My fuzzies often sleep with their eyes partially closed. I think it's a
mechanism to "stand guard," because if I wave my hand by them real quickly,
they'll wake up. Sort of like when you live in a city, at first, every
weird noise and passing bus wakes you up, but eventually your unconscious
learns which are background noises, and which are threatening noises, and
only wakes you up for a noise that might indicate danger. The fuzzies
aren't watching anything while they sleep (but then, who am I to assume...)
but they wake up for some mysterious object flashing by.
 
I use lysol ("Direct" or tub & tile cleaner) to clean Casper and Nova's
cage, and there hasn't been any problem.  I put the removable bottom of the
cage in the bathtub, douse it in nasty chemicals, wipe it down with a
sponge, and rinse it off really well.  Then I just dry it off and pop it
back into the cage, no huhu, and the ferrets just find it all amusing, the
way the floor can disappear like that.  They haven't exhibited any health
problems that I can connect to cage-cleaning days.
 
Today I introduced Casper to my neighbor's two kittens.  It was pretty
funny.  Casper was totally oblivious to the cats, while they were totally
spooked by this HUGE RAT that had the audacity to IGNORE THEM.  Those
kitties will never be good mousers, now.
 
Jen
[Posted in FML issue 1386]