Charles, Don't worry about rolling over on your favorite beasties in the middle of the night. I don't claim to be a ferret expert - we've only had Tater for two weeks now - but Mee Maw and I (Paw Paw) have found him to be a delightful bed companion. The first few nights he spent with us were mostly spent in exploring the bedroom, checking things out and doing whatever it is that ferrets do when people are trying to sleep. I will never forget Sandy's whoop (she's the Sandy of EMSSANDY) when Tater decided to run up inside her nightgown at 3:00 AM. I haven't seen the girl move so fast in over thirty years. For the last several nights, Tater has claimed his spot between us and curled up between the blanket and spread. Sandy sleeps on her back like a cadaver but I am a flopper from way back. Every time that I roll over and threaten to invade Tater's chosen space, he reminds me that he is there with a gentle nip at some appropriate part of my body. Even though I don't really wake up, I come into conciousness enough to know that Tater is about to be flopped upon. Tater is a quick little rascal and I've learned that he will get out of my way in a heartbeat - and then resume his chosen spot. I cannot speak for the experience of sleeping with four ferrets but I'm sure that it can't be too different than sleeping with one. The critters are resilent and tough - they have to be. Tater is living in a house with nine cats, some of whom seem to think that he would make a deliscious snack. We're still working on that. As for having to be called away at the wee hours of the morning, don't worry About that either. Once your fuzzies have claimed their rightful and proper places in your bed, they will be quick to respond to all your erratic nighttime behaviors. Tater just rouses up enough to say, "Dang, that dude sure goes to the bathroom a lot. Oh well, I still love him. I think he's kinda neat. What the heck, I might just run up Mee Maw's nightgown again and give her a thrill that Paw Paw has forgotten how to do." In summary, sleep with your beasties. There is no greater feeling than reaching over for your lady in the middle of the night and finding a ferret lump between you. Heck, it's almost better than that three-letter word. Peace, Michael. (Tater's daddy, father of nine cats, three children, seven grandchildren, Mee Maw's Paw Paw and Ceritfied, Card Carrying Old Fart.) Woden: "Be vewwy, vewwy quiet, we're still hunting fewwet," Thor: "I give up. He sure is busy, but he's kinda cute." Tater: "These are the funniest looking ferrets I ever saw!" Sandy: "We still don't need another ferret." Michael: "We're not talking about need, woman. We're talking about love." [Posted in FML issue 1376]