My own two cents on the hicupping issue: Both Malachai and Billy hiccup occasionally (Mal more than Bill), and, at least for our two guys, we seem to have figured out the stimulus: frustration! If Malachai's having fun trotting around the room and has a specific destination in mind, and is intercepted by one of us pet humans who want to cuddle him and get some ferret love, he'll start <hic>-ing in frustration. Put him down and let him be on his way, and the hiccups disappear. Same thing happens with Bill, although less frequently, since Bill's more of a squirmer and communicates irritability in that way, while Mal's usually a lap rat. So perhaps on occasion those of you with hiccuping ferrets might just be the recipients of a reproachful communication about the advisability of thwarting your pets when they have ferret work to do! Bob & Juliana <and Malachai and Baby Billie Bob> [Posted in FML issue 0866]