Hi Debra - That gray shredded cardboard like stuff you mentioned is probably a product called Care Fresh. Most of all the PETCO stores use it for their critters. It is a sanitary product made from paper product left overs. I use it for my guys, it really controls the odor and it isn't a bad thing to use because it is much more expensive than say, wood pellets. The clumping litter is bad though, the dust is bad for the babies. If I were concerned about the conditions, I would talk to the Manager and while I was at it I would tell them how rude their employee was. If that person is rude to people, I would hate to think how she treats the animals. Most of the PETCO store managers wanted to be good to their animals or just haven't taken the time to know what they need. After all a lot of them work in that industry because they like critters. In the off chance the Manager were to blow me off. I would just go higher up until the problems were solved. Just rescuing the ferrets makes them just order more and then the newbies still end up in the same bad conditions. Kim Reyes John L. Scott Real Estate Westside Residential Specialist Direct: (503) 380-4195 Fax: (503) 579-8745 Toll Free: 1-877-490-2595 Voice Mail: (503) 245-6052 x 180 Website: http://www.kimreyes.com [Posted in FML issue 3567]