First, I would like to send my condolences to all who have lost a fur baby. Our hearts go out to you and we hope knowing how lucky your ferrets were to have known a loving home, whether it be an individual home or shelter where they were loved and cared for, is a comfort to you. What I find really odd is that years ago, my brother in law had a little Panda female ferret. He kept her in a homemade large long at least 3 feet -4 feet tall wooden box with a huge dark nesting box, small fan inside as well as wire on top where it opened for air. He did not get his girl whole and had her fixed before she went into heat. She lived on Iams cat food as their cat did and had fruit loops cereal daily which she loved. I do not think she ever had shots, I do not remember and cannot ask because my husband is no longer talking to his brother or family. Back then ferrets were illegal but he found a vet that would care for her, etc. She lived to be 9 years old! He offered us the box and we turned it down, now wishing we had taken it because I think he was doing something right. I do not know if it was just good genes or the way he had her "cage". I know he bathed her a lot, he was a "clean freak". I just wish I knew what he did right and I am doing wrong. Most of my ferrets only live to be around 6 or 7 if they are lucky. I only had one live to 8 or 9 years old and even then do not know his exact age because I adopted him when he was supposedly 6 years old. I wonder if the "cage" he had may have held the secret. Eleanor, Donald and the 6 pack of ferrets [Posted in FML issue 5246]