Hi Everybody.. I got to thinking about all the many 'exchanges' that get going on the list so often.. How ferret folks get so wound up about so many things. How the discussions continue on and on and people get downright fanatical about the smallest things where fuzzys are involved.. I realised I have never read or heard such intense exchanges coming out of dog owners, or cat owners, or bird fanciers, or rat keepers, or any other pet at all. People who keep other pets don't seem to declare 'war' on each other over what kind of litter to use in the cat box. They don't start hurling insults over what to use in the bottom of the bird cage. No one is reduced to tears by another touting one dog food over another. And not one other type of pet owner has personally dedicated their lives to the study of their pets waste! So I think this Ferrititis is a pretty serious thing. And there doesn't appear to be any cure. It just gets worse the longer a person owns a ferret. When you add in the effect of ferret math you often get a person who is downright fanatical about their little pets. I don't believe one person on this list is really vindictive, mean, without any manners, naturally rude, thoughtless, or considers themselves superior to the others. I think all the vehemence and strong emotions abut anything ferret is due directly to the intense emotions these little fur kids bring out in all of us. I have never, ever, seen or heard of any other pets owner plead love an patience to another owner, while the one is teary and dripping blood all over from being repeatedly bitten by their pet. Only ferret owners cheerfully tear apart and reassemble their whole lives to accommodate their resident critter. Now when I read a post that is very emphatic, or exhorts others, or is outraged, or is angry.. I see a profound expression of love for fuzzys instead of anything negative. Instead of getting aggravated I understand how such dedication to a ferret can cause a best friend to sound judgmental and arrogant. People with Ferretitis aren't chronically outrageous to each other, they are just showing everyone their incredibly deep love for their ferrets. No one, least of all me, means to imply they love their fuzzys more than anyone else loves theirs. So, anyhow.... that's this great new insight I have just acquired for myself. And I'll bet most of you are amused because it's old news to you. That's OK.. I think it just proves how extra special ferrets are and how dedicated and caring ferret owners are too! Now that I think about it... I feel a fuzzy attack coming on... 'Here fuzzy, fuzzy, fuzzy.............' TTYL dayna and the Woozles "Resident of... Marvelous Menagerie Of Mirthful Mayhem" dayna frazier 102046,3162 23-Sep-1996 02:25:45 PST [Moderator's note: Well, certainly most ferret owners interested enough to be on this list are indeed dedicated and caring. And I *do* think ferret owners are often a special breed. But I check out other animal-related lists too now and then - I'm pleased to report there is much love and dedication in the canine, feline, equine, herp, rodent, avian, etc. circles too. Not to mention plants! BIG] [Posted in FML issue 1701]