To Nancy Hartman: Thanks Nancy for keeping us updated on Bree's surgery. What a stressful ordeal for both you and Bree! It sounds like you had a very knowledgeable vet and with your loving care and attention Bree should be just fine. It is so disheartening to see our little ones so sick and helpless. It helps to ease that pain when we can nurse and smother our ferrets with love to aide in their recovery. Bree is so lucky to have a person like you to watch over her. Keep us informed of Bree's progress please! I have also taken four of my older ferrets in for their "geriatric" exams. "Geriatric" meaning care of the old. It is hard to believe that when a ferret hits three years of age it is considered to be older and more at risk for diseases. Several of my oldies have health problems that will need constant monitoring. Yes, we do keep the vets in business but it is for a worthy cause. To Kate Pappas: What rhythm, what rhyme, what a poet! You described ferrets to a tee in a very artful way. I wish I could say I had a poem just waiting to be published, but alas it will take awhile for me to come up with anything as clever as your "The Daring Young Emmett." Anyone that has ever had the pleasure of being owned by a ferret must have oodles of stories to tell. Now if we can just put a little music and tempo to those tales. Can anyone remember all the words to "Man on the Flying Trapeze?" I can remember the first line and that's it. Kate do you, or I am just showing my age? To Ethan Cox: How horrible to find poor Ceili wrapped in fishing wire. It is scarey how these little darlings can get into anything. I have had several scares with my two wild men. Just when I think I have outsmarted them, they show me who's boss. You shouldn't feel bad if you have to cage Ceili while you're away. It is certainly better to make sure she is safe then have her go through the trauma of being hurt again. In reference to the sleeping patterns, my older (3 years and older) ferrets sleep a good 20 hours a day, which is normal. My two one 1/2 year old ferrets have slowed down somewhat from when they were babies. They seem to average around 17-18 hours a day. At least that is what I have noticed when I am not at work. I think it varies with every ferret. As long as she does not seem in distress, out of breath, etc. when she does play I wouldn't be too worried. She just enjoys her beauty rest! Got my hands and heart full of ferrets, Judy Gallipeau and the snoozing six. [Posted in FML issue 0696]