To Pat Ball: I have 3 ferrets that are chronic towel-eaters.....there's not much you can do to stop them from doing this. These particular 3 have been doing it since I first purchased them almost 4 years ago (about 6 wks old at the time). When they were 6 months old and still doing this, I spoke to my vet about it, and he told me if they were still doing it at that age, then they probably wouldn't outgrow it. So far, they have proved him correct! I don't give them blankets or towels. These guys are little pac-men. They eat lottery tickets, check stubs (thank goodness for direct deposit!), socks, paper bags, towels, blankets.......they don't eat their hammies, though. I've always felt bad because they've never had anything to burrow under - I've tried the upside down cardboard box, but they ate that too....... Then I found "hanging tent" and thought that might work. It is a flat top tent with 8 tabs (4 on top, 4 on bottom) so that you can hang it in a cage, and there is circular hole so they can get inside. It's like a hanging, covered hammie.....they can also lie on top of the tent since it is flat, like a normal hammie. I've been using this since 10/94 and they haven't even taken a nibble out of it. I have a queen size flannel sheet (folded up of course) that I spread out on top of one of the cages to make it more den-like, and when these guys get done playing, they climb on top of that cage, curl up in the sheet, and eat it! I'll bet over the course of 2 years, they have eaten most of the queen size blanket. Uh, sheet, not blanket....before you all jump on my case for letting them do that......I DON'T 'LET' THEM DO IT - if I catch them I put them back in their cage where it's safer. Needless to say, they get regular doses of Laxatone 3x/week. These guys have stomachs of iron....the cat knocked a spool of thread off the counter once, and the 3 pac-men ate it - I didn't notice of course until they started passing all this strange looking stuff, and when I examined it, I realized it was thread!! :( Did I get out the Laxatone fast!!! Fortunately, no one has been blocked - YET - and I hope to keep it that way, but I can't tell you how many socks I have thrown out because they have been partially eaten. The hanging tent is sold by C-Treasurer's Ferrets in Florida - our club doesn't sell them so this isn't really an ad - they cost about $18.00 and that includes shipping. Debbie Coburn's phone # is 407-380-8712 if you or anyone else is interested. It satisfied my need to see them have something to burrow in, and they love it - and they haven't taken a bite out of it at all! Debbie Riccio WNYFLFA [Posted in FML issue 1156]