We received this question from Cassandra:

My ferret, Fireball, lost the last of his 3 brothers a couple of weeks ago. He and Nibbler were cage mates from the age of 6 months and were raised with our 2 older fuzzies. We adopted 2 females about 2 weeks ago and they get along extremely well! We were very surprised to have an easy introduction. They play together and they have a wonderful effect on him. They have brought a bit of the spark that gave us the idea for his name back to him. The problem is that Fireball gets a little melancholy when playtime is over, and will lay on either his hanging cube or on the lower partial level staring at us as we move about with a somewhat sad look in hi s eye. Is this normal, and is it maybe because he misses being with other ferrets in and out of the cage? We are planning on putting them into the big cage with him this week, do you think it will help him at all?

Cassandra,

First of all, I’m sorry for your loss. I know losing ferrets is hard. But it sounds like you guys are handling the situation just right! I’m glad the introduction of the new ferrets has gone so well. It isn’t always that easy! Fireball may have the sad look because he is indeed, sad. I know our ferrets were affected by the losses they had. Give him some time, and they new additions should help as well. When you feel like they are ready to share a cage, I would do it slowly maybe for short periods at a time at first just to see how it goes. Sometimes ferrets are a little territorial. But it sounds like you are on the right track! Good luck and please let me know how it ends up working out for you and Fireball!