Establishing Alpha Ferret :o(

Question
Hello Jacquie,a few weeks ago you gave me advice on how to get my ferrets Meeko and Inkah back together again.I did the bath and ferretone.The attack on Inkah wasnt as bad,but it is still happening.Inkah is hissing and screaming alot,she has a couple of scratchers on her neck.When Meeko attacks her she is very scared and smells alot.When Inkah sceams and hisses Meeko lets go and backs away.I have cleaned all their housing and bedding etc.The cage is big enough for both ferrets to keep their distance from each other.I have put them in the cage together and there is attacks happening on Inkah but then they go to sleep in different arears and its okay until next time they see each other.I am hoping that they will just work it out.I am afraid if i seperate them again it will only make it worse.I wish Inkah would bite back but she just sceams,Do you think i should just leave them together and see what happens??It is breaking my heart them not getting along.Thankyou,,, Jacquie.

Answer
Hi Wendy:

So sorry to hear your kids are still battling.  I still believe they are doing something perfectly normal in the animal world - establishing who is the Alpha ferret - the "boss".  This is very very normal. Sometimes it takes an hour or two, sometimes a few days, sometimes weeks or months.  It's a hard thing for us to watch, but you must remember that ferrets do have very thick skin.

The saying we use to determine whether or not to intervene when they are establishing the alpha or just playing too hard......"NO POOP, NO BLOOD, NO FOUL" - which means as long as Inkah doesn't poop when Meeko is biting her, she is only playing her 'subordinate ferret' role.  If she poops when Meeko attacks her, it means she is truly scared and you should step in, remove Inkah and calm her down - maybe even give Meeko a "time out" in the cage while everyone settles down a bit.

If Meeko happens to bite her hard enough to draw blood - drops...not scratches, because ferrets almost always wrestle and play very hard, so scratches are pretty normal. An attack that would break the skin and draw blood, a drop of blood or so - then you have two ferrets who aren't going to get along and need to be separated, housed separately and have separate playtimes.

I really don't see anything in what you've written that would make me recommend that you separate these two. I really think they are just establishing who is the Alpha ferret - and they will do that many times, not just once...so don't let it upset you.  I know, easy said....but when you are the one sitting there watching it, it is very upsetting.  When Inkah rolls over and cries out, Meeko IS acknowledging that and walking away (thinking 'okay, I'm the Alpha today').

I think the Ferretone will help - it allows them to do something together that is pleasant.  (First off, mix the Ferretone 1/2 and 1/2 with virgin olive oil so you don't have to worry about them getting too high of a dose of some of the vitamins in the Ferretone. If you dilute it down, you can give them 1/2 to 1 tsp a day safely)  Get a small plate and put a few teaspoons on the plate - just squirt it in circles so it's not all pooled in the middle. Then let both ferrets *share* the yummy that's on the plate. They will be so excited about the Ferretone, they probably won't even notice each other until it's almost gone...then they hopefully will look at the other ferret and realize they can do things together and not fight.  I've used this method and it worked for me; that's the only reason I recommend it. I know it works.

It could take days, weeks, months - and maybe they will just wrestle each other and play rough and never sleep together....but I truly don't think Meeko and Inkah are doing anything unnatural whatsoever.  I believe in time, with consistency and always in a calm, quiet surrounding where they both feel safe - they WILL eventually accept each other. To what  extent is the question. Some ferrets literally just "accept" the other ferret in their space. Others eventually really DO warm up and sleep together and actually bond very closely - but the Alpha ferret has to be establlished any time there is more than one ferret....one *always* has to be 'the boss'...'the leader'...it's just how things work in the animal world.

I believe you are doing the perfect thing by continuing to house them together until they tell you otherwise ("No poop, no blood, no foul").  You can always separate them, but I recommend that you don't - it will just take longer for them to go thru what they must to establish Alpha.  

Ferrets have very thick skin and it takes a LOT to injure their skin, especially on their neck and back, which is probably where Meeko is doing most of her biting. Their tummies are delicate, but I bet Meeko isn't going for her little tummy - it's all a game; a somewhat 'rough' one, but truly, it's something they must do so they can live, love and play together.

Please let me know how things are in another week?  I am confident that if you are consistent that these two will end up being buddies (I know, easy for me to say when I'm not the one there watching them and hearing Inkah scream). Please, trust the process....it really works for them and is very much a part of their lives, both domesticated animals and animals in the wild.  I have never heard of one ferret hurting or even seriously injuring another during the time that dominance is being established.

I will be anxious to hear from you.....

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers