I don't know whether there is a typical ferret with respect to food habits (or anything else for that matter) - each of mine has been distinctly (and delightfully) different in personality and habits. In the nine years I've been owned by fuzzies, there have been food brand switches. I've fed a mix of brands (mostly trying to make sure I never ran into the problem of them getting hooked on something I suddenly couldn't get and having them go on a hunger strike) and sometimes just a single brand. When Selena was diagnosed with insulinoma, a fellow ferret-owned person suggested I try feeding her TF soaked in water and blended so I could make sure she got food in her stomach coincident with the prednisone (she has since had surgery and is not currently on meds). Since she had never tried TF, I first put some in her dish with the other brand of kibble she was eating and she immediately ate some (I hadn't even stored them together to let the smells mingle first!). I was happy to see she liked the taste, but I was still prepared for a battle when trying to get her to eat it in a "goo" form since she has never liked soft foods before. Much to my surprise, and delight, she took to it like it was just what she had been waiting for her entire life. And now she won't eat anything else - by that I mean, she won't even chew the TF kibble I leave out, she only wants the warmed, blended goo [which she eats from a special bowl while sitting on my lap]. I'm still trying to convince her the crunchy stuff is just as yummy. She has gone off her food twice in the past, different brands each time, but both times coincident with the death of one of her companions. My other ferrets have also switched brands of kibble with no problems. But it's a small sample size, and maybe they were all atypical. Or maybe the "typical" ferret _is_ atypical? Regarding house fires and companion animals who live indoors: it's one of my greatest fears. My deepest sympathies to anyone who has lost a beloved companion animal that way. I have smoke detectors, but they won't do anyone much good during the day when I'm not home to hear them and take appropriate actions. If I could design my perfect home, it would include a sprinkler sysytem for just such emergencies. Until then, I just beg of the PTB to keep my little ones safe when I am away from the house. Those stickers on the door proclaiming there are pets inside are a great idea. I'm in the process of making one for my doors that actually has pictures of each of my critters (with their names) and says "In case of fire or other emergency, please rescue us." and that has contact numbers for me at work and for someone who could come for them if I cannot. One other thing to consider is the use of CO2 detectors where appropriate since animals are susceptible to this silent killer as well. [Posted in FML issue 3113]