My sweet little female dark-eyed-white furkid is deaf. I became hers when she was 22 months old and didn't realize she was hearing incapacitated until six months afterward. Nada was my first ferret. I considered changing her name, as Nada means 'nothing or nil', and she is everything to me. Didn't re-name her as I didn't want to traumatize her further (after the new living arrangement). Six months later my human children treated me to a rescue male which we adopted from GCFA in Chicago. While Nada was interacting with her new brother, Cinco, the staff at the shelter heard Nada barking and advised me that she could be deaf. This barking sounded much like a cough or choking to me, and I had always rushed to her side to check out her mouth for foreign bodies when she did this. After arriving home, I tested Nada while she was sleeping by squeaking a loud toy near her hammock. No response. Cinco immediately rose to investigate the noise even though he was then residing in a separate cage. For a couple of days I was devastated! Then I theorized that Nada had always been deaf and was very happy and if Nada didn't mind, then why should I. She is my cuddle girl. Neither of my boys want to tolerate me holding them for more than a minute or two, but Nada will lay content in my arms for 15-20 minutes at a time. Deaf or hearing, I love her with all my heart. Greta Hoisington [Posted in FML issue 4057]