Yesterday someone suggested we should stop the food discussions and get back to "basics"!!!??!!! I had a discussion with my five fuzzbutts and they tell me food is at the top of their list! I also think Shirley had a good thought.. How about we fight over cage versus free roam. Let me start. My five are free roam. They have access to the majority of our two story house ,all ferret proofed, including the kitchen which my husband has done an amazing job with. Some things such as carpeting the stairway have cost a bit of money [easier and safer for them, and thanks for the luge idea, Laura!] but worth every penny. Every now and then I open a door to a closed bedroom and they think it is a party! Some eat raw, some don't. Some have special diet needs. One needs to stay away from any kibble. They also do not all get along, but we manage. We do shifts. Luckily some are morning guys and some prefer sleeping in. They have rooms which provide complete darkness at night for what I am told are the right amount of hours. I try my best not to expose them to artificial light. I just can not see putting them in a cage. I also find it very easy to clean their litter boxes daily because they are not in a cage. Besides their regular litter boxes, we have boot trays lined with newspaper in the corners of every room, even on the stairway landing ,which they use most of the time. I would imagine that a cage would be a horrible thing to clean and I think injuries can be caused by them. When we are not home, they are put into their rooms for their own safety. We also have dogs and cats who have learned to get along with the ferrets. I think I have covered all the reasons why some feel a cage would be necessary. With our bunch, we have managed and I think they are all the happier and healthier for it. Inge [Posted in FML 5431]