Hi all, I'm back again. :-) I'd like to thank everyone for the _overwhelming_ response I got to my first post. I never dreamed there were so many devoted ferret-lovers on the net. I haven't been able to respond to all the mail, but everyone seemed to have something helpful to offer, and perhaps a funny anecdote or two. The consensus leans toward a few trends: mixing various foods; paper- or plant-based litter; a lack of support for the Vitasol (which I hope to take back today) in favor of finding or ordering some FerreTone. And to put minds at ease, our laundry room is set apart with a latched door. I doubt the 1/4" gap at the bottom will be enough, but we'll see. At any rate, I have a few more questions: We don't run the A/C in my apartment, since we have windows on both east and west sides. We get a nice cross-breeze with the windows open. Still, being in Michigan, it's humid, and the temperature hovers just below 80 indoors during mid-day. I know the break point for a ferret's tolerance is around 80. Is prolonged exposure to temperature just below that bad? Is an ample supply of water enough to keep him cool? I've read about keeping a 2L bottle of ice handy to cool things down. Also, someone offered a tip about keeping a piece of slate underneath the cage bottom. Should I take any special precautions? Also, since we keep the windows open, that exposes our screens. Most of the windows are elevated, although not out of jumping or climbing range. Since we only intend to keep the critter out when one of us is home, I think we'd hear any prolonged scratching at the screen. Do you think there's a danger that he might get through too quickly? Also, since we're second floor, the spill would probably be really harmful, if not fatal, so I'm concerned. It seems that most pet shops sell ferrets at 14-16 weeks of age, which seems too early for neutering or descenting. Yet they do both. I'd much prefer to buy an unfixed ferret, then get the operations performed in a more safe, timely manner if there might be health complications in the future. Does anyone have any experience with ferrets which have been fixed at an early age? Have you noticed problems? I suppose it partly depends on how qualified the vet who operates on them is, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Finally, it's fairly obvious most of you have computers. :-) Is chewing on the cables a common problem? In general, it doesn't bother me to make a $15 trip to the computer store to replace a gnawed wire, but if there's a chance of electrocution, I want to be cautious. I'm considering bundling all of my cables with twister ties and duct taping them to the underside of my desk. Same with all the power cords behind my TV and stereo. (BTW, in a bit of irony, my wife works with children all day, and is intimately familiar with the concept of child-proofing. Now she gets to come home to another child at night. :-) Again, many thanks to everyone who sent me mail. I've found a lot of the practical experience I was looking for... things that you just don't take away from reference materials and FAQs. I've found it invaluable. Steve [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1632]