Urban's ferret weblog

This blog is no longer updated, but my new weblog has some ferret content.

- Today I by accident found a better way to hold my ferrets when cutting their claws. To get better light I let them stand on a low table and held one front paw at the time. Much less struggle than when sitting down and holding them in my lap. (2007-09-21)
- Regnar is pretty good at following directions. One evening recently, I let him go down the bank of a creek to the water and while I was on the bridge above I told him to cross it. Or rather come to me. I didn't pull at the leash, but he crossed on stones and very shallow water anyway. (2007-09-21)
- A couple of nights ago, Regnar hissed at me when we were out walking. Reason was I didn't let him into a dog enclosure. So now we know it was dogs he tracked that night. Yesterday it was almost certainly one or more cats.
Dorrit, on the other hand, found a large frog, and wanted to grab it. (2007-09-03)
- Today Dorrit and Kimber came closer to fighting than I've ever seen them before. They found a dead mouse outdoors, and both wanted it. In the end, Kimber took it away and hid it. (2007-08-23)
- Now that it's getting cooler in the evenings, Regnar wants to go for long walks. And fast, he often runs. We sometimes go to our usual places, but he likes to go unknown places too. (2007-08-23)
Google search about a ferret experiment - But I can't find any primary source about how or why ferrets' sexual orientation was changed, just the same quote several times. (2007-06-28)
Ferret photos - From a forum in Slovakian. Lots of photos here. (2007-02-14)
- Regnar has now grown out of his harness. Can't be adjusted any larger. Rasmus' old will work, but I had to use it at its largest setting, even though Rasmus was heavier it seems he wasn't as wide around the neck and chest. (2007-02-05)
- Now Regnar is neutered. I timed it like this not because he bothered Kimber too much (he didn't and she liked him in spite of what he did), but simply because he had stopped growing. (2007-01-31)
Ferret Photos - In and outdoors good photos. (2006-12-14)
- We've been having a mild autumn so far, so we've been outdoors a lot the last weeks.
Both Dorrit and Regnar have gotten much lighter in colour recently, as they changed into full winter coats. (2006-11-30)
- Regnar is really good when I cut his claws. I've never before had someone who doesn't react at all to the actual cutting.
I'm starting to think he's not going to be really large. After being used to Rasmus, I think this guy's going to be normal-sized. (2006-11-11)
- Regnar isn't fond of phone ring signals. Most who hear them want to drag the phone away, but he waits till it's silent again.
What's worse than that is falling hats. At least when it's a surprise, as it'd been on the shelf for a couple of days. Poor Kimber even screamed, because she was near it. Calmed down after getting to investigate it thoroughly. (2006-11-10)
- Today I by accident found a better way to hold my ferrets when cutting their claws. To get better light I let them stand on a low table and held one front paw at the time. Much less struggle than when sitting down and holding them in my lap. (2007-09-21)
- Regnar is pretty good at following directions. One evening recently, I let him go down the bank of a creek to the water and while I was on the bridge above I told him to cross it. Or rather come to me. I didn't pull at the leash, but he crossed on stones and very shallow water anyway. (2007-09-21)
- A couple of nights ago, Regnar hissed at me when we were out walking. Reason was I didn't let him into a dog enclosure. So now we know it was dogs he tracked that night. Yesterday it was almost certainly one or more cats.
Dorrit, on the other hand, found a large frog, and wanted to grab it. (2007-09-03)
- Today Dorrit and Kimber came closer to fighting than I've ever seen them before. They found a dead mouse outdoors, and both wanted it. In the end, Kimber took it away and hid it. (2007-08-23)
- Now that it's getting cooler in the evenings, Regnar wants to go for long walks. And fast, he often runs. We sometimes go to our usual places, but he likes to go unknown places too. (2007-08-23)
Google search about a ferret experiment - But I can't find any primary source about how or why ferrets' sexual orientation was changed, just the same quote several times. (2007-06-28)
Ferret photos - From a forum in Slovakian. Lots of photos here. (2007-02-14)
- Regnar has now grown out of his harness. Can't be adjusted any larger. Rasmus' old will work, but I had to use it at its largest setting, even though Rasmus was heavier it seems he wasn't as wide around the neck and chest. (2007-02-05)
- Now Regnar is neutered. I timed it like this not because he bothered Kimber too much (he didn't and she liked him in spite of what he did), but simply because he had stopped growing. (2007-01-31)
Ferret Photos - In and outdoors good photos. (2006-12-14)
- We've been having a mild autumn so far, so we've been outdoors a lot the last weeks.
Both Dorrit and Regnar have gotten much lighter in colour recently, as they changed into full winter coats. (2006-11-30)
- Regnar is really good when I cut his claws. I've never before had someone who doesn't react at all to the actual cutting.
I'm starting to think he's not going to be really large. After being used to Rasmus, I think this guy's going to be normal-sized. (2006-11-11)
- Regnar isn't fond of phone ring signals. Most who hear them want to drag the phone away, but he waits till it's silent again.
What's worse than that is falling hats. At least when it's a surprise, as it'd been on the shelf for a couple of days. Poor Kimber even screamed, because she was near it. Calmed down after getting to investigate it thoroughly. (2006-11-10)
- Much colder this morning. Regnar did not want to stay outdoors for more than a few moments. (2006-11-02)
Snow! Fun for Regnar! Acted just like all others first time they see snow by ploughing through it.(2006-11-02)
This day we spent at the vet and observing Regnar at home. He started vomiting a bit at 0430 and didn't eat after that. X-rays at the vet didn't show any blockage, so I took him home to observe. When we came home he ate. Then he slept, slept and slept with pauses for defecating (which showed that the stomach worked again) until 1900, when he went into the bedroom to sleep some more. Only later in the evening did he start to eat normally again.(2006-10-24)
- From today, Rasmus is no longer with us. Tumours, so it wasn't a surprise, just a question on when. I don't think he'd have thought of himself as ill, as we walked 5km day before yesterday, but he would have soon. (2006-10-24)
- Water: Regnar is definitely not afraid of it. He doesn't think it's the least bit uncomfortable being lowered into a bathtub full of water. The others try to get out as fast as possible, he swims around calmly. I've had someone else who was like that, but I don't remember who it was. (2006-10-13)
It's gotten colder in the mornings, now none of them wants to be outdoors very long in the morning.
This evening Dorrit screamed once when I was walking towards her indoors. I didn't carry anything nor was dressed in an unusual way, so something other must have happened earliner to her.(2006-10-12)
Now I've seen Regnar go up to where Rasmus is sleeping, Rasmus waking up and going back to Regnar, so it seems like they're almost friends now.(2006-10-10)
Regnar still haven't gotten the idea that you don't bite the hand which feeds you. I've never before had to think about this after day 1, but he still wants to put a whole finger into his mouth. And getting it out when there're other ferrets nearby isn't trivial.(2006-10-09)
Sometimes Rasmus and Regnar fight a lot, but afterwards they seem to get along OK. Neither feels weak, apparently.(2006-10-08)
To begin with, Dorrit was chased by Regnar, but today she chased him. And now he's not just a little bit larger than she is.(2006-10-05)
My mother says Regnar is quite good and not biting feet if you firmly tell him No!(2006-10-03)
The trip to my parents went fine. Getting them all into the travel cage took some work, but no fighting. (2006-09-30)
- This morning Regnar went out for a short time again, this time with a harness of his own. It's sized so he can grow in it. (2006-09-28)
First time outdoors for Regnar. Took Rasmus out in the late afternoon and then heard someone else wanting out; Kimber and Regnar. I made a guess that Dorrit's harness would fit him, and it did. Like being outdoors, even tried to sneak out after we went in again.
Rasmus impressed, later in the evening he wanted to go out and he kept walking for more than one hour, even though he wanted to rest often after 40 minutes. Had to force him to walk homewards.
Afterwards, he didn't right away get up on the shelf he (and Dorrit) can be left in peace from the new kit, but stayed in his normal favourite places. That's a good sign.(2006-09-27)
The new guy is now called Regnar. Tried another name first, but didn't like it. He's pretty well behaved, doesn't exactly use the litter boxes all the time, but often spaces next to them. Almost careful with my toes too. (2006-09-26)
First 24 hours went just fine. No real problems, not that I got to sleep all night through. (2006-09-24)
Now I've been to bring home the new little guy. He's 11 weeks old and weighs .93 kg. The trip home went fine, he slept through most of the almost 5 h train trip. I think he'll fit in fine. Rasmus is very reserved, but I don't think he's afraid and he's not shown any signs of aggression. Dorrit dragged him by the neck a little bit and when he starts dooking and running after her she tries to get away, so I don't think she's very fond of one more living here, already almost as large as she is. Or she's tired. Kimber started to play and wrestle with him right away. (2006-09-23)
I'm going to get a kit this year too. He's a male: Photo. Like Dorrit is Kimber's aunt, Kimber is his aunt. That's the good news. The bad news is it's not likely I'll have to get one more harness in large size. (2006-09-06)
Now when it's gotten cooler at nights, Dorrit sleeps in my bed an hour or two in the morning. (2006-09-06)
Yesterday Kimber slipped out of her harness. I don't think she's small, but I can't tighten the part around her chest any more. (2006-06-29)
Ferret and sand box - Neat idea for making a place to dig in. I think I'll make something similar. (2006-03-15)
Ferrets - The small furry kind - From the web site of a maker who named his product Ferret50 after his pets. (2006-03-05)
Photos of very young kits - Text, but not much of it, in Swedish. (2006-02-28)
Photos of playing ferrets - (2005-11-02)
Normally, only Rasmus actually looks at aircraft. But now when it was a clear night Dorrit actually saw a an aircraft which was well lit. Maybe because it started out close to the horizon. But when it came to pass right over us, she got terrified and ran off and hid. (2005-10-27)
Biologists Encouraged by Ferrets' Progress - Black footed ferrets are really polecats, but it might be of interest that they seem to breed in the wild in Colorado. (2005-09-19)
Frettenhol - Dutch site. Good photos. (2005-09-14)
My Ferrets VS. Scoozie, The Electronic Ferret - A series of photos and accounts of what they do with it. (2005-07-13)
Dopplettes - Photos of kits. More about them. (2005-06-29)
Today Dorrit showed that she's getting more brave. When I took her out and went to "the forest", she actually went over some open ground to get further away, which is a first for her. She likes it and now she understand it's not dangerous to be away from our own yard. (2005-05-12)
Now I've started to spend more time outdoors with my ferrets. Dorrit was out almost an hour yesterday morning and Rasmus in the evening, Carina spends more time outdoors too, but she didn't walk as far. (2005-05-02)
Toasty and Zephyr - Photos. (2005-04-24)
Ferret and cat photos - Where they get along very well. (2005-04-08)
Today I've been with Carina to the veterinary. One fat gland had been acting up and there was a permanent scab over it. Local anasthesia, me holding, and a little cutting an suture fixed it. Bad news are that her heart sounded weak. I'm not surprised as she's gotten much lighter this year. (2005-04-06)
Today Dorrit was neutered. She was much more tired than I recall the others to have been. But now she's running around like usual. (2005-03-03)
Yesterday Dorrit escaped.
I had the door open and all three on the stairs outside. Then two went in, fast, and I didn't see the third so I assumed she'd gone in too. Shortly thereafter I was leaving for ki-aikido practice, and noticed there wasn't the usual crowd and besides I usually check in on them all when coming home and leaving. Spent some time to look for her indoors, but couldn't find her.
Only conclusion was that she was outdoors. Snow, so she doesn't stand out visually, a little above freezing, but warmer than earlier which probably was why she went away as there were new smells. Quick check didn't turn her up. Doing the rounds around the neighbouring houses calling for her and using a squeeky toy one neighbour told me she'd been seen under their backyard stair. Very good to know she really was outdoors and had not had an accident at home.
Close look under the stairs with my torch, unfortunatly only a few pawprints were visible and gave no indication which direction she'd continued.
Soon after that I found her nearer to home and she came directly to me. (2005-02-21)
Carina is really starting to get active now. I almost thought of her as "old", but apparently not yet. She also gets along with Dorrit much better now. (2005-02-07)
A couple of years ago there was a monastery ferret in Sweden, whom the monks got for rodent control. Worked very well and she enjoyed life there.
Today I learned that now we have two prison ferrets in one of our larger prisons, each assigned to one of the inmates who like them very much. They do get to go outdoors and they're popular both with the staff and inmates, although they're said to have bitten a lot in the beginning as they were adopted from a family where they weren't wanted, because they bit too much. (2005-01-21)
Good and bad: Yesterday when I came home I looked Carina over and there was a fresh scratch on her back where "someone" had bitten her. But on the other hand, later on she was quite active and also played a bit with Dorrit, so I guess there's still room for improvement in their relationship. (2005-01-19)
I wonder if we maybe do have a problem. A few days ago I noticed that Dorrit seemed to have a disagreement with Rasmus. Not getting along very well with Carina is one thing, and manageable. (2005-01-03)
I just realized I've had this ferret website going for 10 years now. (2004-12-10)
Another milestone: Now it's possible to take Dorrit and Carina for a walk using the same leash. No fights at all. (2004-12-07)
Dorrit likes snow. First for this season fell this night, so we had some 15cm this morning, wet and heavy. Almost didn't get her in, and after that she tried to slip out again. Rasmus and Carina just thought it was too cold. (2004-11-18)
I've now taken out Dorrit and Carina for a walk at the same time, and it works rather well. Later on, it's seemed like Dorrit tried to play with Carina by making mock attack runs toward her and running her over. This will work out if they get more time to get used to each other and especially for Dorrit to realise that the smaller Carina isn't really dangerous. (2004-11-15)
Photos from Ferret Picnic in Poland - (vocabulary: Dzien - day, fretka - ferret, powrot na fretkowisko - back to ferret site) (2004-11-12)
Now it works rather well to take both Rasmus and Dorrit out for walks, using the same leash. She won't follow him over the field to the forest though, but there're other places to go. (2004-10-29)
By now, all three here have gotten their winter coats. Carina's is very nice and soft this year. (2004-10-24)
Govenor Vetos Ferret Bill - Ferrets aren't going to become legal in California. (2004-10-01)
Illersverige.se - Site in Swedish for Swedish ferret owners. (2004-09-28)
Wikipedia entry for Ferret - (2004-09-27)
Last week Dorrit started her career as a plant destructor. Not once, but twice, she attacked my 14 year old murraya paniculata so I gave up on trying to save it. The rest of the plants I've given temporary space on shelves over my shelf model railway.
And what did that result in? She managed to get up on the table under the layout and on the shelves below it and messed with my reloading equipment. Fortunately, I always consider things like that a possibility, so I don't keep any potentially harmful stuff there. What really annoys me as that when she was there she peed in the box I drop spent primers in. No human logic to it all.
That she has a fondness for brass cases I already knew. Possibly they smell interesting in some way.
Well, so far she's not destroyed even a 1/10:th of what Rustan did (at one time I had 60 house plants, many intended to become bonsai, now they're five, so I'm not complaining much. (2004-09-21)
Day before yesterday, when I and Rasmus was out on our evenening walk we met up with two women, I think Russian, who asked what kind of pet he was and so on. They got to hold him to get a feel for his size.
Yesterday evening when were on our way home Rasmus saw them from behind in quite a bit off and turned towards them. OK, I thought, let him. He started climbing on one of them and when she lifted him he wanted to give her a kiss. Considering he was the first ferret she ever met I think this shows that some people are natural at handling them. (2004-09-15)
Jennifer Aniston - If you scroll down to the Sunday, January 11, 2004 entry you'll see it's not a give that just because someone acts against a ferret they actually like them. (2004-09-06)
Dorrit definitely has started gaining weight again and is back to almost the previous maximum.
I'm prepared to say that she's litter trained now. Actually I think she mostly did it herself.
Dorrit has learned how to beg like Rasmus and Carina. I don't remember which of them came up with it, but it's done by performing a half roll on the floor, sort of like the full roll we taught them as one way of getting a treat. Whoever didn't come up with it soon started take after the other, and now it seems Dorrit has too. (2004-09-01)
Rasmus and Dorrit gets along just fine now. I've seen them sleep together several times, and a couple of more it's been clear they've been as they wake up at the same time.
Yesterday Rasmus took me on the first really long walk this autumn. Almost 1 hour.
Seems like Dorrit is sensitive to different kinds of food. One, which she likes, gives loose stools. (2004-08-30)
Last week was a good week. Weather changed from -28C one day to +4C the next morning. Especially Rasmus became a lot more active outdoors then.
In the middle of the week the three of them for the first time acted like a group when I left for work one morning and they lined up in the doorway. Previously they'd been fighting if that close.
Dorrit and Rasmus has come very close to playing several times this week. There is no problem bringing them out using the same leash for both of them. (2004-08-25)
'Boots' Takes Gold at the Ferret Olympics - Actually a rather more local ferret event. (2004-08-18)
Rasmus gets along with Dorrit much better now. He doesn't really bite her any more and sometimes even tries to play with her. I don't think she's decided he's harmless yet. For some reason she has moved out of the bedroom now. No idea why, since she used to sleep very near Carina and Rasmus and now she gets closer and closer to Carina in size and strength. (2004-08-16)
Un Furet en Ville - Very good site with information about the natural history, ferrets in history and ferrets in art history. Text mostly in French, but plenty of illustrations. Recommended (use a translation service if you don't read French well). (2004-08-02)
The Medieval Ferret, or, Ferrets in Art History - Examples of old images depicting ferrets. (2004-08-02)
Yesterday Dorrit escaped to the neighbour's yard. Twice. Today I've improved the harness (the old one Roxane used).
Today I and Dorrit took the underground to the mall and bought some batteries. She handled it very well and was nice to everyone who wanted to say hello to her.
I think Dorrit had her first swim today. In the bathtub she just slid down backwards into the water and then swum around a bit. Don't think she liked it, but she at least wasn't scared of it. Perhaps the reason is she hasn't yet decided what's dangerous or not. Same with the underground train, no adverse reaction at all to it. (2004-07-30)
This morning Dorrit slept in my bed. She's been there before, but usually walking all over me, pulling my fingers and so on. But today she was very well behaved. Carina and Rasmus came at least once each and chased her away. (2004-07-27)
Ferret Natural History FAQ - Well researched information. (2004-07-21)
Early today two young ferrets arrived at my home. One, Dorrit, will stay here, her brother will be collected by his owner from western Sweden. Both, and a sister, were born in the south and taken to me by a couple from the northern part of Sweden who went south to get their ferret. (2004-07-12)
Dorrit's brother was taken to V�rmland today. As opposed to her, he really didn't like two older ferrets trying to dominate him and was pretty scared. Dorrit is made of sterner stuff. Not surprisingly, she was the largest female of the litter and I think she was a good choice for our family. (2004-07-13)
Rasmus and Carina have more or less vacated the bedroom and sleeps in the living room instead. Rasmus was really scared of Dorrit to begin with, but now he's better and has started eating normally again. Both he and Carina has lost weight, however. (2004-07-14)
Dorrit handles going out with a harness very well. (2004-07-15)
They handled the first trip to my parents very well. In separate transport cages, of course. (2004-07-16)
Rasmus and Carina are now back in the bedroom whenever they feel like it. Rasmus really doesn't like it when Dorrit comes close, but he's not afraid of her any more and has started to make a stand. Doesn't actually bite her though. (2004-07-17)
Frettchen photos - Of a ferret, who also has a webcam. (2004-06-29)
Bulwer-Lytton Entry - Unusual, but not very bad, description of a ferret. (2004-05-30)
Ferrets We Have Known - A photo album. (2004-05-18)
Aesop Stories - Fables involving ferrets. (2004-04-22)
Frettchen vs. the Donkey - Story about a ferret who meet some other animals. (2004-03-22)
Ferret photo album - Bandit, Frosty, Onyx, Sprite and Indy. (2004-03-11)
By now, both Carmen and Rasmus have gotten their summer coats.(2004-03-10).
Ferret photos - SallyMae, Tin, Sadie, Riley. (2004-03-02)
Dragonskeep ferrets - " If you think you'd like living with short-legged kleptomaniacs that have the eternal curiosity of a two-year-old and a penchant for redecorating (everything really belongs on the floor), you just might like being owned by ferrets." (2004-02-24)
Rissanens Illeruppf�dning - I'm thinking Carina and Rasmus could need younger company. Choose Bilder and Maggie for photos of someone who may become a possible mother. (2004-02-17)
Ferretmagic - Ferret information and good photos. (Ocks� p� svenska.) (2004-02-16)
Photos of Minya, Razzle, Quasimodo and Marie - With some brief presentations. (2004-02-15)
Photos of Avalon - Three ferret pictures. (2004-02-15)
Svenska tamillerf�reningen - The Swedish Ferret Society. Text in Swedish. (2004-02-14)
Zen and the Art of Ferrets - I recommended this site in 1996. The web was smaller then, but I haven't changed my opinion. (2004-02-12)
Ferret Central - This is one of the very best ferret resources on the web. (2004-02-12)
Ferret diary 1992-1998

This blog is no longer updated, but my new weblog has some ferret content.