>I realize that when doing an experiment it is good to have a *control* >to better assess the results, but it is usually a better idea to bathe >all or none of the ferrets in a business, since scent plays such a major >role in dominance issues. *The smelliest ferret always wins* is the way >I heard it expressed. > >Carol I bathed the larger and more aggressive girl of my two. She's what I call the bruiser...it doesn't seem as though either one has fully established alpha-ness yet. So I decided to use her for this trial. I can definitely see your point though. As for bedding, I recently went to Joanne Fabric to get things to make a ferret carrying bag. I saw this absolutely HIDEOUS but really plush fleece, it was WAY on sale too. I got a yard and a half for like 2 dollars. I cut it and lay it down in their cage. I can wash it when it gets funky, and eventually when it goes bad, I just toss it and cut another piece out. They don't care how ugly it is, as long as it's cozy. I had a woman at work make a fleece tote bag for me. I hadn't come across any bags that I loved, so I went looking for patterns myself. I found a nice tote bag that she modified, using velcro for the top closure, and I bought large holed needlepoint canvas that she sewed into areas of the fleece she cut out. The canvas is like a stiff mesh, they can breath really well and see out also. I will take a picture and send it if anyone's interested. **Update** Cetaphil bathing experiment... Minky was washed 4 days ago with cetaphil liquid soap, from the neck down. After much sniffing and comparison sniffing with the unwashed fertie, Pandora, Minky still has quite a neutral smell from the neck down. Her head is musky again, but I didn't get any soap on it. Her body has that light scent of lotion..no dryness, or itchiness as far as I can see. I will wash Pandora in it as well this weekend. Have a beautiful day! Angela [Posted in FML issue 3881]