Ferret allergens are not included in the standard allergy test battery. I have known for years that I have a strong allergy to cats and a mild one to dogs. I attempted to find out whether I was allergic to ferrets by holding them in a pet shop and a ferret show, but the symptoms didn't really develop until I got two ferrets and had daily exposure to them. One thing to look for is your reaction to a ferret scratch. If the surrounding skin swells like a mosquito bite and itches, this is a clear sign of an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, my reaction to ferrets is very strong, with nasal irritation, wheezing and some difficulty in breathing. I love my pets too much to give them up, so I have taken some steps to make the situation bearable. The most important thing is to keep the ferrets in a room that has no carpet or upholstery. These things become tremendous repositories of allergens. As I write, I am sitting in a small, carpeted room where we let the ferrets play. I cannot stay very long in this room without using two types of medication. However, the ferret cage is in our kitchen next to a sliding door. The combination of the good ventilation and the lack of carpet makes that room quite tolerable for me. I can use the kitchen table as a desk for several hours, sitting only a few feet from the ferrets and remaining symptom-free. The difference between the two rooms is dramatic. We recently ordered a $200 medical-grade air filter which was recommended by my allergist, who understands that I am determined not to part with my animals. I will let you know how this works. My husband and I are also planning to try to remove some of the carpet from our house and replace it with wood. I hope this information is helpful to other allergic animal lovers. If anyone has any other suggestions on this subject, I would be interested in hearing about them. Clare Sebok [Posted in FML issue 0264]