Hi all-- I too an am ecxema sufferer, even if I don't think that I can spell it-- wow, we're all coming out now! Seriously though, I don't react to my ferrets, although I do react to plenty of other animals. I believe it has to do with diet-- not yours, although that's important too, but the ferret's diet. The better the food they eat, the healthier their coats will be, and the less likely they are to produce dander and excess oils that irritate human skin. I'm pretty sensitive to most cats, because most cats are fed supermarket chow; a friend of mine has her cats on this anti-allergy diet, and not only do they have the softest, nicest coats I've ever seen on cats, but I can rub my face on them and not break out. If you're reacting to your ferrets, try taking a look at the ingredients in their food, and maybe upgrading. Just a thought. A word of caution on Vasoline products-- many of them contain lanolin, which in many people's case will make a rash much worse. Believe me, I know :-( Dominance-- I wonder if what we see as dominance fighting isn't just jealousy over humans, territory, toys, other ferrets. My two are still fighting with each other-- we're going on nine months together now-- and I've noticed that they most intensively try to get each other when one is getting more attention from me than the other. Amelia normally steers way clear of Cully, but if I have him in my lap, she'll come bite him to make him leave and then curl up in my lap in his place. Maybe she thinks she's protecting me! Silly songs-- OK, I do it too. To the tune of "I've got rhythm", it's "I've got ferrets, I've got ferrets, I've got ferrets, spreading ferrets around". "Dirt", "litter," etc might be put in the last line, depending what they've just been into. And to Amelia, I sing the chorus to Sonic Youth's Little Trouble Girl-- you don't have to know anything about the band to appreciate the title pinned on girl ferret of your choice. Oh, and sometimes I'll sing bits of the "What's This?" song from Nightmare Before Christmas to either one of them. Regina (my roommates don't think I'm nuts, they know it) Amelia (thank heavens I'm half deaf) Cully (if you keep up that racket I will be forced, compelled, to bite your ankles) my money's on Ignatious ;-) ********************************************* Regina Harrison PhD Student, Anthropology Joint Co-ordinator, AGSEM-- McGill's TA union McGill University Montreal, Quebec [Posted in FML issue 1680]