Warning - this is a post about an accidental death.
 
It was not long ago that I posted to the FML how excited I was about
ordering 3 new cages sold by PetEdge.com.  They were the ProSelect Cat
Cage together with their Ferret Conversion Kit (ramps).  I saw them as
an improvement on the Marshalls Cat Condo as they had this wonderful
pull-out drop pan and to-die-for Big Arched Doors that you could easily
fit a large litter pan through & you could easily reach in to hang
bedding hooks.
 
Well, the phrase "To Die For" really doesn't turn out to be worth
actually dieing for.  This morning I found that a one of my ferrets was
able to fit her head through the bars of the cage but was apparently
unable to get it back out.  She was lifeless and cold - Gracie had
literally hung herself in this cage.
 
It WAS my fault - I had already been shown by my petite females that they
could walk right out of the cages while all the males could do was watch
in wonder.  Gracie was a robust female who I knew cold never get through.
I just never imagined that she could get her head stuck like this.
 
I have contacted PetEdge and talked to a manager who happens to have 3
ferrets - one of which also escaped from this cage a year ago.  They have
showed extremem concern and sympathy with what has happened and have
immediately begun the process of working with their marketing department
on the product being sold for ferrets.  They've given me names and
numbers of each person involved and will be calling me again tomorrow
with a further update.
 
I will absolutely not stop hounding them until they remove any reference
to this being suitable for use as ferret housing as it is clearly not
safe for ferrets.  They processed a refund in full of my $300+ dollars
before they ever even called me back to tell me the steps they are
taking.  I offered to donate the cages to a local cat shelter and they
were fine with that.  It won't bring Gracie back, but their actions so
far are telling me they they do take the loss of a little ferret life
very seriously.
 
Jerri Carel
The Ferret Haven
[Posted in FML issue 4973]