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Post by shilohismygirl on Jan 18, 2011 16:20:01 GMT -5
yeah, it's very true- Gah, Katt-we can never win.  Koda is a dickens-Oz never wanted to chew the cat bed, but he sure did want to chew those blankies. Now he chews nothing in the cage, but I have to watch him everywhere else. |
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Post by katt on Jan 18, 2011 17:15:47 GMT -5
yeah, it's very true- Gah, Katt-we can never win. Koda is a dickens-Oz never wanted to chew the cat bed, but he sure did want to chew those blankies. Now he chews nothing in the cage, but I have to watch him everywhere else. I just have to watch Koda everywhere!   Thankfully, we have gotten VERY good at ferret proofing! When Kenai came home letting him run around the room was like "Meh! If it's proofed enough for Koda, it's proofed enough for ANY ferret!" When we first brought Koda home though we would have to watch him and watch him. My one big complaint about Kenai is he DIGS. And digs, and digs, and digs, and digs.........he is absolutely relentless!  I thought Koda was bad! Nope! I learned I was very wrong there!  Compared to Kenai, Koda is a relative angel (did I really just say that?!?!) when it comes to carpet digging!  The thing with Kenai is he does not seem to be too bright. He doesn't really learn very quickly about Anything. I now it is unfair to compare him to Koda, who is not only very intelligent. but was also an only ferret, but it really does seem like a few pieces are missing up there... It is amazing the difference in intelligence and learning speed! Koda is an RC and Kenai is a MF. Hmmmm.....  Tot he OP: did your baby recently have some traumatic even happen? Perhaps something traumatizing to him even though you might not think it should be? I know when I brought Kenai home I was afraid I might have a bedding chewer as he ate my favorite scarf on the way home! After some talk though and some time, we figured out that he was most likely just sucking on it for comfort being such a young baby ripped away from his mom and litter mates at such a tiny fragile age.  Something "traumatic" or stressful might lead your furbrat to be feeling insecure and reverting to suckling on things, like his comfy blankies, for comfort. Much like thumb suckers in humans. |
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Post by bibliophiliac on Jan 18, 2011 17:54:01 GMT -5
Nothing really comes to mind as he started doing this a month or so ago. Then he stopped and only started again once we got Riley, our new ferret. I know that upset him a lot! He's our sensitive baby, but he was fine we got our previous ferret.
I wonder if if it has anything to do with Riley is a girl although she is spayed?
But, after we introduced them briefly, he has been fine but still chewing the blanket. I've been playing with him more than the others since he got upset over Riley and giving him extra treats.
So, I'm not sure if that could be it or just a coincidence, but either way the blanket is out of the cage and they won't get them back for a few weeks. I'll try to put one in then and see if he chews on it.
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Post by katt on Jan 18, 2011 18:53:22 GMT -5
Nothing really comes to mind as he started doing this a month or so ago. Then he stopped and only started again once we got Riley, our new ferret. I know that upset him a lot! He's our sensitive baby, but he was fine we got our previous ferret. I wonder if if it has anything to do with Riley is a girl although she is spayed? But, after we introduced them briefly, he has been fine but still chewing the blanket. I've been playing with him more than the others since he got upset over Riley and giving him extra treats. So, I'm not sure if that could be it or just a coincidence, but either way the blanket is out of the cage and they won't get them back for a few weeks. I'll try to put one in then and see if he chews on it. He could have been feeling insecure of maybe you were a little extra busy that month, or just left him in the cage a few minutes longer one day. Then this little thing comes along and disrupts his routine and steals his Mommy and Daddy and sibling ferrets' attention....  lol Hopefully he will settle in and get over it soon. The extra attention should help a bit. Also, if you can take him out for his own playtime about 15 minutes or so each day. If you can do this with every ferret it is a great bonding experience. Mustelidmusk recommended it to me when Koda was upset about Kenai coming home (excited and upset) and it is pretty effective. It gives each ferret a chance to feel a little extra-specially loved without siblings coming in to steal the attention! |
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Post by bibliophiliac on Jan 18, 2011 21:22:19 GMT -5
Thanks, that's a great tip =3 I'll start that tomorrow!
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