Someone posted a bit ago about wanting to know who had had ferrets who lived longer than 6+ years . . . I don't remember who it was, but I can share the following information: Whisper - female silvermitt - lived til she was 10-1/2 years old - cause of death uncertain. Sethra - female albino - lived til she was 11 years old - died in her sleep one night. Xerxes - male sable - lived til he was 9 years old - died of a stroke of some sort. Rommel - male sable - lived til he was 8-1/2 years old - died from congestive heart failure which he'd been being treated for with lasix for over a year. The vet had given him a few weeks when treatment started. The CHF started as a result of anasthaesia the vet gave him when he cleaned his teeth. . or at least it became symptomatic at that time. Drifter - male sable - still living - still healthy - 7+ years old Judah - male cinnamon - lived til he was 8+ years old - died from lymphosarcoma that seemed to occur rather suddenly, then spread rapidly. All were/are Marshall Farms ferrets bought at Pass Pets . . . All ate/eat high quality catfood, both dry and wet, with ferretone and fruit treats occasionally and TF when I can afford it - none ever cared for raisins, but each had their own favorite fruit ranging from bananas to peaches and cream. All had their shots. I've had several more ferrets than these, but other than the ones currently living, they lived almost exactly 6-7 years before they developed any problems. Grendel was the only one who met with "foul play" - he managed to get out and a neighborhood cat took extreme offense at his attempt to play "chase the cat around the yard"..... he was 5 years old at the time. Otter and the 3-Mustelid Mini Mob --- pikers all [Posted in FML issue 2104]