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Post by greta on Jul 20, 2009 13:23:24 GMT -5
My up to now sweet little Ozzie has been showing a firm paw toward his new playmate, Garfield. This morning when mommy came to the fert room to say Hi toher kiddies, little Garfield was the first to greet me. And of course he began begging for mommy to pick him up ... which she did. But, wait! Ozzie is watching this whole procedure and it appears he wants mommy to hold him, too. So now mommy's arms are full of fuzzies and they're rubbing noses with one another. After kisses and cuddles, I set my boys down and reach for the N-bones. Normal morning treats around here. Ozzie gets his and then Garfield gets his and all seems normal. Until, that is, I look down to see that Ozzie's N-bone is all gobbled up and now he's sharing his new brother's treat with him. Two kids at one N-bone. My, oh my! :-) Then I hand each boy another N-bone and this time Ozzie wastes no time in grabbing poor little Garfield's treat right out of his mouth. I pick up Ozzie and cuddle him to reassure him that mommy loves him as much as ever and then pull out another N-bone, lift Garfield into my arms and shut him in the cage with his 3rd treat of the morning. When I open the cage to release Garfield, he begins following Ozzie around like an active little shadow. So sweet! I'm not sure, but I'm beginning to wonder if Ozzie is telling Garfield, "What's mine is mine and what's left is yours." And in folloiwng Ozzie around, Garfield is watching for signs from his new brother to let him know what is acceptable to Ozzie and what isn't. If this is the case, Ozzie's dominance has already been established. Whew! Ferrets! Ya just gotta love 'em!
I am thinking serioiusly of changing Garfield's name to Jeremiah. Mommy is having a dickens of a time remembering the name Garfield, and every time I think of my new kid, the name Jeremiah pops into my head. I don't know where this is coming from but when I get home I'll take out my Bible and read up on Jeremiah's contribution to Christianity. I may not even be spelling Jeremiah right. LOL Mommy GG
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Post by furdawg55 on Jul 20, 2009 15:39:58 GMT -5
My, Greta....... I'm quite surprsied you haven't come across this issue before. Believe me, it's NOT territorial, it more like "N'Bone Terrorism". With my little guys the boys would be first in line and surround me. The gals would then push their way in past the guys and line up. They would all get the N'Bones and once recieved, would retreat into the darkest places in the room. I mean these guys would chase after one another and attempt to swipe it right from the mouths of others. I have been witness to other "ferret felonies" over the years. They have pulled the, "I never received mine, where is it?" look. I wised up quickly to being hustled. Only problem was, how can one turn down THAT look upon their face. One must be determined to overlook the obvious trickery and NOT give in to their demands. The ferret atrocities I have been witness to is alarming. These guys will stop at nothing to inappropriately appropriate any and all N'Bones available. I had one very small little gal "Aphodite" who would run and then jump onto the seat of my desk chair, claw her way to the arm of it, then jump onto my desk to get to the bag of N'Bones or Ferretone. This would happen just seconds after I left my desk. She was hard to catch doing it as she was lightening fast. Several times I found an empty bag on the floor with nothing but teeth marks as evidence as to what species had committed the vile act of theft. Territorial, I think not........... theft of the worst sort....... you bet. You have to watch these guys....... seriously! You just may have to place one of the guys in his cage apart from the other one so he can enjoy his treat in peace. I've had to do it! There may also be "barking" and a hiss........ My little gal did it when one of the guys would get too close to her....... she knew the score........ especially when she was the one who stole from him in the first place.
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Post by greta on Jul 20, 2009 16:38:19 GMT -5
Oh, Larry! Your account of little Aphrodite is still giving me chuckles. She reminds me so much of both Nada and Itty ... but especially of Nada. Yes, I have seen the N-bone felony syndrome before many times, but never like today's episode. Itty taught Oz Man how to steal these luscioius treats from the mouths of otheres, but up to now Ozzie has never stolen another's N-bone so brazenly. He grabbed poor little Garfield's treat almost as soon as I had given it to him. And Ozzie still had his own treat and was first to receive it. I'm trying to let Ozzie know that he'll always be my boy, but gosh! Garfield is so darn cute it's hard not to pick him up for some mushy loving when the little guy comes up to mommy with that "pick me up" look in his eyes. The boys are betting along quite well, but Oz Man tires much faster than Garfield does. I really wonder if Garfield isn't a year or two younger than the shelter estimated his age. Hugs, Greta
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Post by huronna on Jul 20, 2009 22:30:20 GMT -5
N-bones are the only thing that can start a battle at my house. Bonita will eat hers so fast (I don't give them a whole one, I cute each one in three pieces) and then try to take Mac's right out of his mouth. Usually I will take Mac and sit him on the couch so he can have his treat in peace. April is pretty fast eating hers, so there is usually only crumbs left for Bonita
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Post by greta on Jul 21, 2009 11:24:54 GMT -5
I've been finding myself holding little Jeremiah on my lap while he eats his treat, Heidi. Just the way I did with my sweet little Itty Girl. Ozzie will eat his wieght in N-bones if mommy isn't careful about how many he is allowed to chomp on. lol Hugs, Greta
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Post by greta on Jul 21, 2009 16:03:08 GMT -5
Poor Bonita, Heidi! After all, she is the Top Resident Ferret and Bonita is the Matriarch. As such she has the right to eat not only her own N-bone treat, but also those of Mac and
April. hehehe At least this is the rule of the Ferret World. :-)
Re-reading this thread has brought to mind another N-bone episode that happened during the past years of my experiences as a Ferrant. When Itty was still a kit, she somehow managed to climb the drawers of my desk to access the package of N-bones. The evidence told me that Itty had promptly dragged the package under the dresser and then opened it. Well! TT invaded Itty's stash and just as mommy entered the bedroom, Itty came screaming out from under the dresser and attacked her 3 pound brother as if she were out for the kill. Itty jumped, screaming, on TT's back, dug her claws into his coat and began biting him wherever her little teeth happened to land. It was a riot to watch! This little one pound kit taking on my 3 pound TT with only the ferocity a female ferret can muster. Ahhh! Such happy memories. All in the pleasure of being owned by ferrets. Mommy GG
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Post by furdawg55 on Jul 22, 2009 13:39:01 GMT -5
Yea............. Where N'bones are concerned, the female of the species spares no one. They will take on anything with a respiratory system to get at them.
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Post by wanderinweasels on Jul 22, 2009 13:47:31 GMT -5
I try to put the kids in different spots in the RV when I give N-Bones. Kris will hide his and then run and take the treat right out of one of the others mouths and when he finishes this N-Bone he will then go and eat his . . . if one of the others doesn't have one he can steal!!!
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Post by greta on Jul 22, 2009 16:06:02 GMT -5
I've heard that the Latin (or is it the Greek?) meaning of ferret is "Little Thief." Ozzie does the same thing to Jeremiah, WW. I think Oz is just happy to have another buddy to steal from as well as to play with. Makes me wonder if whoever invented N-bones was out to start an all out war among domestic ferrets. LOL Hugs, Greta
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Post by furdawg55 on Jul 23, 2009 13:17:00 GMT -5
Hi Greta......... you're correct. It is Latin.
The name "ferret" is derived from the Latin furittus, meaning "little thief"
Scientific name: Mustela putorius furo
Mustela (Latin for weasel) putorius (Latin putor meaning a stench or stink) furo (Latin furonem which means thief) translates into weasel-like stinky thief.
There is a word 'ferret' in Latin - it's in a somewhat uncommon tense - imperfect subjunctive. It would translate as something like 'he should have brought'. Context would be needed to give a precise translation.
just a little info..........
All my best,
Larry
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Post by res0a47 on Jul 23, 2009 16:18:43 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300][/glow]LOL Greta. ,my gang don't like n-bones so we give them dryed magos, and rasines. I have the samething happend with mine steeling someone eles magos. I will hear Sarah and Cennamon going at it. Than Sarah will come out to tell us that Cennamon stole her magos. lol I sometime think that they do get jealous of eachother. I to like the name Jaramah, Garfeild reminds me of the cat. lol I love your storyes. Love and God bless. Sheila
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