To Yuki: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, oh gosh, oh gee, oh my sides hurt now. (Not laughing at you, just at the thought that *I* could keep them all straight). Thinking that we who have multiple ferrets have some special super human power to correctly call the kids by the right names is just great, but soooooo untrue. I operate the Ferrets First Rescue and Shelter, there are 26 ferrets here now, their names are Boo, Beau, Buddy, Bandit, Boomer, Trouble, Jake, Didley, Devadander, Duchess, Emily, Rikki, Angel, Ally, Asher, Festus, Munchie, Sugar, Sam (m), Sammy (f), a new little girl who was only called "Little Girl", she will have a "real" name as soon as I can think of one to fit her personality, and the little boy who **was** a biter, he still has no name. Donna, my roomate, has four, their names are Chance, Sly, Tara, and Topanga (nickname: the Pangy bug). Now, if you think it doesn't sound that hard, you were not paying attention. Go back and re-read all the names "outloud" and as quickly as you can, as if rushing to break up a fight or trying to intervene when one "backs up" beside the litterbox instead of getting in it. Now, try it again. Get the idea?? Most ferrets here think their name is really "whatevertheheckyournameis". I try, but believe me, it is confusing. It isn't that I cannot tell one from another, that is the easy part. I *know* who I am talking to, I just can't get the right name out. (This is very 'insulting' to Emily too.) I try to be careful, but I screw up the names alot. We have had ferrets here that looked like twins and Donna could bring me any ferret in the place, without my knowing which cage it came from and I could tell her who it was, correctly, at first glance. With most of them, and I know alot of you won't believe this, but I can even tell who it is blindfolded or with my eyes closed. There is always some distinguishing thing about each ferret other than color. I am with these babies all the time and I know who is soft and flabby, the softness or roughness of their coats, who is muscled up, who is heavy, who is light, etc. Example: Beau's tail won't bend a certain way (had been that way since 8 weeks old), and he has a habit of flopping his head backward to look at the world upside down. Boo's hair is different, long and coarse but soft sorta, some sit still a certain way in your hand, some wiggle constantly. Festus is "squishy" because he needs to build up his muscle tone, he was sick a long time. Jake and Buddy are close in weight, 4-1/2 pounds or so, but Jake is more muscle than fat. Boomer has really soft hair and is medium weight. Trouble has a long soft coat and she is little and wiggly. Sam will lay on his back in your arms and just let you stroke his fur for the longest time, (and he closes his eyes, it is adorable), Sugar is FAT, and she only wants on your shoulder so she can see better what to explore next. Bandit and Dev are both whole males, I only have to use my nose with them (more like, hold my breath) and Bandit is larger with a rougher coat. Ally has a rough coat and loves to curl up in your hands, she is very small and has little feet. Sammy wraps all four legs around you like she is hanging on for dear life (sorta like she was dangling over the aligator pit and you were her rescuer). Well, I could go on and on, just thought some of you might find it interesting and a fun thing to try. Back to the name thing, I also have a theory, which I am sure those of you with under 4 ferrets may not have realized. You see, ferrets have a drastic affect on the human brain. The more exposure to fuzzies you have, the more your brain deteriorates. I usually have between 24 and 30 here at any one time, so when I am not working or on the 'pooter', I clean up after them constantly, I chauffer them to vets, I give medicines, I battle the greenies, oh, and I eat and sleep once in a while, too. Note: Lack of sleep only greatly spppeeds the detriration prcess. Ooops, did I write that? The ole brain is slipping. So, if multiple ferret owners and shelter operators seem a bit "goofy" or strange, (like rambling on about how to tell one fuzzy from another blindfolded) it isn't their fault, it is the dreaded fuzzy disease caused by over-exposure. You can tell when they have fallen off the edge for sure if you happen to see one with their watch or car keys in their mouth and they are running around frantically searching for a place to hide them. Take care, kisses to the fuzzy kids. Trish (Lets see, where did I put those keys.) Director Frettis rirst ffescue ann shfltr [Posted in FML issue 1650]