The N-bone experiment entered my head because my thrifty friend Zoo cuts her N bones into thirds. They are really expensive treats that seem to do a great job at keeping my ferrets teeth and gums in tip-top shape. But with so many greedy mouths to appease, and an ever dwindling pocket book, it seemed best to follow in the footsteps of a savvy ferret person. Yet I felt guilty. What if there was not nearly enough satisfaction in holding onto the smaller stick? It was harder to hold onto to, thus not as enjoyable? How much of a difference might it make to the little vixens? Sooo....Yesterday, I felt that as ferrets are so intelligent, I would do an experiment for my own edification. I eagerly cut the new packages of N-bones open, and cut one group into thirds and the other in half. I was still in the process of opening bags and cutting the N-bones when my deaf wild Buffy pulled herself adroitly onto the couch. I curtailed my endeavors and in eager stillness awaited the results of my first test. Would Buffy pick the treat cut into halves or cut into thirds.? Like a breeze blowing by me, she whipped past the two piles without a glance. She was immediately in my lap, grabbing two whole N-bones from a pack I had just spilled open with her teeth, and leaped off the couch and away. There did not seem to be any thought. There was no sniffing. No glances. It happened so quickly, it took another few moments to absorb what had just occurred. Interpretation? [Posted in FML 7258]