Hi all,
 
This is my first post to the FML.  I'm planning on buying a ferret this
week, and just in need of some advice (and perhaps a little reassurance --
it's my first one :-).
 
By virtue of my being here already, you can tell I've done research
before-hand.  I was a little put off when the pet store tried to get me to
take a ferret home the first night, when all I wanted was Deborah Jeans'
_Guide_.
 
At any rate, I've bought what I hope is enough to get me started, and
welcome the little guy to his new home (and yes, it is going to be a "he").
I've taken my starting supplies from the Ferret FAQ, the book, and some web
reading (including this list).  What follows is what I now have:
 
- A three story cage (28" x 17" x 27"; may seem small, but it's got a full
  floor on each level)
- A hammock
- A hard plastic ball (one that opens, so you can put a treat inside)
- Ferret Glow shampoo
- Some child-proof cabinet latches
- Two heavy dishes
- A nylon collar and bell
- A 4lb. bag of Iams kitten food (not the new fish kind)
- A FerreTrail roll-about ball
- A small wire brush
- Litter pan and scoop (more on this later)
- 8 in 1 Ferret Vitasol (I couldn't find anything labeled 'linatone'; will
  this do?)
- A lead and harness
- A large water bottle
- Petromalt
 
Some questions:
 
Are there any brands of food/supplies that I should stay away from?  There
were so many in my local pet store it was hard to decide which to buy.
 
What kind of litter do you find best to use?  There are SO MANY types of
litter in the store, not all of them marked clearly as to whether they're
the 'clumping' variety (which I've heard isn't good for ferrets), I just
walked away in confusion.  I have a few days to find something, at least.
 
I plan to buy a ferret from Pass Pets (a chain in the Michigan area; may be
in more areas nationally).  Does anyone in SE Michigan (or anywhere else)
have experience with Pass Pets?  Good, bad, indifferent?  I'm not real up on
buying from a chain pet store, but I can't find any place else that sells
them locally.  There are a number of names on the database from Ferret
Central in Michigan, but none of the ones in my area is listed as 'breeder';
they're all either 'vet' or 'contact'.
 
There are two vets near me who deal in ferrets (that I know of): The
Birmingham Vet Clinic (Christine Glikis, DVM) and North Hills Vet Hospital.
Does anyone have a recommendation for one or the other (or some other one)?
Hopefully I'll only see them for periodic check-ups, but if my fuzz-head
develops any serious health problems, I want to go to someone with more than
a little experience in treating ferrets.
 
My plan:
 
Since my wife and I both work days, we plan on keeping the ferret in his
cage (for his own good as much as our home's).  Since we're both home-bodies
by nature, he'll have plenty of time to roam in the evenings.  To start I
intend to just let him out in the bedroom.  Once he's gotten used to that,
I'll gradually introduce him to other areas of the place.
 
I've already got child-proof latches for the cabinets that have nasty stuff
in them.  I need to find something to use to block the sides of the
refrigerator and the bottom of the oven.  Any suggestions?
 
That's about all for now.  I'd greatly appreciate any help, advice, and
encouragement anyone can offer.
 
Thanks!
 
Steve
[Posted in FML issue 1631]