In case anyone wonders if Meltdown's dry skin is from too much bathing -- no -- her last bath was several months before her cardiomyopathy. Here's one for you: Warp likes to go through the small hole in the feeder tray of our HP Laser 4 so we have LOADS of precautions to keep her off that desk, but she has now discovered that if she bounds against my kneeling chair which is on casters she can move it -- too often JUST enough! We are SO sorry that we won't be able to see or help Jeanne Carley when she will be in N.J. for a trade show in Atlantic City, but Meltdown's medicine schedule, and other needs make it impossible to even get down there before she needs meds. Jeanne, if you see this in time I forgot when you said it would be; maybe others here will want to know? If ferrets were named according to the current chromosmal (lack of) knowledge we'd have to be fair, and just think how some folks would greet having Pan in Homo! Ah, lumping and splitting -- ya have to try them to love them. P.S. Suidae is too intelligent for mentioned inclusion. Jumpstart has gained 2 ounces in 2 days. He's now 1 pound, 13 and 1/4 ounces by our Cuisinart cooking scale. Store said he was eight weeks, maxillary premolar eruption says 9 weeks, vet exam results in 10 weeks maximum age. His feet are like snow shoes. He should become quite a lunker! Remember Meeteetse, our 4 year 3 month old girl who loves ATC's science reporter's voice (STILL!), and is very muscular, but has some problems having been battered before we got her, and being insecure despite love. Well, she's decided that she is Jumpstart's mom and the result is miraculous! She is SO calm and happy now. It's really wonderful. Allergies can be to anything (including ferrets) but we have always found that allergists were really quick to ASSUME the pets were the problem rather than removing them for a bit, and reintroducing several times to be sure. Actually, we KNEW they weren't for us just by careful observation. Instead we have to be very careful about dust mites in the bedding (multiple mattress covers and multiple pillow cases, all badding washable in hot water 2 or 3 times a week), mold (a real hidden problem in N.J. on window sills, inside toilet reservoirs, etc,), seasonal pollen, etc.. Pets may be an easy answer, but they are not always the correct answer. Mites, pollen, and molds are easy answers, too, and for us they were the right ones. (Yes, we know pet dander will nurture mites, but we shed more since Steve has psorisis and I have eczema, so maybe WE'LL give THEM allergies!) Our guys all LOVE catnip, and I always keep some to put into the toys I compose from old socks (just stuff with other old socks and knot), but I can really see someone one day saying, "Hey, lady, what's this dried herb in the baggie!". (Read once that they can be allergic to it, but have never seen that ourselves.) Sukie [Posted in FML issue 1838]