Hi, my name is Gilligan & I'm a problem ferret with a never ending bag of tricks. I've been living here since May(?), when my people bought me in a pet store. I was about 1yr old then, N&D. I prefer to keep the rest of my past a secret, but the sales lady let it slip that I may haved lived somewhere else briefly. My mom and dad say that I am the strongest, most stubborn, and smartest ferret they have ever encountered :) I like to test them ALL THE TIME. Mom says that if she leaves the room, there's a 50/50 chance the others will get into trouble, and 100% chance I will. I'm so bold - I'll do whatever I feel like, even when mom is watching. I just have to calculate how quickly I have to do it and the best escape routes possible. Nothing is Gilligan-proof for long... I am invincible!!! I don't play well with others. I like to beat them up. I try to convince mom that Pickles & Big Guy make faces at me when they are sleeping, but she won't buy it. I'm even rougher with a playful participant! I usually get 3 strikes then a time out. After that, I usually break parole and end up having to wait for everybody to come in before I can go and play by myself. I've been extra mean recently. Lately, mom's been threatening to throw me out the window more often (don't worry, it's just a threat...she threatens the computer with it alot, too - and it is also fine). Between my joyful songs and dances (and beating up my roommates) I have taken up some new hobbies. Mostly, I spend alot of time marking. I rub all over the house, every piece of furniture & every inch of rug. I do it extra if a strange person or animal has been in the house & I'll even do it to mom and dad if they don't pass a sniff-down test. Mom didn't mind that too much - so I added to the routine. Now I like to stand on all the outty-corners (not potty corners, the kind that stick out into rooms & at doors). I pretend to try to climb the walls (that doesn't suprize them at all) and then I pee on the walls & nearby floor. I run around and try to get all the walls. Unfortunately, I have this habit of tasting my pee, so I usually get caught quickly. Mom knows that fixed male dogs do this, but didn't know ferrets could be so into it, too. I'd like to know if there are any other manic markers out there, so I don't feel so alone. I'd also like other markers' owners to get in touch with my mom if they have any advice for her on curbing (or at least explaining) this vice of mine. Thanks! Gilligan PS - don't worry, mom knows I try real hard to be good and loves me lots & lots!!!!!!! [Posted in FML issue 1425]