First let me start with: There is NO such thing as "Ferret Proofing". Just ask my fuzzies. They'll tell ya. We did the "crawl on the floor with the flashlight" trick. We blocked, plugged, covered, and uncovered. We've even posted signs: Ferrets NOT allowed here. "This is NOT your room"! They just look at the signs and turn and grin at us......kinda scary actually....... My kids are reeealllly good at opening cupboards, climbing in - shoving open the drawers and attacking anything on the counter they can get there fuzzy little paws into. Artemus is always the ring leader - and everyone else just goes along with him. They know that WE know - it is Arte who opened the door - and therefore, the other kids think they can't be blamed. Arte, + 2 - climb up. Usually, it is the breadbox, the cinnamon rolls - and any other bread goodies up there, that they toss down to the remaining thief, who will then dash 100 mph (ever see a ferret run with a loaf of bread hanging out of his mouth?). To "deter" them from doing so we have used everything from child locks on the cupboard doors (yeah, they had those figured out in like 2 seconds flat) to velcro strips. **Are you laughing yet**? Wanna know the only thing they haven't figured out yet? C'mon you handy women/men out there......what is woman & man's best tool? *Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, dit doo.......(theme from jeopardy - not doo-doo).....and the answer is: DUCT TAPE. Yep. That is the only man made material that they haven't figured a way to eat, destroy, shred, rip - or open. When we first began using duct tape (you can STOP laughing now.... *winks*) Artemus, would do everything in his furry power to try and pry the doors open - just enough for accomplice one and two - to squeeze through. So far, however, he hasn't been successful at it. He will lay on his back for hours - just to see if he can do it. It is kinda funny - it looks like he is bench pressing the cupboard doors...... Artemus isn't the brightest lightbulb in the pack though. If left alone, he will spend all of his "free play" time, attacking the one cupboard door that he knows leads him to the bread box. We have to physically pick him up and redirect him somewhere else....and even then, chances are - he'll try it at least 17 more times before the day is out........We gave up and just "house-proofed" him. Ferret proofing indeed!! Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, and not greedy for what I want..... Kim and Her Thieving Not Ferret Proofed Army of Idiots..... [Posted in FML 5525]