To Kevin about Casper not wanting to get out of the cage: I've noticed similar behavior from Nibbles and I am her first owner. If she just woke up, I'll open up the top entrance to the cage. She'll walk up to it and grab the top with her front paws and give a big stretch, occassionally flopping over. She'll then get up again and as I reach in to grab her and help her out, she'll back away as if to say "I can do it myself, I don't need your help." To which I say, "Fine, climb out yourself." She then grabs the top and pulls herself up. At this point she realizes that she has nowhere to put her back feet if she gets them up high enough and looks at me as if to say, "Well, you going to help me or not?" To which I say, "Oh sure, NOW you want my help." and I pick her up and put her on my shoulder. I'm usually then rewarded with her sniffing my hair and messing it up. Of course this happens when I'm getting ready for work mostly, and I say "Thanks a lot!" In other news: Looks like I'm going to have to buckle and ferret-proof my room. Nibbles has realized that jumping off the nightstand not only does not hurt, but also gives her access to the floor. She jumps to the floor whenever she gets a chance. She has also taken to leaping onto me, off of me and using me as a stepping stone. The other day I was searching for something in my closet while she was on the bed. In one fluid motion, she leaped from the bed to my shoulder then from my shoulder to a shelf in the closet. Amazing. (For you Quantum Leap fans) Dr. Nibbles Ferret, realizing that it is possible to floor-travel within ones own lifetime, she leaped off the Nightstand Accelerator. . .and vanished. Jim and Dr. Nibbles Ferret, Phd. [Posted in FML issue 1126]