the shelters here, and everyone I know with ferrets (including us with our 14) use the wood pellets made to be burned in the wood stoves. They are readily available at the local grocery stores, at major hardware, and some variety stores such as *al-Mar*. The cost range from $2.00 a 40# bag (if you buy it by the pallet, to $3.75 at the grocery store (same size). We've been using it for years, and none of our babies have had problems with it.... all except Sunshine, who thinks it's great fun to frolic and roll in it just after the box has been disinfected and filled with new pellets! Yes, he has a rice box, and a corn-starch pellet box, but he still has to get his litterbox roll fix!! Go figure. If I'm off base re the type of pellets that are the 'safe' ones, please someone, poet the correct type! Michelle, and the gang of 14 :-(, .......(Sweet Ellie died in her sleep on Sunday, and her harem of 8 boys are missing her horribly... just like her humans. She's over the bridge, lapping up ferretone, and has a bazillion squeaky toys that no one will steal.Costello was happy to have a familiar sleeping buddy up there as well.) [Posted in FML issue 4685]