Ferret News
Pet Ferret Care Tips
and Information
By Mary R. Shefferman & Eric Shefferman & Gabby, the ferret
www.ferretnews.com

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Modern Ferret News Mailing List Issue #22
http://www.ferretnews.com
July 8, 2002

by Mary R. Shefferman and Eric Shefferman
contact: marymodernferret.com
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>>> In this issue: <<<

==> Thinking Outside the Ferret Cage:
    How to Keep Your Ferret Having Fun and
    Reduce Unwanted Behaviors - Part I
    by Eric Shefferman

==> Ferret News Update

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==> Thinking Outside the Ferret Cage: How to Keep Your Ferret Having Fun
    and Reduce Unwanted Behaviors -- Part I
    by Eric Shefferman

  If you're like many ferret owners, your ferrets spend a lot of the day in their cage. It's one of the easiest ways to be sure your ferrets are safe and not getting into trouble while you're out of your home.

  This makes it all the more important that when you let them out for their daily play that you do your best to provide them with exercise and intellectual stimulation.

  Many unwanted ferret behaviors stem from boredom. Your ferrets don't know what to do and they settle on something that annoys you. By keeping your ferrets active and intellectually stimulated you'll have sleepy, contented ferrets at the end of the day.

-- Time:
  Your ferrets should ideally have time to play until they go to sleep on their own. For some ferrets that will be 3 or 4 hours every day; for other ferrets that will be an hour or 2 each day. For the most part, ferrets will do all right if they have at least 2 hours out each day, but the more time you can give them free run, the less likely they will be to resort to undesirable behaviors due to boredom. If they get a short run *occasionally* that's OK. But don't make brief playtimes a habit, as this will lead to undesired behavior.

-- New toys:
  Ferrets will be interested in nearly anything for about 10 seconds. Some will find new things more interesting than that -- and some will find them more interesting when you actually play with them with the new toy. Use your judgment to find new things for them that will be safe (avoid things they can easily chew off a piece of, foam rubber, latex, etc.) and then supervise the interactions.

  Some cheap things that work as new toys or games:

• Give them a paper grocery store bag
  Some ferrets just love the crinkly sound and love jumping in and out.
• Offer them an empty shoebox or other open-top box
  Our Gabrielle loves it when you cover her with the box for a few seconds and then lift it quickly with a "Peek a Boo!"
• Dangle a towel or blanket and let them chase it
• Drag a towel or blanket along the floor and let them ride it or chase it
• Remove the label from an empty soda bottle and let them push it around
• Use your imagination!

  Think about what your ferrets might find fun or interesting and give it a try!

  Again - always supervise how your ferrets play with their toys - especially new toys.

  Your ferrets count on you to keep them entertained. And if you take care of them, they'll keep you entertained too!

  Stay tuned for part II of this article next week!

   ---------------------------------------------------
    Do you have any tips you'd like to share on thinking outside the ferret cage?

    Use our feedback form at:

   http://ferretnews.com/feedback.html

   or send an email to feedbackferretnews.com

   with your tips and we'll publish the best ones in a future issue of this newsletter.

==> Update on Modern Ferret things

  Remember that shopping at FerretDesigns.com and at FerretTradingPost.com helps support this newsletter and keep it free.

  Stay tuned! More great stuff is on the way!

  Next week: Part II of Thinking Outside the Cage

  For now, just go play with your ferrets!

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The shortened version of the disclaimer is: If your ferret is ill or you think your ferret is ill, bring your ferret to a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian.

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Copyright 2002 Modern Ferret magazine.
All rights reserved.
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