Howdy! I originally posted this to Leigh when she asked about safe toys
for Kami after her little one had an intestinal blockage.
 
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Hi there!  My name is Georgette and I live in Toronto with my boyfriend,
Jasper, and we are currently owned by two ferrets, Gushi and Geisha.  I
saw your posting about safe toys for your furry ones and I know exactly
what you mean.  We've been lucky (knock on wood) not to have anyone have
any blockage problems with chewing on stuff - though I have found some
*interesting* stuff in the litter box a few times.  Those toys were tossed
pretty darned fast.  I saw your posting also mentioned that your crew likes
toys on elastic ties.  I don't know what kind of sewing skills you have but
I made a toy for my guys - Geisha in particular likes it (so did Buster
when he was here - sigh!  He had to be put to sleep this past June due to
complications with cancer).  I used middle weight cotton since it's durable
and washable.  I also bought elastic that was 3/8 inches wide - it's good
and strong and can stand up to LOTS of tug of war!  Pick a shape - I went
with a star cuz it has lots of 'tips' to grab onto - and it's about 5"x4".
Cut out two.  Cut a piece of elastic to the desired length - you may want
to make it so it hangs just off of the floor from the top of a doorway or
only from the doorknob you choose.  Pin the right sides together at the
edges with the elastic overlapping the edge like so -
 
                               /\
                           ___/  \___
                           \        /
                            \      /__ <- tip of elastic, rest tucked
                            /      \      inside of star - you can tie
                           /__    __\     a knot for extra security
                              \  /
                               \/
 
Hope that's not too confusing!  Sew all around the egdes, leaving about a
two inch gap so you can turn the toy right side out and stuff it.  You can
get actual stuffing from the store but if you don't do alot of this stuff
(around here the bags vary in size but you could probably make **SEVERAL**
toys from the smallest bag I've seen.  You can also cut left-over pieces of
cloth into small bits and use them to stuff it.  Don't stuff it too tight -
makes it kinda difficult for the fuzzies to grab.  Then handsew the gap
shut.  If you yourself don't sew, maybe you can bug a friend/relative or
if you get *really* desperate, you can bug me!!  Okay??
 
Take care and hugs to all!
 
George, Jasper and the Two Geez (missing Buster and Nik)
 
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Georgette Peters                          Nothing is ferret-proof to a
Steacie Science Library                   sufficiently talented ferret.
York University
4700 Keele Street                                     *****
North York, Ontario                                 *********
M3J 1P3                                               *****
(416)736-5084
                                             Dook, dook, bjork, bjork!
e-mail - [log in to unmask]                        - Swedish Ferret
 
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[Posted in FML issue 2438]