Help with Litter Pans and Pooping: To alter a sudden or even a gradual increase of pooping everywhere instead of the boxes they originally used, I change the ferret to a new cage with his unlaundered hammocks & blankies & food/water bowls. (In my case "cage" often means "room" as permanent residents here are free roam.) The new cage doesn't have to be actually new from the store, just thoroughly cleaned and deodorized with an enzyme-type deodorizer; I use Out spray, available at WalMart. let stuff soak for a while with this. You can use a large pet carrier if a different cage isn't available for temporary use. Use the temporary quarters for at least 4 weeks. In the meantime, thoroughly clean and deodorize his old cage. Re-arrange the former cage, if possible. And again, don't launder sleep accessories for several days before and after the cage change. I would also, in a case with a deceased cagemate, use a new litterbox in the temporary cage. You might not be able to smell the deceased ferret's "markers" on the old litterbox, but it's possible that some remain your ferret can smell. But DO use the ferret's other current cage accessories. You don't want to add stress by making too much of an environment change. I've often wondered, in cases like this, if the "pooping everywhere" is an effort to place "markers" to help the "lost" ferret to "find his way back" home. General litterbox tips here, for solutions to other types of litter box usage problems: http://www.ferrets1st.com/articles/litterbox.htm Broken toe: We use the sticky "ace bandage" stuff. and wrap the entire leg, with a loop going loosely around the body. just make sure it's comfortable. Yeah, you'll get some nasty, beady eyed looks when he tries to hobble around, but he'll adjust. I prefer not to cage ferrets with splints, actually. as long as there's nothing in the room they can climb. I'd rather keep them on flat, one layer surfaces. You can let him play with his cage mate once you have a splint he can't weasel out of. Debi Christy www.ferrets1st.com <http://www.ferrets1st.com/> [Posted in FML issue 5054]