I have a question about feeding mice/rats or whatever, live or dead. Can feeding them to ferrets cause cancer or problems? Aren't mice, etc. bred for lab use and seem to have the cancer gene? I myself am against feeding live prey to any animal and feel it is torture. Is it okay for a dog to go after a cat or ferret and kill it because it's natural? It makes me sick that coyotes prey on cats and dogs and there is nothing I can do about it but keep my pets safe by keeping my cats indoors and keep watch on my dogs when out. Snakes take live prey and I have even heard rumors that ferrets, kittens, etc have been given as prey for snakes. This sickens me to even think that someone could do such a thing. But to some snake owners, it would probably be no big deal. Everyone has a right to their opinion as far as feeding prey, live or dead. I guess it is up to each individual on how far you would take it to nourish your pet. I couldn't do it because I feel all animals big or small have feelings and feel pain and or fear. When my cats catch a mouse in the house, my husband and I take it from the cats and put it outside. We even have 2 pets cows that we saved from being beef as babies. They are the 2 luckiest beef cows in the world. It is a struggle sometimes when it comes to pet food bills but we would rather give them away to a humane society where they would be placed as pets only if things get too tight, rather than sell them for beef to make a profit. Yes I do eat beef (cow), but could never kill and use our own, even though they are not fed hormones and probably healthier to eat. We even have one old pet chicken who has not produced eggs in years and I know that some people kill and eat them because they are no longer productive. We will let her live her life out and die on her own. This is just my own opinion and the way I handle life. Everyone is different and is entitled to their opinion and way of life. Eleanor, Donald and the 6 ferts [Posted in FML issue 5199]