I have two cats that prefer not to interact with our three ferrets during "ferret play-time" in the general household. I have two other cats who either perch out of reach or who enjoy being chased or nuzzles, at least for a little while. One day last week, I had just let one of the two tolerant cats outside because she seemed to be being bothered by our ferret Cocoa. After shutting the door, I noticed Cocoa was just sitting still in one spot right below the chair where Alice the sharp-fingered cat had been. I picked him up and his eye was covered with thick blood. I couldn't see his eye at all. Thank God it was a weekday afternoon when the ferret expert was in the office. I put Cocoa right into a carrier I had handy with blankets inside, so that he wouldn't run and hide on me, and called my vet's office. Of course they said to bring Cocoa right in. All the way to the office, Cocoa would not open his eye, though at least the bleeding had stopped. Just when we got called back to see the Doctor, he actually opened the eye. The Dr. looked at the eye then took him back and anesthetized him to get a good look. The cat's claw had cut both the cornea and the eyelid. Dr. administered injections of an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic, and also put dilating drops in Cocoa's eye to minimize the scar. Lucky Cocoa actually got care during that "Golden" first hour after an injury, so he has a chance to keep the eye. I took him back Monday, a week later. Most of the cornea has healed but there's a bubble that's trying to heal and patch itself. If it bursts, his eye collapses and he's blind. If it heals, Mother Nature will have done the job. The only possible surgery would be opthalmic microsurgery that's only offered at the Vet School for a very large amount of money. We're relying on prayer for Cocoa and eye ointment and amoxi to keep away infection. He goes back again Monday. His vet is the best. Anyway, WATCH THOSE ANNOYED CATS AROUND YOUR BELOVED FUZZIES. Maybe the kitties need a break while the ferts roam. Cindy and the kitty-adventurer: Cocoa, and friends Butter and Sugar. [Posted in FML issue 4150]