I hate my boyfriend's new pets!!

[Maize411]

Well my boyfriend went through the whole "oh if you can have 2 snakes then I want to pick out a pet of my choosing even if you don't like them"...so I agreed it was fair..He came home with 2 ferrets about a week ago...the white one is friendly and I don't mind her to much..their names are "Meeko (the white one) and Chip (the dark half blind one)..

So yea..the white one is okay..but the dark one....I HATE!!...He is nasty beyond anything..He will go for you if you even come near the cage..I'm terrified to go near it...and he already got me twice..and they were pretty deep...my boyfriend is trying to tell me it's because he's half blind...that's bull...he sees my hand in his good eye..and goes for it..He's just nasty...not to mention they are smelling up the apartment more then all our pets put together...

I've never been big on ferrets..the smell, probability to bite, and the fact that they can be snake killers just does not agree with me...and to make things worse..I finally found a stackable shelf to put my tanks on (compliments to Wal-Mart for the "Black&Decker stack shelf")..Well Joe put the ferrets on the top shelf..so now my snakes are right below these little monsters..and the shavings they have is pine...I know there's no way the pine shavings can get into the snake tanks (I made sure of that...) but still..it just upsets me...

Well I'm glad I can come here and vent to you guys..thanks for listening...anyone else go through a similar situation as me??

 

[rekn]

pine isnt good for any substrate for any animal unless youre keeping a person.

 

[Shade]

I'd tell him to ditch the pine. I had rabbits on pine at work and one of them had a nasty allergic reaction. Aspen pellets make better rodent litter.

 

[BezilsGirl]

I'm a ferret lover (I have 14) I rescue them (even the nasty ones, and BELIEVE me I have met some nasty ones!) so I can give some advice. Dump the shavings. Use a litterbox with either recycled newspaper (yesterday's news?) or what I do is put papertowels in one corner of the bottom of the cage. Ferrets will naturally go in one corner (well, that's the idea) and then you can just clean that once or twice aday. Don't use cages with bars on the floors. It totally screws their feet up. Um, as for the biter- try bitterapple on your hands before you go near it. Make sure you get it on good. Let the ferret smell you through the cage. Then let it bite you. Then make sure it gets a NICE taste of that. Even maybe put some bitterapple on a q-tip and stick it in his mouth. Ferrets are very sensitive to bitter and really hate it. They soon learn to avoid that bitterapple smell (though the smart ones will sniff to find a spot you missed and bite there, but those are usually just the really evil ones). Get a good ferret food, they will smell less, and don't bath too often- that makes them smell more. I personality think my sugargliders have more of an oder than my ferrets.
Check out my website and email me with any weasel questions (and yes, they are weasels, not rodents)- I'm happy to offer advice. Hope you learn to like the little guys- they have captured my heart. But I know not everyone is into them like me, just like I know not everyone is into snakes like me...so I don't take offense (well, much) when someone doesn't like them. But let me know if I can help ok? I have alot of experience and might be able to help with some of your issues. Here's my website www.fourcornersferretrescue.com
Good Luck!
-Heather the ferret lover

 

[Jrgh17]

So uh... how much is this relationship worth to you?? KIDDING.

I'd agree that some ferrets are horrible, evil, little creatures. I can't really offer anything except sympathy. Good luck keeping your limbs.

 

[westexherps]

Marshall makes a product called Bi-Odor......we used it at a petstore I once worked at and it helped some with the smell. It takes a week or two to kick in but that might help you some.....also using a substrate that is more absorbing might help like Carefresh. Good luck.

 

[Plissken]

I think it's important that everyone in the household gets on with or can at least tolerate the animals in the home. Otherwise it just makes an unpleasant atmosphere for all involved.

Can you talk to your boyfriend about the placement of the cage if you don't like that? Just because he choose a pet of his own doesn't neccessarily mean he can put them anywhere he likes. He may have agreed to your snakes, but would he mind if you put the cages smack in the middle of the floor or something? Probably.

I don't think it is fair that he can keep something even if you are terrified of it and it bites you. At least ask him to move them away from the snakes so you don't have to go so close to them. They're his pets and you shouldn't be forced to have to go near them. :shrugs:

Sorry if I'm misreading the situation or anything like that, that's all just my opinion really...

 

[Jrgh17]

I'd agree with Plissken. It's an excellent point that there is a difference between a pet you don't really like, and a pet that is actually hurting you. Maybe I'm overstepping a bit here, but I would think he should be a little more worried about your hands when you get bit, rather than just brushing it off. Ferrets have a lot of nasty crap in their mouths, so the wound could get infected. If he won't move the ferret cage, move the snakes?

 

[Susan]

And make sure your boyfriend keeps his ferrets current on their vaccinations. And keep thinking about how easy a large boa could dispatch and dispose of those ferrets. :grin01:

 

[Gronk]

Maize...

I can't speak to your like or dislike of Ferrets, but we have had them for years. <G>

I love the little things, and got 2 for our Son about 4 years ago. Best thing about them is their dander doesn't affect my cat-dog allergies. Ferrets can be a bit nippy, not all but some. There are ways to train them not to bite, but it takes time and patience.

And Suze is 100% correct, he needs to have at least 1 trip to the vets each year for them and keep their shots current.

I also keep around 50 Corns, and granted, they are kept in different rooms. Hopefully you and your boyfriend can come to a mutual understanding and work to make the situation better. Makes for a happier household. <Smile>

Just my thoughts....

 

[diamondlil]

My friend's ferret's don't smell at all, she's got a neutered pair, and I think she said its the un-neutered males that smell bad?

 

[Brizzle]

Aw, I love ferrets. I've never been around a mean one. I'd like to have one someday.

 

[Maize411]

And make sure your boyfriend keeps his ferrets current on their vaccinations. And keep thinking about how easy a large boa could dispatch and dispose of those ferrets. :grin01:

::Evil smile:: hmmmm....anyone giving away any boas right now??? LOL... :devil01: :devil01:

 

[PtDnsr]

::Evil smile:: hmmmm....anyone giving away any boas right now??? LOL... :devil01: :devil01:

Actually we'll be selling our girls at Daytona...we could be moved to part with them sooner though :grin01: ... I'm a bad influence.

~Katie

 

[TandJ]

Katie mentioned the following..

we could be moved to part with them sooner though ... I'm a bad influence.

You don't say huh.. Bad influence, humm.. I won't mention the neighbours chiuahua then..

Regards.. Tim of T and J

 

[Gib_one]

As i said the cage is way too small. Thats the result of it.