Hi fellow ferret lovers! This is my first letter to the list, so I thought I should let you know that I am the proud roommate of a 10 week old sable male named Rocko, as well as a male teddy bear hamster named Grumpy. I didn't know until I bought a new book this weekend that rodents have a instinctive fear of even the smell of ferrets - that would explain why Grumpy ran in his exercise wheel for hours straight after smelling Rocko (about 3" away; Grumpy doesn't seem to smell him when in his habitrail). If you haven't thought about this before, please be careful about various cleansers around your little furries. I mixed up a batch of natural floor cleanser to mop the floors tonight. It contains biodegradeable, vegetable-based dish soap (I even use it to scrub my vegetables off), a bit of vinegar, and warm water. I was mopping away, not noticing Rocko looking into the basin behind me - he loves to eat soap suds. When I turned around, his head was half submurged in a mound of suds, and his face was wet when I pulled him out! I'm scared to think what could have happened if that had been a harmful product. Don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't be so sad at missing a dear departed furry. I'm a graduate student for a psychology prof who is a major researcher into relationships and emotions, and she revealed in a lecture that she had insisted to fellow researchers that companion animals be included as beings with whom one can have a close relationship. She added that she'd compared feeling no emotion at the death of a distant aunt, but extreme depression when her cat died. Our little darlings interact with us, require us to do things for them, and give to us - this creates a relationship of sorts, and even an interdependence, the extent of which you might not feel until the relationship in question is gone. My deepest condol- ences to Jennifer (mommy of Abigail and the departed Pebbles) and anyone else who still misses a dear little furry. To the person who witnessed a ferret being mistreated: Since you got the license plate number, you may be able to go to the Massachusetts DMV, provide the number, and get the name and address of the owner. You may have to pay a small fee and/or provide a reason (I'm sure you can think of something). You could then send a letter and/or pamphlets on ferret care - maybe with anti-cruelty/animal lover society stationary? Maybe a fake letter threatening action, even within the FFZ, if any further cruel treatment continues? Hints at inspections? Obviously, you have to think carefully about the consequences; it's just an idea. (Does Massachusetts destroy ferrets in the state, or ship them out of state to shelters? If the latter, you might be able to save the little guys!) Rocko doesn't make a "dook" sound when he's happy/excited; he makes a "kih" sort of sound, like a repeated, short hiss. Is this what's meant by the "dook" sound? Does he maybe have an accent? :) Finally, I read in my latest ferret book that ferrets can't cough up hairballs like cats can, but my little carpet shark has done something like that twice - is he just gifted? :) It suggests that intestinal blockage can occur, and suggests asking your vet about Laxatone paste dosages until the shedding is done, plus combing/brushing. Anyone have any ideas about this? I haven't noticed any other coughing from him lately. Sorry for rambling on, Denise, Rocko (the soap suds eating ferret), and Grumpy (the hamster who had quite a scare!) [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 0866]