For those concerned about Febreze, here is a decent site:
"http://febreze.com/pet.html"
It's written by a Proctor & Gamble employee, so I would say it's a little
biased.
 
I also think she is being a little "easy" on the zinc chloride part in
a way.  What she says is true about zinc, but when zinc is paired with
chloride, it changes the chemical's "behavior".  According to the Material
Safety Data Sheet at Cornell
"http://MSDS.PDC.CORNELL.EDU/msds/hazcom/245/72433.txt",
zinc chloride (on its own) can cause lung/breathing problems when inhaled
and gastrointestinal problems when ingested.  Lab tests on animals show
that it may be a mutagen (causes mutations) and embryotoxin (kills fetuses)
but is not a carcinogen (not cancer causing).
 
These data sheets are published for just about every chemical there is
that chemists, biologists, lab techs., etc. would use.  They are for the
chemical itself in pure form, not diluted unknown amounts in a solution
such as Febreze.  (Hint: even table salt, NaCl, gives similar warnings as
to toxicity) Plus the hazard indicates that the dosage in rats was 350
milligrams per kilogram.  I'd bet there's not nearly that much in a bottle
of Febreze.
 
Anyway, as far as your ferrets are concerned, as with ANY aerosol or other
cleaning chemical, BE CAREFUL!  Don't spray it in your fert's face, don't
spray it while they're nearby, keep them away from sprayed items until the
stuff is dry.  It's just common sense.  You wouldn't spray it near a
newborn baby, right, or in your own face?
 
Unfortunately I have been unable to locate any more decent info on the web
regarding ingredients (the bottle label is SOOO vague), so who knows what
else is in there?  I don't know.  I don't really care.  What I do know is
that the stuff WORKS GREAT!  My babies are in another room when I spray it
& I don't let them near it til it's dry.  I've been using it for 4 months
so far with no problems being exhibited by my five ferts.  Their cage
smells great, my living room couch where my fiance smokes smells fine, and
we're all doing OK.  (Oh, by the way, I have asthma, so I'm definately very
careful about spraying ANYTHING)
 
Well, I'd just like to ask everyone to relax about it.  EVERYTHING we use
EVERYDAY has *something* in it that can be toxic or caustic or carcinogenic
or whatever.  You just gotta use common sense with stuff. :-)
 
Aileen & the Febreze-ing, not-smelling, herd
Slinky, Gizmo, Kyle, Noel, & Sandy
[Posted in FML issue 2628]