Dear Lisa and Rob, Picabo and Goober: Our ferrets, Oakey and Mojo, often get puffy tails... usually when we take them outside for a walk, or if one of the fuzzies sneak past us and find their way to the basement (new exciting territory). I think it's just a way they express themselves, but can mean different things, in different situations. I've seen it as excitement (*oh boy*... a messy, cobweby basement to explore... what can I get into before I get caught!), wariness (I don't know about this snow thing... sure, it tastes like a slushie... but this could be a trick... I already had my bath), distress ( YEOW! Watch your feet, buster... OFF!), or ticked (hey Oakey... that was my toast... I stole it first). Usually, their tails resume normal slinkiness when they are more comfortable with their current situation. The more we take them on walks, the less time it takes for their tail to defluff!! Kim and Scott, Oakey (I'm too cool for toys.) & Mojo (Master of Off-Couch Bagel Jumping) [Posted in FML issue 1125]