File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hey /an/, I really need your help.

I adopted a 2 year old female ferret that is required to live by herself. Before she was rescued she had never seen another ferret or any other animal before in her life and is absolutely terrified of them.

My problem is that I think she is getting bored. The only source of play she can get is from me and I don't know exactly what kind of games there are for a solitary ferret. Toys and tubes will only keep her interested for so long, and when I try to chase her and get her excited she'll hop around and try to nip at me and then back away under the couch or somewhere I can't reach her.

Please help me /an/, I've been trying to figure her out for a long time. Our relationship is slowly building, but I don't think she recognizes that I'm her friend. Tips from ferret owners would be greatly appreciated.
>> Anonymous
You know they do sleep most of the day.
>> Anonymous
>>237356
No shit, that doesn't help at all.
>> Anonymous
That's the way ferrets play - when she goes under the couch, run away really fast and she should bound right out to chase, or at least peek out and think about it.
>> Anonymous k
>>237434
Yeah I think she would do that too. Maybe buy her a squeak toy.

You could always try to start teaching her tricks.
>> Anonymous
How do you know she is terrified of them? My ferret was pretty much the same way and when introduced to animals sniffed them then didn't care.
>> Anonymous
Get one of those robotic vacuum cleaners, the flat disk-like ones. Turn it on and let it run around with the ferret. Just make sure the part of the vacuum with the spinning brushes is far away enough from the edges that her paws can't get caught up in them.
>> Anonymous
I only have one ferret and I take him on walks with his harness and leash or give him a bath or shoot nerf darts into his direction. I just give him alot of attention and toys to play with. He has alot of tube things and stuffed toys he likes to hid around my house.
>> Anonymous
I would highly recommend teaching her tricks. She sounds a little skittish and, in my personal experience, learning tricks tends to make much happier and loving ferrets.
Find a ferret treat she likes from the pet store and give it to her, when you do, snap your fingers a few times. After awhile she should connect the two. Before long she should come running when you snap your fingers. As far as hoping and nipping, thats how ferrets play! I will pull my hands away when a newer ferrets get bitey so that they learn where the line is. 'Teething' is ok and expected in my opinion. As long as its puppy-like teething and no force is being used. Best of Luck!

Inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXUr-wM40ZE