Each to thir own, I prefer the non stretch, secure nylon harnesses, and so does everyone I know. I don't know anyone who uses leather harnesses, or figure 8, but hey if you like them fine. As for cats, hawks, and seagulls, yes I do think they would be a threat to a ferret staked out in the open , unsupervised and with no chance of running away. We live in quite densely populated area, in general the UK is less spacious than the US, and cats here ar usually allowed to wander freely rather than being indoor, confined pets. As some can catch an adult rat I ma sure they would be a threat to a tethered ferret. Evan if the ferret inflicted injuries on the cat at what cost to the ferret? As for hawks, they are probably less of a risk to b honest, I know folk who work ferrets and hawks and they do seem to be bale to recognise that ferrets are not prey species, quite a feat considering the size of a ferret. IMO. And I can sense you sneering about the seagull threat, they eat fish right/ Wrong, they are scavengers, thy live on human rubbish tips and are almost completely fearless around man, they will attack an adult human who they deem a threat to their food or young and as they are unlikely to have ever met a ferret why would they be frightened of one. Even if they didn't attack I am sure a large bird landing nearby could be pretty stressful to a small animal with no means of escape. No, mine will continue to have their supervised outdoor time either on a lash with me at the end, in a rabbit run, with a lid and inbuilt shelter, or on the odd occasion the are tethered it will be when I am outside too gardening so I can make sure they are safe. Oh and I am looking forward to taking them to my frinds on Tuesday as she is lucky enough to have a ferret proofed yard and they will run around fre, whil we are outside with them, just in case :) Mary http://www.beehive.com/bristolferretclub [Posted in FML 6079]