Most animals will have a distinctive odor about them - dogs, even cats to a lesser extent. Kits seem to have a stronger musky odor than do adult ferrets. Most of ours grew out of it by 4-6 months. I've found in older ferrets, the objectionable odor is a result of bathing them too often. The scent seems to reach a peak in the first 2-4 weeks after the bath then subsides. Unless we take one to a show, we don't bathe ours more than a couple of times a year. Do change the bedding often. That seems to be the source of much of the odor. Dick B. [Posted in FML issue 1428]