pop cans

Question
i just got a a7 month old ferret and i have noticed that she attacks pop cans. i would like to know if this is normal.. when i take her out before i got to bed i let me play on my bed and her gts mad and bites if i pick her up when she is trying to run around... is this noraml also? i dont really know ne thing about her.. i would appreiciate all the help i can get   thank you  kris

Answer
hello,
Thanks for your question. The pop can is simply a toy to her, and she is in her 'terrible twos' at 7 month old, so she is being possessive of it. I would simply take the pop can away, it is not really a safe ferret toy. An empty two liter bottle with the cap on is a fun toy for them. Or any puppy toy that they can carry around is also good. Ferrets will make a toy out of anything, paper bags, empty plastic bottles etc. But the also sell commercial toys in the stores.
Your ferrets are showing typical "Kit" behavior. They are testing their boundaries with you by nipping at your fingers etc. She is playing but nipping is not to be tolerated. It is the same as a puppy nipping, if uncorrected, will turn to biting. Nipping is an extremely common behavior among baby ferrets, and usually can be corrected.  I have a couple of suggestions:
To help with biting, buy "BITTER APPLE" OR
"BITTER LIME" spray at your local petstore. This comes in a green/white bottle, and is probably in the "dog training" section, as it is also used to keep dogs from chewing.

Spray it on your hands and fingers, and let it dry. When she bites you stick you finger in her mouth, and say "NO BITE!!!" ( FIRMLY) ... she will get a couple of tastes of the bitter, and a couple of head shakes and he will think twice. Keep this up every day until she turns away when you offer your finger, the PRAISE : "GOOD girl!!!"
(Also, use this spray when you play with her, or "wrestle" with her ... do not allow biting even in play)

Try again, If she bites, stop the play immediately, and say "NO BITE!"
. Ferrets are very intelligent animals, and he should learn quickly with patience.
PS ~ make sure you wash you hands after, because that stuff can stay on your hands, and get in your eyes if you rub your eyes etc.
But BE sure to give you ferrets something to do when they are out for play time. They are not generally cuddly animals when they are young. They are VERY much like kittens, wanting to play and explore.

Also I strongly suggest you buy a book called
"Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schilling. It is a good book for first time ferret owners.
good luck!
amy