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Modern Ferret News Mailing List Issue #28
http://www.ferretnews.com
August 27, 2002
by Mary R. Shefferman and Eric Shefferman
contact: mary modernferret.com
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Hi
This issue contains the first part of a three-part
article by Mary on reducing stress in ferrets. This
is an important concept that we've been repeating
again and again over the years in our magazine. For
some of you this will be familiar and for some of you
it will be all new concepts -- either way it is well
worth reading to help get you thinking about ways to
improve your ferrets' lives.
Our exciting new thing to talk about this issue is
our new book: _500 Things My Ferret Told Me_. This
book is a whole lot of fun and has a fun web site to
go along with it. Read more about the book in our
Update section or just go directly to the web site
to check it out:
http://www.asktheferret.com
NOTE: We will be adding even more features to the
site during the next week.
We have a Limited Edition Advance Preview of the
book available now. We produced this book to send
out as a promotional and publicity item for the book,
and there are only 340 of them. They have a special
cover design, are individually numbered, and are
signed by both Mary and Eric.
If you're looking to get a rare Modern Ferret
collectable, get one now before they're all gone!
The regular edition will go on sale some time in
September.
You can order the Limited Edition here:
http://ferrettradingpost.com/ltded500t.html
Enjoy this newsletter and start thinking about
ways you can reduce stress for your ferrets!
- Eric
----- The Modern Ferret News -----
>>> In this issue: <<<
==> Stress Reduction - Part 1 of 3
by Mary R. Shefferman
==> Update on Modern Ferret Things
------ About the Modern Ferret News ------
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======================================================
==> Stress Reduction - Part 1 of 3
by Mary R. Shefferman
We often think that because ferrets don't have jobs
or deadlines or bills that they don't have stress.
They sleep in hammocks, have all their food and water
provided -- and they get to play a lot. But stress for
ferrets is not the same as stress in humans. The kind
of lay-about life most ferrets have can actually be
stressful for them. As much as they are our pets now,
that's not what nature designed them for. Ferrets are
designed to hunt, which takes both physical and mental
exertion. If their basic needs aren't met, they can
get stressed.
Reducing stress might not have a direct effect on any
specific disease, but a ferret that is not stressed
will have better overall health, and may do better if
he or she does get sick.
There are several things you can do in your home
right now that could help reduce the overall stress
levels of your ferrets.
-- Play
Ferrets are active animals. They need good physical
stimulation and exercise. Play isn't just for the
body, it's for the mind, too. An overweight ferret is
a stressed ferret. A bored ferret is a stressed
ferret. If your ferret comes out and wanders around
for 45 minutes then goes back to sleep, he's more
likely bored than tired. Give him something
challenging to do.
Digging in a box filled with rice or dirt, running,
climbing, jumping, and wrestling are all excellent
ways to keep our ferrets healthy. These activities
can help keep ferrets from getting bored. You can
also switch around your ferrets' toys -- have one set
one week and a new set the next week and so on. Teach
your ferrets tricks. Hide treats that they can go look
for. Any kind of interaction with you is good physical
and mental exercise. Aside from buying toys, there are
plenty of toys you can make. You can make up games
with your ferrets. For example: Eric and I will sit on
either end of the living room and roll a plastic ball
back and forth while the ferrets run back and forth
chasing it.
-- Darkness
Ferrets are descended from burrowing animals. Burrows
are dark. Although no definitive studies have been
done to prove that excessive light plays a part in
adrenal disease, it is one of the current theories.
Even if light doesn't play a part in disease, the lack
of a dark place for your ferrets to retreat to when
they're frightened, tired, or not feeling well surely
creates further stress.
Cages might seem like safe places to you and me, but
they leave ferrets feeling exposed. Providing a dark
area for them will give them a sense of security and
will reduce their stress. You could even construct a
nest box (1) for your ferrets out of wood, if you're
handy. Just be sure that your ferrets aren't chewing
on it and that it remains clean. If you're putting a
wooden nest box in your ferret's cage, be sure to use
a good sealant -- like polyurethane -- to make sure
the wood doesn't absorb urine. Make sure that you
allow the treatments to dry completely before exposing
your ferrets.
We've put a dark piece of denim over the top level of
our ferrets' cage. This creates a dark area where they
can go whenever they feel like it. We also have a
Ferret Planet Security Cube (2) in the cage.
-- notes --
1. Nest boxes used to be a common part of a ferret's
home. Older books on ferret care in the US (pre 1980)
often mentioned nest boxes. Basically a nest box is
a cube-shaped enclosure that attaches to the cage and
has just a small access hole for the ferret to get in
and out. The nest box allowed the ferret to hide
and sleep in darkness whenever it wanted to.
2. The Security Cube is an easy-to-hang fabric
enclosure that allows your ferret to climb inside
and be hidden. For more information see:
http://ferrettradingpost.com/security-cube-info.html
-----------
-- Loneliness
Ferrets like company. If your ferret is an only
ferret, make sure you spend a lot of time with him.
Talk to him. Play with him. Pet him. Groom him. Living
creatures need touch, and ferrets are no exception.
If you have two ferrets and one dies, the remaining
ferret often becomes depressed. You can help alleviate
this kind of stress by paying more attention to the
remaining ferret. Consider getting another ferret --
but try to get the ferret in such a way that your
existing ferret can choose his or her new friend.
Bringing in an unwelcome ferret can create stress,
too. But even if the new ferret is liked, there will
still be a stressful adjustment period.
:)
-- Stay Tuned! Part 2 of 3 of this article will be in
the next Modern Ferret News newsletter!
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If you've been reading this newsletter and would
like to see what Mary and Eric do in a real printed
magazine, you can go to our online store and order
a single copy.
http://modernferretstore.com/24/cat24.htm
Modern Ferret Magazine issue #32 features:
- A Dozen Helpful Hints from Bob Church
- Bob Church's Forgotten Ferret History
- Insulinoma to Diabetes: Scoots's Story
- plus ferret cartoons, funny stories, and more!
*and* a very special Patriotic Pin-Up Centerfold!
Note: you'll want an extra copy to be able to hang
this centerfold in your office!
You can also order a subscription, back issues,
and other Modern Ferret products from the site.
http://modernferretstore.com
---------------------------------------------------
Enjoy reading ferret articles from Mary and Eric?
Why not order a Take 25 Pack of Modern Ferret
Magazine back issues?
With the Take 25 Pack, you get 25 back issues
of Modern Ferret magazine delivered right to your
door. Over 1000 pages of ferret care information,
fun, games, and more!
Every issue is filled with the kinds of things that
you want in a magazine: great photos, care tips,
training tips, funny stories, medical information
(with explanations written so you can understand
them), and so much more -- all done from a fellow
ferret owner's viewpoint (because we're ferret
owners too!).
Read more about it at
http://ferrettradingpost.com/take25pack.html
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==> Update on Modern Ferret Things
Please tell other ferret people to go to our site
ferretnews.com and subscribe! The more the merrier!
-- Our New Book
One of the things that's been slowing us down is
getting the website ready for our new book.
NOTE: We will be adding more features and stuff to
the web site during the next few days, so keep
checking back!
The web site is:
http://asktheferret.com
It already has all kinds of fun stuff working:
o A free windows screen saver
http://asktheferret.com/free-ferret-screensaver.html
o The soon-to-be-world-famous "Magic 8" Ferret
http://asktheferret.com/magic8ferret.html
o Sample pages from the book
http://asktheferret.com/about-the-ferret-book.html
o Nifty 500 Things T-shirts, mugs, coasters, etc.
http://asktheferret.com/cgi-bin/cpshop.cgi
-- Even more coming soon!
We're really trying to make a strong comeback --
we have a few more things in the works that we'll
be telling you about soon as well as a very special
holiday issue of Modern Ferret Magazine.
That's it for this issue!
Stay tuned! More great stuff is on the way!
Remember that shopping at
http://www.FerretDesigns.com
and at
http://www.FerretTradingPost.com
helps support this newsletter and keep it free.
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Copyright 2002 Modern Ferret magazine.
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