Meerkats are great, but just so you know, they are NOT closely related to ferrets by any means. Meerkats are viverrids and descended from the cat branch in Carnivora. Members include cool animals like the mongoose, civet, and their relatives. Ferrets are mustelids which are descended from the dog branch in Carnivora, Members include ultracool animals like our ferrets, otters, weasels, wolverines, etc. -- 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 5381]