This evenening, just as I was planning to bring Alison out, the phone rang. As it was about ferrets, I of course had to stay in and talk. And what did Alison do? She took out her disappointment by attacking whatever ferret was closest to her, in this case Roxane. Jealousy I can understand, but this is totally irrational -- to me at least. For Alison it might seem eminently logical that it was some other ferret's fault she didn't get out.

Not that getting out is the most important thing to Alison in the evenings: It's just as good getting to lie in my lap and sleep (or at least resting) while I'm sitting on the floor reading, for an hour or a half. The important thing to remember is that this sort of need cannot be compensated by spending some "quality time" with her later, instead. When ferrets need you, they need you.

I also wonder what Alison has done at other times: Yesterday evening Rustan was chasing her around the home and she screamed just as much as Röskva does (and like to her it didn't seem like Rustan was hurting or even biting her). Question is: What had she done to deserve this? Attacked his sister, perhaps? But that's happened before, and while Rustan usally comes to have a look (maybe not understanding what's happening?), he didn't use to get into the fights. Did she perhaps tease him?

Back to the phone call: It had the same depressing subject as one I got last week: Old ferret attackes new ferret, and in this case it was like with us: The older ferret needed company (because her ferret friend had recently died in this case). Unfortunately, it's probably not me you should ask, as previously I haven't done anything special, and now the last (or should that be latest?) time nothing I try works!

As my mother has gotten attached to Röskva I think the midg term solution in her case is to let her stay there, but I really hope she'll get along with the gang of four eventually.