Hi--happy holidays to everyone and their fuzzbeans!
 
To anon@bitnet: myself, I would adopt from Ferret Association of Connecticut in
Hartford. They have a shelter where 2 of my guys came from; both of them are
really wonderful. You'd be helping out a ferret that really needs a home, and a
nice group of folks as well. Their # is 203-247-1275. Good luck!
 
I've been enjoying the escapades of Abercrombie & Fitch (great names) and Rikki
the escaped felon. And to another anon in Mass--lucky you seeing a great horned
owl! The doll house idea is great, too.
 
Re: kitty litter boxes. I think it depends on the cat; maybe a single cat would
mind something like that, but my guys don't seem to notice.  Sometimes Norm &
Ralph use the cat litterbox; I've even seen Norm rolling around in it; gross!!
 
As far as affection goes, I'd agree that ferrets get more affectionate with
age. But really, I don't think I've ever met a more loving animal. Since Ralph
put on his winter weight and turned into a small moose, he has become a total
mushmelon (also helped that I started scratching him between his shoulders!)
Now he puts his front paws on my leg when he wants to be picked up. Who could
resist that!  Cinderella also likes to cuddle. Norm (recovering biter, formerly
abused) still does not like to be picked up much. So now if he bites (which is
not that often anymore, and not hard) for his punishment I pick him up and kiss
him all over his face ("yecch! cut that out!") I know that's probably a mixed
message or something...Also, Norm tolerates being picked up more if I hold him
and Ralph together, since they're buddies.
 
Speaking of Norm, conqueror of great heights, I came home to find he had been
on the kitchen counter(!)  Direct evidence: former begonia and pot and dirt in
sink, everything else on floor; top drawer open....so I used duct tape
(ferretape?) to keep the top drawer closed (they can still get in from below,
just not get up on the counter.) Shortly after, I heard him in the drawer
scratching to get it open ("Hey! This worked before! Ralph, come here and help
me with this!")
 
    --Ronnie; Cinderella, Norm & Ralph's mom
[Posted in FML issue 1037]