A method to prevent carpet damage from both causes that I have used for some time is to use scrap pieces of vinyl from a local floor covering store. I cut a piece approximately two feet wide and one foot longer than the doorway is across. Then I cut out pieces at the center of both ends that are shaped to go around the door jam. In the end you have something like a very fat "H". The vinyl piece should lap in front of the walls on either side, at least six inches, and behind the door it should extend to the corner if there is one. It should lap ten to twelve inches into the rooms on either side of the doorway to discourage them from nosing under the vinyl and digging the carpet. Because the notches on the ends sort of lock it in place, it tends to stay put. (I would attempt to make a picture, but I know it would only confuse you more, as my computer art is lousy. If you want to e-mail me with your street address, I'll send you a picture.) This doesn't stop the digging but they dig at the vinyl instead of damaging the carpet. They soon tire of this, realizing the futility of it, I think. If they poop in the corner, at least, it will now be on the vinyl. I usually tape vinyl pieces in corners or layers of newspaper for easy clean up. After all ferrets are only 'human' and they can't always make it to the litter box in time. It works for me!!! Hope you will try it. --- Trish [Posted in FML issue 1484]