Ann: First, to assuage your fears: it is CANINE distemper that ferrets are susceptible to, not feline distemper. They are completely different viruses that have nothing to do with one another. Second: the "bring distemper in on your shoes" tale is MOSTLY a myth. Generally, the distemper virus does not survive for more than about 10 minutes outside the host, so it usually requires physical contact with an infected host to pass on the disease, or contact with something the carrier has been in contact with no more than a few minutes before. VERY occasionally, it has been known to survive somewhat longer in things like feces, so it is remotely possible to track it into your house on your shoes, but unless your neighborhood is full of very recent dog piles the odds of doing that are probably about the same as getting struck by lightning. Not impossible, but nothing to worry overmuch about. Lonny Eachus [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML 7829]