As most of you know by now, I am living in Australia. We built an outdoor habitat in a sheltered place gouing outside a backdoor which is never used. It is 16x14ft. 3 ferrets live there. But, they come in to be with us at least 2-3 times a day for 3 hours at a time. By the, they are usually sound asleep. They have a large tub of fresh water to swim in--which they don't. They get raw meat and kibble--EVO is all I can get here. They get a fan when it gets warm. They get a wonderful breeze most days. The shelter is enclosed on 3 sides and on top, so it never gets wet. The fron barrier has large holes cut into it with screening over them. Yes, Thyme climbs the screening, but can not get over the top. He used to until we put a lip on the top of the barrier. It was kind of strange to see him coming through the living room, knowing he was outside in the ferret apartment. They thrive out there. WE will pick them up for a cuddle during the day when we are outside. My other comment is--I worked in a hospital for over 30 years and have seen the symptoms of flu, URI, and colds change. Every year for about 4 months, we, as respiratory therapists, swabbed for flu on all aged people. ( there was an incident in a nearby hospital where a cardiac patient dies because a flu patient was put in the same room). What I am geeting at is--the lines among these 3 ailments' symtoms have blurred mostly becaus we ask the doctor for antibiotics for everything and because people do not finish the course of the antibiotics and as a result, the bugs mutate and change the face of the ailment. Looking forward to Autumn, Sue, Thyme, Bailey, Missy [Posted in FML 6248]