hi! regarding the scratching - ferrets do a lot of scratching and chewing on themselves anyway. perhaps (and i am NOT a vet so be sure to ask one) the flea problem is not as terrible as you think and maybe your fuzzy's skin is dry from the bath. that will definitely cause itching. or maybe an allergy to the soap. anyhoo, good luck. i do know the feeling, tho. i've got a dog, a cat & six fuzzies and let me tell you, around august i am ready to shave everybody! good luck! to everyone who has lost and found or, sigh :(, lost and not found their fuzzies. i am sorry. i know the feeling. i used to live where i could leave the back door open and block the entrance with a large piece of wood. i know, sounds stupid already. i lived in a basement apartment and i was looking out the window and said to my girlfriend hey, look! it's bear! haha. WHAT? we ran out and found all five of my ferrets running around outside. believe it or not we managed to catch all of them but i thought i was going to have a stroke. and you are right. no matter how well you know them they will fool you. after six months, one of my current fellows figured out how to jump out of the enclosure he lives in. took him a while but . . . anyway. i hope everyone comes home okay. [Posted in FML issue 1050]