Ok, well I noticed that some people seem to believe or think or whatever that when you're allergic to an animal you're allergic to the animal's fur. This is NOT true. The person is allergic to the dander that the animal produces and certain hormones/chemicals in that dander. Some animals also produce this hormone/chemical in their saliva so that when they lick their fur or your skin the person has a more immediate allergic response. Also - dogs, cats, and ferrets are ALL fur bearing animals, NOT hair bearing animals - with the exception of certain breeds such as the poodle. Fur sheds much more easily than hair, leaving little strands of fur with the dander and the hormone/chemical all over your house, in your carpet, in the dust, and on your clothing making it much easier to cause an allergic reaction. So, it is very possible for someone to be allergic to ferrets and not cats or dogs - or have a noticeable reaction to ferrets but only be slightly allergic to cats and dogs. The person could be only (or more) allergic to the hormone/chemical that ferrets produce - and I'm betting that the same hormone/chemical is in the ferret's saliva because of all the grooming ferrets do, thus causing the reaction to be more severe and immediate. My source: a relative of mine is an allergist and he explained all of this to me. [NC] [Posted in FML 6571]