Pino

[Tink]

It's been tough since we lost Cooper last week. Pino was his cagemate but she says
"Don't be sad, Mummy"

[angieh]

Aaaaawwwwwwww - will you be looking for a new cagemate for little Pino, or do some re-organisation?

[Tink]

Actually there is one other ferret that is also a part of that group, the little neurological boy, Zero.
They're both eating well but I can tell Zero is sleeping more than usual and Pino I think sometimes wishes she had a playmate with the same energy (she's perfectly healthy but put in this group because she has no social skills with other ferrets and can only get along with very passive ferrets). I have just been giving both extra attention.

[angieh]

That's a bit of a shame for Pino - excuse the question as I know nothing about ferrets, but is it too late to try and get her better socialised? Is she too old to adapt?

[Tink]

No worries about excusing; I don't mind questions at all
If her problem was with humans it would certainly not be too late. With other ferrets..well, that is a little trickier.
There are normal introductory spats and transition like other animals but at the same time it is kind of like cats where some just do not get along and someone is going to pay the price. Sometimes the chemistry is just not there and all you can do is seperate them. I know people online who have three or four different play groups going on in one household because of ferrets different clashing personalities and to make sure they were all happy and no one was being bullied.
She's not aggressive to a fault..she is the most passive ferret ever. She just won't stick up for herself at all and she doesn't read other ferrets cues to "back off, i'm getting upset with you". She just knows she wants to play but then if someone doesn't like it she lies down and takes it and I fear my bolder girls in the other group would just have a field day with her.
Not to say she'll always be alone. I could probably take her to a ferret shelter and let her pick out her own friend that's personality matches hers..I hesitate to do that though as I think in the future I'll probably keep a smaller group of 4-5 at a time at the most. I don't mind having 6 now (with Cooper it was 7) but I'd just like to make a little more room in the budget.
Oops, sorry..novel!

[Mags]

Love the expression on Pino's face, Tink

[Manyana13]

Pino has the most beautiful little face

[angieh]

Thanks for explaining her personality Tink. I guess the best thing for her is for you to be her playmate for a while at least.

[dandysmom]

Thanks for the explanation; I like learning new things; didn't know that about ferrets. She's a pretty girl.

[Tink]

Originally Posted by angieh

Thanks for explaining her personality Tink. I guess the best thing for her is for you to be her playmate for a while at least.

Me and Solomon anyhow..he helps too