One of our first ferrets, Bud, killed our waterbed.  He tried to claim that
he found the leak and was trying to mop up the water and keep the rest from
spilling out, but I have my doubts since the corner of the bed had numerous
little holes in it.
 
Anyway, we replaced the mattress and bought a waterbed mattress zip-up
cover.  The mattress sits down inside of it, and the heavy quilted top
zips up three sides of it so that the mattress is not exposed at all.
Never another ferret induced leak since.
 
Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 3119]