Remember, Sara, that although ferrets and mongooses look similar they are NOT closely related! The mongooses are viverrids and descended from the cat branch, and the ferrets are mustelids and descended from the dog branch like otters, martins, fishers, etc. Most people know how playful otters are so you can mention that they are like smaller, domesticated otters who usually spill and snorkel in water rather than swimming in it! -- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private posts) Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them: Ferret Health List http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth FHL Archives http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ AFIP Ferret Pathology http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html Miamiferrets http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ International Ferret Congress Critical References http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 5219]