My furry kids got their own room close to two months ago. Our newly built 4 bedroom, 1 office is now a 5 bedroom, no office because one of my 3 teens decided to abandon their bedroom on the bottom floor for the office on the main floor (maybe afraid of the dark, too cold, not enough light...who knows why, its a teenager and nothing makes sense when it comes to their decision-making). Anyhow, two months ago I decided to use the bedroom that had been vacant for a number of months as a ferret room. Up until that time they were confined to a very large cage during the work day, let out for playtime between 6-10pm and then caged during the night. I thought it would be very beneficial for them to have a huge free roaming room so they could play and wander during the day when I was not home and come out in the evenings. My husband and I tore up the carpet and laid down linoleum and sealed all the edges with water (and pee) proof caulking. I thought what a great way to minimize ferrety smells. But much to my surprise it seems to smell even more. So, I put down newspapers around litter pans and other places they potty in and the result...it still stinks. I bathe the ferrets every couple of weeks, wash their bedding weekly or more if soiled, clean the pans and room nightly, yes nightly and the result... it still stinks. Frustrated, two weeks ago I bought a Bissell Steam Mop (love it!) to clean and sterilize their floor, washed the litter pans, gave them a bath, crack the window every morning for fresh air to circulate and the result...it still stinks! Am I just imagining this or are they just smellier this time of year? My family is complaining because we never really smelled them upstairs in the cage and now its all we smell when we venture downstairs. I read with interest Alexandra's email about ferrety "stench". I was not aware there were certain times of the year when they smell stronger and I have been a ferret owner since the early nineties...I know, I should have known better, by now (smile). Please, please, tell me more. [Posted in FML 6417]