Hello, My name is Erci Nolan and I have owned/been owned by several ferrets over the years. Currently I have two Newt, a 3 year old slightly rolly polly silver mit, and Spice, a 2 years old bandito(sable). Their favorite pastimes are seeing how fast my husband and I can run upstairs after them, and seeing if we can find what they've hidden (car keys, wallets, etc). They have charmed the socks off many disbelievers. I wouldn't have life without them. But... We have been having a few problems with these two and could use some advice. I am trying to get pregnant and have been forbidden by my doctor to clean up their messes, so now the litter box does not get changed as frequently as it used to, and there are messes everywhere. We have tried to keep up with them, but now they think that anyplace in the cage is the proper place to go. Is there anything we can do to get them to use the box again? Also, since last year I am down two ferrets, we had four and two died in a few month span, and the other two have had a problem with their fur ever since. I have no idea if this is coincidental or not, both Newt and Spice have lost the hair on their tails. My vet has checked them several times and has found nothing topical/external that could be causing the hair loss. There is whispy hair on their tails, and their skin is a little dry/scaly, and there are sometimes little black dots where the hair should be growing. There has been no drop in activity level and nothing swollen or tender. I'm stumped. If you can give me some advice you can contact me here or privately I don't care. Thanks, Erci -- Erci Nolan Web Operations [log in to unmask] 703-453-4149 If you have no voice, scream, If you have no legs, run, If you have no hope, invent. Alegria, Cirque de Soleil [Posted in FML issue 1363]