Hi.  I saw a post about using plexiglass barriers, and thought I'd toss out
an idea that has been very helpful to me.
 
In the infant section of most 'megamarts' (K-mart, Wal-mart, Target, Caldor)
they carry child door barriers.  These are expandable, 2-panel frames
(plastic or wire mesh panels in wood framing), with rubber knobs on either
end to allow a snug fit against walls and door frames without damage (and
no, the knobs are not easily reachable to little ferret teeth and intestines
when the barrier is in place) that can be very easily adjusted, with a
ratchet-type lever, from a minimum width, usually 19"-25", up to a maximum
width of 40", to, about the max I've seen of 60",(this is REALLY wide.  The
one I am using now is a 23" to 45" span, which will fit most doors or
hallways).
 
You can get these barriers, in a 24" height, or , for those more inventive
escape artists, a 36" height.  (24" has worked fine for all of the fuzzies &
their owners I've outfitted...) I just bought a 24" recently at Walmart, for
about $10, the 36" was about $25, these are pretty good prices.  **DO NOT
use the barriers 'as is', at best, your ferrets will just climb over the
plastic or wire mesh- at worst, they will chew and swallow the plastic...**
What will make these barriers useful is plexiglass inserts.  Take your newly
aquired child door to your local craft shop(framing section), art supply or
framing store, or hardware store that sells custom-cut plexiglass.  You
don't want to cut it yourself, they have the tools to get a nice, even,
smooth ferret-friendly cut there, without cutting yourself or cracking it-
let them take the risk of messing up and paying for another sheet.  Just for
reference, the hardware store is cheaper- I priced my panels at about $30
for the pair in the local craft store, $40 at a framing/art supply shop and
$14 for the pair in a hardware store (home depot), and could've gotten it
cheaper if I had remembered to get 1 large sheet and have both cut from it,
instead of cutting 2 small sheets to fit... Have them cut a plexiglass sheet
to the same measurements as the mesh panels.  (maybe 1/8' bigger, if you
want a VERY tight fit.) Once they're cut, if you smile and ask nicely, the
person helping you will usually wrestle the panel into your door for you-
take them up on it- the plexiglass will pop right into the furrow with the
plastic mesh, but it takes a LOT of push, and if they do it at the store,
any cutting adjustments can be made without a return trip.  Make sure the
plexi goes into the side of the door that will face your ferret.  (The side
without the ratchet- it will make sense when you look at it :) ) This will
present a smooth, non-climable surface to your baby.  If the plexi you
purchase is very thin and flexible, you really should leave the mesh on the
other side to reinforce it, or a determined ferret could feasibly pop it
out.  If it is medium weight or heavier, you could cut the mesh out, but I
don't.  Lighter weights are cheaper (my pricings were on medium to heavy
weights) but less durable- see what's available.
 
These barriers work in any area with two surfaces reasonably close to each
other, doorways, halls, walls near doors etc., and can be moved to any
convenient part of your house, or to a new house, should you move.  Because
you can use one or two barriers in many different places with no added cost,
and there is no permanent alteration to the structure (helpful if you are
renting, or ever plan to sell, and want to avoid having to change back,
later) it is very cost effective.  You can teach your cats or dogs to jump
over,(though this is much easier with a 24" height than a 36") if you want
them to have access to parts of the house the ferrets are restricted from
(My ferret likes to torment the cats; having a barrier so they can escape is
the only measure of sanity the cats have left.  ;P) I feel my ferret feels
less isolated, when I can't have him underfoot, if he can still see
everything going on through the plexi, and still has the run of whatever
section of the house I've blocked off, and I like the flexibility the
movable barrier allows me.
 
Hope this proves helpful.
 
Warm Hugs & Gentle Pinches
Angelique/Deanna
& Woozle (Mom, no time to type- PLAY, PLAY, PLAY!!!!)
& Zack & Taz (THAT is NOT a kitten!  :-O)
[Posted in FML issue 2173]