What can i do to make my ferret happy?

Question

My ferret does not seem his happy self lately. I have a vet appointment for him. Although i really do not thing he is sick. I give him amble time to play. Originally i let him play with my cats as playmates. I felt that he was becoming depressed or lonely though so i got him another ferret friend. He doesn't evenbother with the new ferret. Who is very playful. Could this just be my ferrets personaility? he used to play. what can i do to make him happier??

I adopted him a year ago they told me he was about one. I am almost positive they were lying now, he seems a lot older then a year old.

Answer 1

Let's see. Does your little ferret get enough attention? I mean, are you playing with him? Both of them? They need interaction from the parents! Not just cleaning up after them. Playing on the floor with them, chasing them, making up games. As ferrets get older, they'll still play, but not as much. Are both ferrets playing with each other? How long are they out of the cage? Is your house ferret-proofed? Can they go in the living room and have fun?

It's good you will take your ferret to the vet, but it also helps to know what his homelife is like. I have 9 ferrets, and they have their own room. A whole bedroom. (we have no kids, just 9 ferrets and 8 dogs). Anyway, they are out of their cage from morning until night. When I come home from work, I'll play with them and clean their room. They love to climb all over me and have me chase them. That's the kind of play they need.

Once we adopted a little boy named Badger. After a week, we noticed he wasn't being "a ferret" and was slightly sad. Well, one night I just got him and cuddled with him, talked to him and just held him for about 45 minutes. I loved it! Anyway, the next day at the vet's, Badger made a liar out of me - he started eating, playing and dooking around! Basically, it was a change from one environment to another. Did that happen to you?

One way to tell if a ferret is "under the weather" is to check their poop (runny, green and smelly is NOT good), check their nose (should be cool) and check their gums (should be pink and not white). Those are physical symptoms. They also have emotional symptoms, too.

Good luck at the vets! E-mail me if you have any questions. Weezilmom

Answer 2

Yeah the vet is a good idea. I get you I have one ferret that I bought and 2 that I just rescued. They told me at first that they were about 1 yr old and then they changed the age to 2 I am almost positive that they are very much older than that because they are bigger, less active, and have long teeth, I think that may be a sign of age. YOU KNOW YOUR FERRET. If he does not seem itself then take it to the vet because you can tell if your pet is not it's usual self and you can see the signs of illness. Well good luck. They are great pets and I love them. I got the other two for the same reason, as playmates for mine. At first, they did not get along but now they are sleeping together. Hope your ferret is fine and it's just a little personality problem or maybe jealousy? Mine def. seemed that way at first.

Answer 3

I have a 6 year old ferret, and she has of course slowed down with age, and isn't as playful. But still shows her younger side. I buy her toys and she does not bother at all. I give her things like boxes and velcro, she's happy forever. Anything they can try to discover they enjoy. Bury a treat in a long sock, she go crazy bc they can't get it but they can smell it.

Answer 4

How old is he? Older (over 3) ferrets can develop health problems that need to be treated. Make sure your vet is experienced with ferrets. It could just be he is older now and not as active.

Answer 5

You are right to have him see a vet. He may not be getting enough sleep or not enough toys. Ferrets need toys as well as any other animal and also need the right kinds of food. Also lots of love. Good luck. Here is a link you could check out. http://www.everythingferret.com/id65.htm

Answer 6

Take him to the vet .