Creatures of and with Habits

I am a creature of habit(s), mostly bad. I make no excuses for it, that's the way I am built and that's that. I keep my habits to the legal at least. Started smoking in high school, but in the 70's it was cool. One of the hardest things I did was quit. Had to do it twice too, the first time took me about 14 years, the second only three. When I got laid off in 2003, I started again, STOOPID! I don't deny I am likely to do it again, although as I get older, the chance grows less. Only because it starts to affect my health quicker. I have noticed that a few of my ferrets exhibit the same kind of tenacity in clinging to habits. Take Nikki, she is now 7-1/2 years old. Back when 8in1 made ferretbite® treats that ferrets liked, I used to always have them. Everynight when I put the kids to bed, I would give each a treat. These were the only treat I could find they liked. It got to the point, I would put them in their house, and they would be lined up paws up on the door edge looking at me waiting. This went on for a year or more, because I bought a case of them, chicken flavor to be precise.

But that came to an end when I used up the case. When I ran out, I went to Petco and bought a couple of hold-over boxes until I could order another case. These were different shaped I noticed, oh well, no matter as long as they taste the same. But it was no go, even Nikki, the most rabid consumer wanted nothing to do with them. I was stunned, why would they change something that was perfectly good? I will never know I guess. Now back to the point. That was 3 years ago, to this day when I put Nikki to bed, she gets her front paws up on the door sill and looks at me for treats. Fortunately I have found a substitute that she likes. But it took a while. for more than a year she looked for her treat to no avail. At least I have something for her now. Every once in a while I will substitute petroleum jelly, she likes that almost as much, and keeps the hair out of her belly. With her it's all good, as long as she gets a treat.