There are a number of inexpensive ferret toys that can be found for
only a few dollars. Hope these ideas help folks who wish to send
shelters or individual ferrets Christmas gifts or perhaps other
ferrets remaining on the Giving Tree.

Volunteers of American or Goodwill stores: pillow shams (to burrow
into,) material that can be made into sacks, hammies etc., fleece
blankets, baby comforters, snack containers to be filled with food or
ferret appropriate snacks, small child sweater shirts to be made into
sick ferret sacks ** see below. Small kid's shoes for ferrets to stash,
socks.

Dollar store: whifflle golf balls, soft nylon summer pool balls, small
stuffed animals(watch the eyes), baby fleece blankets, ice cube trays
for soup, small storage containers in baby department ( I use to take
food or snacks to vet). small plastic baby spoons, (great for sick
ferrets and making soup), plastic baskets to be lined as hidey places,
dishes for ferret food, small cat tangle toys, cat/dog toys. Socks,
Small kid sweat shirts for sick ferret wear**

Walmart or other department stores: ping pong balls, golf whiffle
balls, small stuffed animals, bells balls and cat toys, cat tunnels
cat houses, litter scoops and litter boxes. 8 & 1 Dog skin and coat
supplement (same as Ferratone - less expensive) puppy pee pads, Out
pet stain odor remover.

**Sick ferret sack. If you take a child's sweat shirt and sew the
shoulder seams closed you create a sack with the center of the shirt.
Ferret can enter through the bottom and stick head out of neck hole.
Make two 4 inch long bags to hold oat meal, corn or rice. Sew these
bags closed and insert inside sleeves. A piece of Velcro in the cuff
will help hold the rice bags in place, If the bags are the right size,
these will stay snugly in the sleeve without Velcro. When I have a sick
ferret and worry about it not staying warm enough or need to make a
trip to the vet (especially in our NY winters) I place the bags in the
microwave to warm them up, slide them into the sleeves, slide the
ferret in the body of the sweatshirt and off I go. You can lay the
sleeve next to the ferret on either side to make it feel like another
ferret is snuggling. Before I leave the vet's office I ask for a 10
minute warm up on the rice bags for the ride home. If the ferrets mess
on the shirt it can simply be thrown in the wash (MINUS THE RICE BAGS!)
With the top open they can also stay in the sack and eat soup with
heads sticking out of the collar/neck hole.

Feed rescued animals in two clicks
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

[Posted in FML 7271]