things. I know (as someone with a chronic health challenge) that if I am going to have symptoms anyway, I will just live and enjoy life. So, if she knows she's going to have problems anyway, why not have ferrets and a niece she loves as well?
Also, losing two close family members so recently probably changes priorities too. Sweet little ferrets are probably not that big a deal since you work so hard to keep the effects down.

[Deleted]

Sent you a PM