Wow!  I am really impressed with Bob Church's description of the relative
biting power of cat versus ferret.  My statements were based on empirical
observations of the motivations of each creature.  When a ferret does
something, he does something right.  However, I agree with Bob that cats are
theoretically more dangerous than ferrets.  Neither is particularly a
dangerous pet.  I knew the circumstances had to be extroardinary for a rat
to bite.  All six of the rats I had were the mellowest, gentlest creatures
I've ever met.  Great pets for kids.  They don't need a lot of attention.
But they don't mix well with ferrets.  <evil grin>
 
I sure do know about those sharp nails.  I was the cat and dog bather for a
while at a vet hospital.  I can bathe anything now.  I have a collection of
methods for the purpose very much resembling an expert torturer.  Gimme the
bobcat that can kill a white-tail deer.  I geev heem a bathy wathy.
Muhahahaa.
 
Ahem..I'm okay now.
 
In other news, a dog has joined our household.  She is a one-year-old
English Mastiff named Nala.  She loves the ferrets--from a distance, and
they do the same to her.  At this point, I literally cannot control her.
She weighs 90 pounds and has never had obedience training (lucky me).  I
will work on obedience with her and keep ya'll updated on the introduction
process.  It will probably take months and months, but I'd rather do it too
slow than too fast.  The signs are good so far.  Nala play bows whenever she
sees the ferrets.  I held Sebastian up to her and she gave him a kiss, then
opened her mouth.  Brent and I immediately hollered "NO!" I feel bad because
she has a sensitive disposition and looked really abashed when we did that.
Her ears did not lay back or anything, so we think she was just trying to
take Sebastian in her mouth as if he were a toy.  Hehe.  Probably shouldn't
let her do it anyway, but I am so trigger happy on the "NO!" when a pet
opens its mouth at me because of nip training all these ferrets.
 
If anyone here ever wanted to beat me up, you've missed your chance.  This
dog is amazing, and has taken on the great responsibility of keeping me safe
from burglers, pizza delivery men, passersby on the street, strange animals,
and sometimes my husband <wink>.
 
-Catherine
[Posted in FML issue 1884]