Hi again In reading the digest for June 10-11, I was interested in Bill's suggestions for treats. I'm not sure how the chemicals used to preserve deli meats would affect our furries. All deli meats (including turkey breast) are preserved with sodium nitrites. In checking out food additives years ago, I found that when my children (the human ones) ingested anything with nitrites, they became "hyper." Since ferrets seem to have a built in hyper button, I'm wondering if they would go into "overdrive." Just food for thought (no pun intended <g>) Jennifer, you talked about your babies having congestion and sneezing a lot. Peanut was doing a lot of "wheezing" ..almost like an asthma attack. Our vet said she'd never come up against (or heard of) asthma in ferrets. We use paper litter for him but had changed from a shredded type (Carefresh) to a pelletized (odor control - Nature Fresh brand)) type of litter and that seemed to be the culprit. He seemed to be sensitive to whatever the odor control substance was in the litter. His attacks have decreased markedly since we went back to the shredded (Carefresh) processed paper litter. Have you changed the type of litter you've been using lately? Peanut just got his first squeaky toy last night... Scared the heck out of him. I squeaked it and he took of like he'd been shot! Then he decided to make fake running attacks at it.. So I squeaked it ever so gently.... It had a face with eyes on it and I think that freaked him out as much as anything. I guess in his mind, maybe it was "alive" and I was "hurting" it. He eventually came over to examine it and find out where the noise was coming from... It took until this morning for him to finally lay down and put his paws around it and begin to play with it. I have to dig behind the dresser today and unearth socks... Don is beginning to run out <g>.. It has become a nightly ritual for Peanut to steal both of his socks and take them to never-never land.... When we finaly move, it will be like Christmas... finding the things that Peanut has decided are "his." He gets really upset with us if we take things he has commandeered. Spoiled much?? Naaaaah! Wouldn't have it any other way! :-)) As I'm sitting here typing this, he is under my table, methodically dismantling my stacker trays (the ones that I use to categorize my bills. I wonder if VISA would accept the excuse "the ferret hid the statement.").. I now have a jumble of envelopes laying in a pile along with software boxes. Those bills were in his way and he couldn't get comfortable or slip into the lower trays with them there! Now he is busy designing a new house, pulling them on top of one another just the way HE wants them! Ah, well.. guess I'll have to stop by Office Depot today and pick up a set for him. He just got furious with me because he couldn't go with me to get a coffee refill from the kitchen. Don had "babysitting" duty while I went to the kitchen and Peanut let me know his displeasure by attacking my ankles as soon as I closed the door. He doesn't get mad, or get even.. he gets ahead! <g> ****************** We were so sorry to hear about the three babies in NJ. Personally, IMO that young man needs to have HIS head examined!!!!!!!!!! nuff said! Hugs to all Peanut ("That's MY bathrobe!") , Don and Judi [Posted in FML issue 1599]