the ferretorium

I no longer use this blog, but I'm leaving it up for archival purposes. Feel free to ask me ferret questions, though, through email instead. (See most recent post.)

[ferretorium]

Yeah so...

Life is still HECTIC AS HECK! so I'm not really back for realsies, just thought I'd catch up on some questions y'all had. Being away from the obligations of tumblr has been pretty liberating, and I realized that mindlessly scrolling through hundreds of posts is pretty mind-numbing, so chances are I won't come back.  So.  If you guys have ferret questions, do not hesitate to email me, because I love ferrets and if you love ferrets then chances are I love you, too.  So here ya go.  [email protected] Hit me up. Send me pictures. Updates. Whatever. Ferret people: I love you and want to help you.  Maranda out. 

[ferretorium]

So I saw the post where you tell us not to buy Kong toys for our loves, but what about the bigger, extra strong ones? And what other toys do you recommend that perhaps we could make ourselves?

The extra strong ones should be ok. I've just found that most ferrets don't really go for Kongs. They get bored of them. As far as home made toys... Ping pong balls + cardboard box = ball pit = super fun. Dig boxes: big plastic bins full of beans/long grain rice/biodegradable packing peanuts = super fun! Tennis ball + big long tube sock + tie knot at end = super fun toy to wrestle with and bite. I'm sure there's more, but those are just off the top of my head. :) Some good toys found at pet stores are Orka brand puppy teething toys (especially the ones you can freeze), Orka brand 'petstages' cat toys (wiggle worm!), and Orbee-tough bones (the really rubbery ones). I've found those to be pretty ferret-proof.  

[ferretorium]

Hi Maranda : ) Could you please give me the names and numbers of a couple of good, private, ferret breeders around Melbourne? Many thanks, Karen

Melbourne like... Australia? I live in the USA, friend, Google is going to know more about that than I am. xD 

[ferretorium]

I didn't know that you had to brush your ferret's teeth. I already bought him a baby tooth brush but what brand of toothpaste do you recommend? Please and thank you.

YES, brush their teeth ESPECIALLY if they're eating kibble. Use an enzymatic toothpaste for cats or dogs, poultry flavored. 

[ferretorium]

My ferret chews on everything in his cage except the chew toys I buy for him. He chews his food bowl all night long and it keeps me up. Any suggestions??

Chewing usually stems from boredom. If you have a plastic food bowl, switch it to metal or ceramic. They usually don't like that texture. If you're letting them out for 3-4 hours a day, then that's excellent, and it might not be boredom. Try offering them all sorts of types of toys of different textures: stuffed, rubbery, etc. 

[ferretorium]

Hi there. I've wanted a ferret for probably close to 15 years, and as I am getting ready to move into my first apartment with a well-paying job, it's looking like it will be a reality come June. I know that a lot of owners are advocates of the raw diet and I want to do what's best for the ferret. I had been planning on feeding EVO but could I also do like a combination of kibble and raw at first, just to see what works?

Most ferrets are imprinted on kibble at first, so chances are you're going to have to start with kibble and then slowly transition to raw. The folks at the Holistic Ferret Forum are super knowledgeable about that whole process. Basically, play it by ear: do it at your ferret's pace. Raw diets are super wonderful and I highly recommend feeding them-- it's really what they're built to eat. :)

[ferretorium]

Hey guys.

Long story short, my life is crazy right now. I have to trim excess activities to put more time into what I love, like my writing and animals. So, please understand when I say I need to take a break from Tumblr. For a while. 

I'll try to get on periodically and check messages, but don't expect replies terribly quickly. 

Thanks for understanding. 

--Maranda

[ferretorium]

My ferret keeps trying to sleep in his litter box, poop and all. How should I make him learn the difference between where he sleeps and where he poops ?

Does he have other places to sleep? Some ferrets prefer other sleeping places... some like hammocks, some prefer sleepy sacs, some like little donut beds... some just like to bury themselves in blankets. Try offering everything! And every time you see him sleeping in the litter box, move him somewhere else. And try to pay attention when he falls asleep-- learn the pattern of play, sleep, play, sleep, and what times they do it. If you can anticipate when they're about to fall asleep, you can herd them into the proper sleeping area. 

[ferretorium]

[ferretorium]

I'm really ashamed of this disgusting Eldritch horror litter box, but whatever. Here is how I solved the problem of ferrets pooping NEXT to the box instead of in it. I made it easy for them to walk into it by trimming the edges. I used a pair of huge shears, for pruning, and chopped up this little kitten litter box from Petco. Try it!

[thelifeofmyferrets]

ferretorium: Put litter boxes in the corners, then! I cut the edges on a normal, square, Petco kitten litter box. Cut it so that the entrance is low enough and they just walk in. That works for mine.

The litter boxes are in the corners. They keep going next to the litter box. The kitty litter box seems like a good idea.

[ferretorium]

Yeah. I used a pair of shears (like for pruning bushes, lol) and just chopped the edges off. I'll take a photo for you. It really works! 

[ferretorium]

It's a really horrible cellphone photo, but hey. 

Zaphod (L) and Max (R) cuddle, nestled between blankets and on top of a pile of pillows. They're just lying under the blanket, this kills me, look at Max's face, cuties stahp

[ferretorium]

Found a tiny tent at thrift store. Bought it for the ferrets. Wisest decision, or wisest decision?

[my-pretty-little-ferret-blog]

[ferretorium]

Can't handle these sweet babies asasdhalfl <3

[ferretorium]

Describe how animals make a difference in your life.

I think it's human nature to want to feel needed. A person needs me, a child needs me, etc. For me, though, it's animals. This animal needs me, I care for it, and it is a point of pride that I offer it the best care by any standards. It started with my snakes, then my ferrets, and finally my rescue dog. They drain my finances, but I won't trade them for the world. When other people are out at bars and paying to get into expensive movies, I'm at home giving my dog an $8 bully stick because it makes him happy. I'm spending $80 a month on raw food for my ferrets so they live long healthy lives. Simply: making animals happy makes me happy. When I see my snakes peeking at me from under their favorite hiding spot, content in their homes, I smile. When I stroke the rabbit-soft fur of my ferrets that comes from their superior diet, I smile. When my dog sits and lays down on command from the weekly training classes I enroll him in, I smile. Caring for living things gives me the most beautiful sense of fulfillment. I don't think I'll ever be without some type of animal companion in my life. I can't imagine the lonely, abyssal void their absence would create. Being around animals is therapeutic. Even cleaning fish tanks and scooping litter boxes is fulfilling work, because it's not for me, it's for them. And that's the difference they've made in my life: they give me a purpose higher than myself. 

[ferretorium]

Job app: "Describe how animals make a difference in your life."

Wait... do you mean... to what extent are animals my whole life? Because that is a way more accurate question. 

[ferretsgonewild]

Buy stuff.

I’d just like to remind all my ferret friends or even rat/guinea pigs that I make different kinds of bedding for all these animals. Let me know and i’ll make you some. It’s all waayyy cheaper than what you’d buy at the petstore. Seriously though, let me make you stuff.