As some of you gentle readers know, I have been blessed with ferrets who like to live a long time. 8-9-10 year old companions is not unusual in my household. What do I do that is different? I honestly do not know. I feed kibble (TF, Mazuri, and Purina Kitten Chow mix), the kidlets have their own room, ie: Never locked in a cage. They have a West facing window so get a natural rhythm of light and dark. and their room is kept cool...55 to 65 F. [13 C to 18 C BIG] So...what do I do that is different? 1st...all 4 legged, fuzzy companions here **MUST** perform daily. That is, I teach them all different behavioral modifications...begging, sticking their head up through the hole in the top of the ferret boat and waving, standing up and turning around, etc. I my thought on this is that it keeps their minds active....Ferrets are very intelligent creatures and if that intelligence is not used, they get bored and lethargic, physically. (Sleep a lot, become slugs, etc.) (Here comes the live food thing again.......) And.....if my companions come into our house early enough, they get live food.....that I allow them to kill. OK, OK, don't shoot the messenger.....this too comes under my thinking that a ferret, whose mind is always active, will lead a longer, more healthy life....which, as a rule, mine do, if they are given the opportunity to exercise their natural behavior. Ferrets are predators, they need the stalk, hunt, and play, with their prey. So......I put lots of toys in the bath tub and put a mouse in the tub and a ferret in the bathroom and close the door. I come back 10 minutes or so after all the ruckus is over and find a very contented ferret and no mouse. Gruesome? Not to me. But...again, my fuzzy companion's minds are exercised when they pursuit the mouse.. their reward is dinner. BTW..this does not make a mean or vicious ferret....that is so much horse-hockey! Not all of my ferrets do this..only the brats that came to live with me as kits....adult ferrets have, as a rule, already imprinted and will not eat live (Or killed, or any kind B.A.R.F.) foods. **THAT** is the only thing different around this household. Does this lead to a healthier, longer lived ferret companion? I think so, but...there is absolutely no study or research to bear this out. Just seems like common sense to me, so I do it. I grew up on a horse ranch...the vets, then, always said that if we, as animal caretakers, give our charges the most natural living environment, we as caretakers will be vastly rewarded with their companionship. You know...I really DO think the vets knew what they were talking about. MC, The Rude One Missing all his companions that have left his company. [Posted in FML 6244]