Ferret?

[PennyQuilts]

See, this is the same reason you should never "just go look" at a samoyed puppy.

I know your boy will be thrilled. Congratulations for overcoming your emotions. And yes, they are more cat-like than rat-like - so I am told. Dunno.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

Heavy, heavy sigh. If you've been following this thread at all, be prepared to fall out of your computer chair.....

I caved, I gave in, I buckled... I bought a baby ferret today.

I know, I know, I know!

If you ever see my child, you'll understand, he has these amazing big blue eyes .. he is the sweetest, nicest, kindest child and I just can't say no to this kid. It's all he's wanted forever.. (his best friend has a few ferrets that he loves so much so he has dreamed of having one of his own for so long ).

He doesn't know yet though, it's a surprise.

Anyway, this little ferret is actually the cutest thing I've seen.. he is tiny! 8 weeks old and he is fuzzy! He doesn't look like a rat like I thought they did. He sort of does look like a weasel though..

I went to pick up a Chinchilla.. lol.. I figured I could handle that.. it is soft and cuddly right? So, I called, yes, they had one and I went to get him. When I got there the Chinchilla was asleep, he never woke up. hmmm, wasn't quite as small and cute or interesting as I thought he might be.

So... my mom, says ' come see this!' and it all went downhill from there. Oh my gosh, this little guy was much different than I imagined.. he cuddled ( with my mom of course, I couldn't hold him, no way) and he was so funny, he was like a kitten... on crack.. lol, he was so adorable.. I never expected that. He is more like a cat than a rat .. they like toys and play constantly.

He is Descented, Neutered etc... I got him a big cage and a hammock to sleep in and accessories and will surprise my son this weekend.. I'm excited... still terrified.. yet, I think I might be able to get used to him because he is a baby. Hopefully, I can stop being afraid .... I think it will be okay.

[TaoMaas]

Ahhhhh...you're a good parent. A bit of a pushover...but a good parent, just the same. (j/k) LOL I think you're already seeing that our imaginations are MUCH worse than reality in many situations. It'll be okay.

[Karried]

He looks just like this:

[Bobby821]

Awe they are so cute...

[jbrown84]

[Karried]

lol.. why did you have to post a pic with teeth? ha,ha..this will be a process for me. Wish me luck!

Bobby, what is a must have for this baby when I bring him home Saturday?

I bought the Odor-rid you put in their water and all the other accessories.. I have to get Marshall Food ( he is warrantied for one year if you feed them that).... I bought a soft hammock and the litter box and stuff.. a leash, etc etc...

I feel like I just adopted a new baby! I can't wait to see my son's face though.. he won't believe it.

[Bobby821]

Well first off you won't regret your decision. Must haves are food and water of course, toys, the hammocks are nice but not all ferrets will sleep in them. Having a safe play place outside of the cage is necessary. Ferrets love people attention and are very playful with human. They get lonely when not interacted with regularly. For our ferrets we use a Marshal brand shampoo and give them a bath once a week, anymore than that is not good for their skin. As for other products its really up to you and your son on what you want to get for your little one. Our ferrets don't live in a cage, that would be different if my wife wasn't at home all day to watch over them. We keep a food and water dish down in our laundry room and will be placing their litter box down this weekend. They are very much like a kitten on crack! Since we got our first one in February 08 we have never regretted it, and I am sure you will come to that eventually too!

As for litter box training them. It takes a constant dedication to always moving them to the box so that they get the idea to go there. they like to potty in corners and will very usually pick one corner to go in. If you stay dedicated to moving them into the litter box they pick up on that and will use it always similar to how a cat or dog is potty trained.

[Karried]

Thanks for the tips... I've been going online when I can to read up on all the details.. I'm worried about my son walking into the room though, so I'm constantly sneaking a peek.. lol

I just can't wait to give it to him.. I can tell he is trying to not be disappointed because I've told him no way, no how for so long.. so this will be extra special..

I'm still afraid.. and I might have to go really slow and work up to holding it but I will eventually do it and getting used to it ... I hope.

I just have to change my thinking and pretend it's a koala bear or something fuzzy without sharp teeth and a long tail.. eeeek again. nah, I'll be alright.

[Bobby821]

We have never been bitten, if they do it is just a nip when they get wild and crazy with playing with you not a break the skin type of bite but a play type and just telling them a firm NO when or even if this happends will usually alleviate that problem. Oh and they love to steal the insoles out of your shoes we keep ours put up out of reach when we take them off. But they are just fun little buggers to have. Where did you purchase yours from?

[Insider]

My stepmom had two ferrets growing up. They learned that before she left, she would put on her make-up. So her ferrets learned to go into her purse and take the car keys. They would hide them so she could not leave. She loved those guys and described them just as you have, kittens on crack!

[Bobby821]

Ours have a hideout under our kitchen sink, there is an opening beside the dishwasher they go in and out from to get under there and crawl through the hole cut between the cabinets for the dishwasher drain. they have a pet bed under there where they go to sleep and get away from it all for a while. We have a bag of suckers for halloween on our counter and the cats like to get up there and grab a sucker out to drop on the kitchen floor and bat around and when they are done playing with the sucker the ferrets will come out and find them and take them in there home under the sink and open the wrapper and lick on the suckers. Yeah well once we found this out the suckers got put away in the cabinet. They are little sneak thiefs for sure if it is something they can haul away and they like it they will take it.

[PennyQuilts]

My stepmom had two ferrets growing up. They learned that before she left, she would put on her make-up. So her ferrets learned to go into her purse and take the car keys. They would hide them so she could not leave. She loved those guys and described them just as you have, kittens on crack!

That is hysterical!!!!

[sweetdaisy]

Karried, I have one word for you: SUCKER!!!! ha ha ha ha!!

Seriously, I congratuate you on this. I couldn't figure out why you were having such fear of these little creatures until you indicated you had never really seen one before. Your phobia will soon subside when you realize what fun and clever pets they are. (BTW, good idea not to get the chinchilla...too much upkeep, IMO.)

And even though I think you live up in the Edmond area, Dr. Rachel Reeves at Neel Vet Hospital (off of NW 36th & MacArthur) is fabulous with exotics and I'd highly recommend her for vet care.

Good luck! Be prepared for your son to love you even MORE!

[Karried]

Karried, I have one word for you: SUCKER!!!! ha ha ha ha!!

lol, yeah, that's me... I am a sucker when it comes to my kids.. I don't think he'll ever understand what it took me to do this though... it's not here yet, I'll let you know if I survive the homecoming tomorrow!

I haven't touched it yet, or held it, or even gotten close.... I"m hoping I'll get past that when I get to know the new 'baby' better.

[Karried]

oh yeah, I have to add, if I hadn't seen this one in action... I wouldn't have ever believed how cute they were. I went back and forth for about a half an hour from cage to cage.. the Chinchilla didn't move once and this baby was bouncing all over, burying his nose in the bedding and just soooo adorable.

[kevinpate]

> this baby was bouncing all over, burying his nose in the bedding and
> just soooo adorable.

They used to say the same thang about Ted Bundy when he was a wee lad.

[Karried]

lol...... ahhh Kevin you always make me feel so much better about things.. ha.ha..

[PennyQuilts]

Karried, sad to say, I woke up this morning and the most exciting thing on my agenda was hearing how your son reacted.

Don't forget to update!!!

[Karried]

lol...I'm so excited too! Of course, I had 8 11 year olds spend the night last night so I'm still in a coma..

One of them had too much pizza, cake, smores and running around all night playing flashlight tag (plus the smoke from the fire) set off his asthma and he called his mom at 3:30am to come and get him....poor thing!

Needless to say, I haven't slept all night between that and being excited to bring home the new addition.

I'll let you know how it all goes! I'm still trying to figure out how to get it from it's carrier to a cage without touching it.. lol

it's like a kitten, it's like a kitten, it's like a kitten

[Karried]

Mission accomplished! My son is thrilled beyond belief! He is still in shock I think... this little guy is crazy! He's hopping all over the place like an energizer bunny! He's in my office running around and I'm sitting in my computer chair with my feet up .. lol

[PennyQuilts]

Name??????

[Karried]

It's between Bandit, Teddy, Benny or Slash.....lol

[PennyQuilts]

Fang!!!

[southernskye]

My daughter's husband has 2 of the nasty things and I refuse to go in her house unless I know they are safely locked up.