Does anyone own a pet ferret?

[ratherastory]

Okay, flist, I know it's a weird question, but it's for SCIENCE!

Anyone out there with a ferret who'd be willing to chat with me about ferret habits/mannerisms/behaviours and the ins and outs of having a ferret as a pet?

Thanks in advance!

Comments

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

My daughter had a ferret when she was in high school. Peter was by far the funniest critter we ever had. He reminded me a lot of a kitten, what with the jumping and playing and spazzing out. He pretty much lived in her room, and if she left anything sweet laying around, including half-empty Coke cans, he would grab them and hide them under the bed.

He loved to lick my nose, was very sweet and affectionate.

We had big dogs at the time, English mastiffs, and several cats, and a chinchilla, and the problem with all those animals is that they didn't mingle well, which is why Peter had to stay in Ashley's room. One night he got out and Tootsie, one of the dogs chased him down the hall to our bedroom. And then Peter chased her right back the other way! He was fearless, and probably would have been fine out and about, but I didn't trust the cats.

Ferrets have a tendency to get cancer of the spleen, which is what Peter died from. I'm hoping that's not info that you need!

ETA: They're also kind of stinky. Very musky.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Eep! No, no dying ferrets in my near future. I'm just planning a cracky little fic involving a ferret and I want to make sure I get it mostly right.