Re: Litter, Weight Loss, Leg abnormalities Q #1. Although we tend to compare ferrets' latrine habits with those of cats, they are actually quite different. Check out the article "Litter Box Legerdemain" at http://www.geocities.com/ferretsfirst/litterbox.html Q #2 This is the time of year for weight loss and some ferrets do regularly lose a greater percentage of weight than others. 10%-12% is about average and I draw the line at 15% and start looking for symptoms of illness. 12% is aproximately 4 ounces for a 2 pound ferret. Weight loss can be a sneaky thing. When it occurs slowly you don't notice it until one day it's just suddenly obvious. An ordinary fish scale with a WalMart bag hanging from the hook makes a good ferret scale. Weighing your ferret once a month is a great way to keep an eye out for developing health problems. Q #3 This type of growth is fairly common to ferrets. Some ferrets get them repeatedly. Wnen they begin to be problematic about bleeding I generally have the vet remove it to avoid possible infections. Re: Another Ferret Danger Sometimes those of us who THINK we're the most conscientious of all in regards to having "ferret-safe" households are at the greatest risk of having a ferret hazard! We get into a "mind-set" that OUR household has been checked & rechecked and no one but the usual residents have been there to alter anything... Then along comes a fuzzy with a new idea to rock our world. Whether it's a cage, or a room, or several rooms, it's a good idea to have a friend inspect your ferret-proofing now and then because they're more likely to see the "normal" things we overlook. For (another) list of ferret hazards too long to post here see http://www.geocities.com/ferretsfirst/ferretproofing.html Re: Hairball remedies Most ferrets don't like new tastes... they're pretty sure it doen't taste like the food they're imprinted on so you MUST be trying to poison them, lol. Scruff your ferret and let him hang (support heavy ferrets only slightly). Hold the tip of the tube at the side of the ferret's mouth behind the canine teeth. Wait until the ferret opens his mouth (be patient, he will open it eventually) and squirt it toward the roof of his mouth. Continue to hold the ferret by the scruff until he has licked most of it from the roof of his mouth. If you release him too soon, you'll end up wearing it. Many ferrets will exhibit a "shocked" attitude when they feel their mouth full of something sticky & gooey. Just continue to scruff for a few moments. The ferret will eventually decide he has no choice but to lick it down. They will eventually decide the taste is ok and take it voluntarily. With ferrets, a new taste is merely a matter of time... 6 months of daily efforts, maybe, but they WILL adapt. Debi Christy Ferrets First Foster Home Practical & easy training, care, & maintenance articles available at=20 http://www.geocities.com/ferretsfirst/ [Posted in FML issue 3777]