What are YOUR favorite ferret proofing tips?

It's been a while since this topic has come up and there are sure to be
some new people since then.

Here are few of ours:

Lay on the floor and check things.

Look for places between kitchen cabinets where only the rubber molding
extends. Loosen the overlap fo the rubber molding and check them. If
they are blind alleys then for most (not all) ferrets they are safe
hideaway stash plashes but still check them and the molding regularly
and make sure the molding is easily movable for you. Otherwise or if
there are any openings, hoses, access to appliances, etc. work up a way
to close them off throughly enough. If they chew on the molding you
need an alternative.

Many kitchen appliance need air circulation but ferrets need to stay
out of them. Get some caging wire or metal screens and cut to a size
that will be firm enough in the location. You can use hooks or wire
to attach them to appliance feet. Make that removable for cleaning.

If you have a gas oven or range there have been some cases of
asphyxiation and of burns for pilot lights mentioned on the FHL so
if you can not keep them out in a way that is also not a fire or gas
hazard then always barricade the kitchen.

You know those toss-away aluminum roasting or baking pans at the
grocery store? Smooshing those in next to an appliance that gets hot
(as long as it doesn't overheat on the sides -- like if the insulation
is kaput so check first -- in the back of the space between the
appliance and the counter provides a safe way to keep ferrets out and
then you can put old, round layer cake pans toward the outside to
provide a noisy distraction and alarm system. Check BEHIND your range
to make sure that it isn't hardwired in through a ferret sized hole in
the wall instead of an outlet.

If there is a nook where the garbage can lives see if you can get a
stool with a ridge top (hard to slide things on) that brings it up
higher and then place it on the stool but toward the back so that if
a ferret tries to knock it off the stool the garbage can will only
go backwards but stay mostly vertical and upright.

Kid locks work for refrigerators that no longer close firmly, and there
are ones that help with many cabinets, but some ferrets need more.
Double sides velcro for drawers or cabinets that are used only rarely
is an option. Have you wanted a kitchen stool? Use putting it against
a cabinet door or low drawers that the ferrets open as an excuse to
treat yourself. Be extra careful with anyplace that includes cleaning
products or anything else poisonous, garbage, sharp items -- you get
the idea.

Make it a habit to always -- even when you know that they are in a cage
or a ferret proofed room elsewhere -- check in the dishwasher before
you start it. It takes a second and if one has escaped into the kitchen
that second means everything.

Keep the Animal Poison Control phone numbers on your kitchen message
board, or fridge (even using their free magnets), or written on the
front of your phonebook in a prominent way. The ASPCA site people
are WONDERFUL (personal experience just to be safest with an iffy
sitiuation) and am sure all who would go into helping poisoned animals
are, and with more than one if there are phone line troubles in one
area you can still be helped. The fee is per CASE so you can call
again with your case number on the same case when there is need for
follow-up.

As the premier animal poison control center in North America, the APCC
is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24
hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have
ingested a potentially poisonous substance, make the call that can
make all the difference: (888) 426-4435. A $55 consultation fee may
be applied to your credit card.

Call the Angell Animal Poison Control Hotline at 1-877-2ANGELL. 24
hours a day ... Veterinary help is just a phone call away! To help
pet caretakers deal with these emergencies, the Angell Animal Medical
Centers have teamed up with the ASPCA's board- certified veterinary
toxicologists to offer a unique 24/7 poison hotline. Help is now just
a phone call away.

That has the same fee the last I checked.

To help you avoid poisoning situations or respond properly when they
happen info can be linked to from
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/links
has multiple links to help you and a little more can be found in
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/files/

Try to work up a barrier for when you are cooking or cutting things
if there is any chance that a ferret will be out. We have a series of
panels that are used to make metal ferret playpens and because they
come apart too easily we also have them tied closed. Usually they
mostly store behind a bookcase that is outside the kitchen but when
I need to use them I can pull them across and have the other side go
behind a storage shelf on the other side. Then I tighten it on the
bookcase side by placing two paperback books in there, too so the
panels are firmly lodged. On the middle panels we hang bright ribbons
os that a person does not accidently walk into them.

WHAT FERRET PROOFING TIPS CAN YOU SHARE?

Sukie (not a vet)
Current FHL address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth
People can join there or can send a blank mail to the automated
joining address:
[log in to unmask]
and then follow the directions.
(The second is recommended for those having problems with Yahoogroups
web settings, and afterward send a blank mail from your subscribed
address to
[log in to unmask]
to get the digest instead of individual mails. )
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml

[Posted in FML 5522]