Hi FML'ers Here is my two cents on the cage issue. . When I have a headache, my ferrets are in their cages. No one gets hurt, they have water, food, and my soup. They are clean and dry, litter pans cleaned, everything they need to be safe and happy. Do not feel bad if you cannot give your ferrets time out if you are sick. I know where my ferrets and dogs came from. I know ferret Wednesday was starved almost to deaths door. She may be in her cage, BUT she is never hungry or thirsty. She bangs her dish up and down for more soup and by passes the kibble. She gets two dishes a day. Well, the kibble is there if she wants it or to feed to the dogs. She throws it out to them. All three of my dogs were abused, two were beaten, I mean BEATEN. One had a collar grown into his neck. The Buff Shepherd has a half moon cut into her ear, I'll bet that hurt, she had one back toe on her left back leg removed, ouch, and a tattoo of a lightening bolt on her upper back leg. All before she was 3 months old. I know where everything here came from, and I cannot believe they would trade me in because I crated everyone for a day. People are cruel and love to feel superior by inflicting pain on animals. Don't feel guilty - life out there is much worse than being in a cage for a day or two. Stress - is when someone is chopping off your tow and you are to little to bite them. You sound like you provide a good home, food, shelter, and if you fail for a day, it is better than going to a place where heaven knows what will happen. It is heart breaking to listen to an animal cry because it is hurt, and all you can do is provide kind hands and let them know you are there. Trust once lost is hard to regain - took 5 years for the Malamute that was beaten, but he finally realized I will not catch him in the door, hold him tight between the door and the wall, and kick him. Try potty training an animal that is afraid to go out through the door. Try it for 5 years. I too have headaches, I also have to work, but everyone here is fat and happy, and only kindness is spoken here. NO one is ever hurt, food and water abound, and if they are crated, they just sleep. Sometimes, they can't wait to get out of their cages to sleep on my bed. I rest my case. Standing by with a bucket of water to put out the flames. Marilyn and the gang at Ledoux Hospice. [Posted in FML 5748]