I agree with all about the cages. I have finally replaced what I had with Quality Cages. Those of you who were at the symposium SOS picnic saw them at Dave and Chris Mathis' house. Then I found Chris helped design them! But back to the SPs. I think new owners buy them because they look so impressively large. Then they don't put anything warm, fuzzy and inviting in there and wonder why the ferret doesn't use the rest of the cage. I don't like the small side doors that are right up to the frame. They are very hard to pop open. And for the lack of doors in the front or anywhere I got out a big side cutter and cut an opening for a new door where I wanted it. Then cut a piece of cage wire an inch larger in each direction and fasten it with J clips or C clips. Get some cage edging to protect yourself from sharp edges. Everything should be available from your local feed store or check out Klubertanz.com in Wisconsin. Heck, you can build any cage you like for a reasonable cost. I have used many J clips re-building (repairing) the black Ware cages we get. The thin wire they use to fasten the corners seems to come apart easily, so I just get out the tools and make them better than new, including two push latches on each door so ferrets can't push them open as they can and do with the spring latches. For those that don't want to or can't revamp the cages, you can make a high back litter pan that goes through the door by cutting down a Sterilite storage container, 16 quart, number 1644. I get them at Big Lots for about $2, and some grocery stores also have them. I found the best, fastest way to cut them is with a fine tooth blade in a saber or jig saw. Leave the front lip about 1 1/2 inches high. Just cut a big wide U shape out of one long side. Smooth with a knife. You can put some duct tape on the edge and also some of the cage edging or even a report binder edge, Just cut with a pruner to length. There will be space between the pan end and the cage so fill it with a crumpled blanket or as they do at the Oregon Ferret Shelter, put a small plastic parts container there to fill the space. I apologize for rambling about this but there are ways to work with what we have and improve on it. Carol Owens, Ferret Friends, Inc. Tucson AZ [Posted in FML 5683]