There are a number of inexpensive ferret toys that can be found for only a few dollars. Hope these ideas help folks who wish to send shelters or individual ferrets Christmas gifts or perhaps other ferrets remaining on the Giving Tree. Volunteers of American or Goodwill stores: pillow shams (to burrow into,) material that can be made into sacks, hammies etc., fleece blankets, baby comforters, snack containers to be filled with food or ferret appropriate snacks, small child sweater shirts to be made into sick ferret sacks ** see below. Small kid's shoes for ferrets to stash, socks. Dollar store: whifflle golf balls, soft nylon summer pool balls, small stuffed animals(watch the eyes), baby fleece blankets, ice cube trays for soup, small storage containers in baby department ( I use to take food or snacks to vet). small plastic baby spoons, (great for sick ferrets and making soup), plastic baskets to be lined as hidey places, dishes for ferret food, small cat tangle toys, cat/dog toys. Socks, Small kid sweat shirts for sick ferret wear** Walmart or other department stores: ping pong balls, golf whiffle balls, small stuffed animals, bells balls and cat toys, cat tunnels cat houses, litter scoops and litter boxes. 8 & 1 Dog skin and coat supplement (same as Ferratone - less expensive) puppy pee pads, Out pet stain odor remover. **Sick ferret sack. If you take a child's sweat shirt and sew the shoulder seams closed you create a sack with the center of the shirt. Ferret can enter through the bottom and stick head out of neck hole. Make two 4 inch long bags to hold oat meal, corn or rice. Sew these bags closed and insert inside sleeves. A piece of Velcro in the cuff will help hold the rice bags in place, If the bags are the right size, these will stay snugly in the sleeve without Velcro. When I have a sick ferret and worry about it not staying warm enough or need to make a trip to the vet (especially in our NY winters) I place the bags in the microwave to warm them up, slide them into the sleeves, slide the ferret in the body of the sweatshirt and off I go. You can lay the sleeve next to the ferret on either side to make it feel like another ferret is snuggling. Before I leave the vet's office I ask for a 10 minute warm up on the rice bags for the ride home. If the ferrets mess on the shirt it can simply be thrown in the wash (MINUS THE RICE BAGS!) With the top open they can also stay in the sack and eat soup with heads sticking out of the collar/neck hole. Feed rescued animals in two clicks http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3 [Posted in FML 7271]