title: Factors associated with aggression between pairs of domestic ferrets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors (eg, familiarity, sex, neutering status, and time of year) associated with aggression between domestic ferrets and test a method for reducing aggression when introducing ferrets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  56 healthy domestic ferrets.
  
  
  METHODS
  To identify variables associated with aggression, pairs were placed in an enclosed area and observed. To test whether increasing familiarity would decrease aggression when introducing ferrets, pairs of ferrets were housed in separate cages next to each other or in separate rooms for 2 weeks prior to introduction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  49 of 82 pairs of strangers fought, but 31 cage mate pairs did not. Time of year had no apparent effect. Pairs consisting of 2 neutered females or 2 sexually intact males were significantly more likely to fight than were pairs consisting of a neutered female and a sexually intact male. Pairs caged next to each other for 2 weeks prior to introduction were no less likely to fight than were control pairs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that familiarity, sex, and neutering status are important determinants of aggression between ferrets. If unfamiliar neutered ferrets are introduced, then pairing 2 males or a male and female would likely result in the lowest levels of aggression. However, neutered females and sexually intact males are not indiscriminately aggressive, as a neutered female can be paired with a sexually intact male without resulting in aggression. Caging ferrets next to each other for 2 weeks does not decrease aggression when the ferrets are introduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Valerie W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Staton
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Crowell-Davis
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation