I'm just so confused... Help?!

[Erica]

I love my little Pudge. He's such a cutie. But he is way too aggressive. He is attacking my Lilo & Stitch. He grabs them by the scruff and drags them around and makes them cry. He's so full of life and loves to dance around. But I can't risk it with my little ones. He's so mean and has done a number on Lilo's neck. I just don't know what to do. It breaks my heart to think about giving him back to the shelter. I don't want to adopt a fuzzie and then return him. It makes me sad. I want to give it more time, but honestly, it's gotten worse the past couple of days even though we discipline him.

Help?

[gardenfairy]

Don't give up so quickly! Sometimes it looks like the introduction phase was fast and easy, but then you have to take 2 steps backwards. Keep them in separate cages, close to each other, and supervise all community play times. It seriously took me 5 months to integrate a 5 year old male, a 1 year old newly neutered male, and a tiny 10 week old female. When all of the fur was done flying.... the pint sized female was the alpha. Nemesis weighed in at about 1 1/4 pounds, Zydeco was over 4 pounds, but they finally settled into a single cage.

Keeping the cages next to each other will continue their interactions and exchange of smells. When you open the cages, Pudge will check out Lilo's and Stitch's and vise versa. Give it a little time... I'm sure it will work itself out.

[huronna]

First I think you should talk to Barb Clay and see if she has any ideas. Since Pudge was there for a while, perhaps she might have some insight into his personality.

Even though you had the best intentions, wanting to give him a forever home, there sometimes happens that one ferret will just not get along with the others. You have to think about the other ferrets also, If there is a rish of their getting hurt, either physically or emotionally, please don't feel badly if you have to return Pudge to the shelter. It is something that has happened before, unfortunately.

I had a friend that had one ferret, a real people ferret, but she thought he needed company so she adopted another ferret. Fur flew, biting was occurring. The original ferret's personality was changing. She called me crying, she felt like she was one of those people who got a ferret and 2 months later knew it was a mistake. But this was not the case at all. There just are times when there is nothing we can do.

I had this happen once to myself. Only it was Dexie and he got along with all the other ferrets except for one, my little old lady Silveretta. He literally would try to eat her alive. Luckily I was able to separate them and played musical ferrets for about 18 months until Silveretta passes of old age. I would put him with the other girls and then silveratta with the girls. They alternated at least 2 or 3 times a day. But it was very difficult.

Call Barb and talk to her, I think that may help you the most

[greta]

Erica, How old is Pudge? Has he been neutered? It's not uncommon for a ferret to interact with other ferrets new to them in the manner you describe. Can you call the shelter and ask them for advice on how to handle this? I think Pudge is just being a ferret, but of course you can't have him dragging your girls around until he causes their necks to become sore and uncomfortable. I would suggest trying bitter lime or bitter apple spray on your girls' necks, but be very careful NOT to let the spray get into their eyes, ears, nose or mouth. I hope this helps you. Hugs, Greta

[Erica]

I spoke with Barb this evening and I am going to give it another week. I'm going to work on disciplining him (scruffing, saying no, and dragging him on the ground like a mother would), putting him in time out, away from the others, and using some bitter apple spray.

Overall, he seems like a sweet ferret. He isn't biting Stitch as much as Lilo. Barb said it may be sexual aggression and it may just be this time of year. It's only been 4 days, so I don't like the idea of giving up this quick.

We have moved his cage over to where the girls are. So we'll give that a shot.

Greta, to answer your question, he is 10 months old and he is neutered.

Any other suggestions??

[crazywhomans2]

okay all the above and i have done all that too. your pudge may just think that your little females are just the hottest thing..... it spring, and he just might be in the mood..... I have a male who is nutered and as far as i know has always been so. I got him from a shelter and he is the sweetest thing.... but he has fallen for one of my little girls....and he and she do what i call the love tussle....and he will drag her around, get her in him embrace and she will follow him around and i have seen him go after some of the other females the same way but he is playing. But he and little ricky are the only ones who do the tussle, her little neck got so tough and tender at first but she got over it, the two of them just bonded together and this has gone on for the last two yeas twice a year....spring and fall..... don't give up. Pudge just might also be telling the girls that he is top fuzz..... keep an eye on them you will know if it is anger..... do the girls fight back?? I had two that would not blend in with the others and it was a mess constant bitting bad fights so the result was two seperate play times, two groups......and when the trouble makers were out and got near the cages with the others there was hissing and squalling. that is when you know there is a problem.... it could just be the season too...... hope this helps.....
mommie laurie

[loveaferret]

I have 8 ferrets at the moment but they didnt all come into my home at onces, some years are months apart , and I go thu what your going thu with pudge at less ones a day , theres a alafa ferret male and or a want to be alfa female sents my Silvio passed in Dec theres a need to be a new boss at my house , are bosses , I found useing bitter apple spray on the neck works out for some , there's also one called phooy , I even have bonded pairs I got as of Bart & Homer & Sandy & Max and Todd was gotton a bout 2 weeks before Sandy & Max and they took to Todd and these 3 are great together it will take 3 to 6 months for all to work out , but some times sooner

[greta]

If this is a case of all your ferrets learning to interact with one another as friends gf, You may have a wait ahead of you before your new boy accepts and bonds with your females and your little girlies accept and bond with your boy. My Nada was a matriarch (alpha) female, she was seaf and my first ferret. It took up to three months for Nada to accept my newbies as they joined our household. During the introductory periods I kept my little ones in separate cages. Itty was kept in a small animal playpen in the kitchen to protect her from Nada and also from Cinco's aggressive discipline. Cinco insisted in reinforcing Nada's 'rules' for every new ferret that joined us. I asked about your boy's age and whether he was neutered to rule out adrenal dieease as a cause for the aggression about which you spoke. Sexual aggression can be one of the symptoms of adrenal disease. But at the age of only 10 months, it isn't likely that this is the case with little Pudge. Pudge sounds like a delightful little fur child and if you can only help him over thi obstacles he's incountering with your females, I'm thinking you'll have a really fine addition to your ferret business. And you won't be sorry. Some people exchange bedding between cages during the introductory period as another means of familiarizing a newbie with the resident ferrets and vice versa. Also, it has been suggested that bathing all your ferrets and using the same shampoo will have them all smelling alike and will do away with much of the aggression, Please keep us posted. We are all here to help you. Hugs, Greta