Bringing a New Ferret into the Home

If you're a ferret owner, you already know that it's difficult to add a new ferret into your household. Although ferrets are very social animals, introducing a new ferret to your current ferret could cause problems. Ferrets are very territorial about their cage, sleeping spots, food and toys. Ferrets are intelligent and sensitive, but they sometimes squabble among themselves either in play or for dominance. A new ferret often causes problems with fighting and other dominance-related issues while they're working through their introduction phase. Yet with proper methods, you can add a new ferret to your home in a way that encourages socialization and companionship to your already "resident" ferret. When you bring home a new

ferret, keep in mind that skirmishes that seem dangerous to people are actually normal behavior for ferrets. These members of the weasel family have very sharp teeth, but also have tough skin to avoid serious injuries in a ferret-on-ferret squabble. When you introduce your ferret to a new ferret, remember that it takes time (by the ferrets) and patience (by you) for your ferrets to get to know each other, establish territory and sleeping spots, and what food and toys can be shared vs. what belongs exclusively to one of your ferrets. Unless your new ferret is really taking a beating, it's best if you don't interfere in these introduction fights; eventually your ferrets will work it all out! Ferrets love play-fighting, and will often do a "weasel dance" where they snarl and nip at each other, and roll each other over - all the while hissing menacingly. Your new ferret will most likely not be injured by your current ferret; not only are they playing with each other, but they're also establishing dominance roles that is crucial for wild ferrets. Every ferret wants to be the Alpha,

or dominant male, and this is another hold-over from wild ferrets where the leader is responsible for the welfare of the pack. It's possible that your new ferret will emerge as the Alpha. This same process occurs

with female ferrets who must fight out the issue of who will be the Alpha female. The older your current ferret is, the more intolerant he will be towards the new ferret.

He/she will not take kindly to young invaders of their role and territory. Most ferret owners advise that your new ferret be added within a year of obtaining your current ferret. Young ferrets who feel intimidated by an older ferret have no place to run; their only options are to

engage in an exclusionary fight that may be overpowering to the new ferret. To cut down on squabbles between your new ferret and your current ferret, try these techniques:

• Give the new ferret a cage, litter box, toys and a sleeping hammock of his own. Put his cage next to your current ferret so they can get to know each other without forcing them into a territorial battle.
• Since fighting ferrets tend to bite on the neck and shoulder area, try spraying some Bitter Apple on the new ferret's vulnerable areas to prevent biting by your current ferret.
• Introduce your ferrets slowly - a few moments at a time until they're comfortable with each other.
• Give equal time and attention to all your ferrets so that the resident ferret doesn't feel abandoned in favor of the new ferret; failing to do this will increase dominance fighting.
• Remember that solitary ferrets will eventually accept a new ferret because of ferrets' need for company of their own kind. The more you interfere with dominance fighting, the longer it will take for them to work it out for themselves; patience!