Hi all, I am on the ferret list for approx. one year and I read each day, post rarely. I have had ferrets since 1980, 8 individuals with different moods and tastes, 2 and 3 at a time. What strucks me when I read the ferret list, are all the cages - it seems to me that almost everyone in the US keep their ferrets in cages and just let them out to play. I live in Sweden (Scandinavia) and I have never had my ferrets in cages but when I drive them somewhere. In the house they have free access to everywhere (almost) but I have learnt through the years to make my house ferret proof. I lived in four different places since 1980 so at each place I have had to start all over. Where I live now, I have a cupboard under the washbasin in the bathroom where I keep dirty laundry and the ferrets immediately moved in there. They have their litter between the wall and the toilet (hardly to be seen) and they have chosen it all by themselves. This is very handy - all you have to think of is to let the bathroom door just a little bit open so they can come and go as they like. I also have a dog, a big poodle (he+s my husband's - ferrets are mine) and he understood from the first day that the bathroom is banned territory for him. It is a problem when he must take a bath - he will probably never understand why we want him to go into the bathroom then... We live second floor with balcony. I have plexi glass bolted to the floor so thet the ferrets can neither fall out not walk to the neighbour's balcony. They have a house on the balcony where they sleep a lot in the summertime. My ferrets have always found new hidey holes but I have learnt to play it cool - sooner or later they turn up or of they are locked in somewhere you will hear them when they wake up. One that I had was a real Houdini. All of a sudden he was gone and sometimes I never could figure out how he escaped - but I got him back every time, once after 5 days. So folks - let go of cages - use those only for transport. For many years I brought my three little friends that I had then to the office each morning. They used to run to the cage when they saw me almost ready for leaving.I dont do that nowadays because my husband works a lot at home. Reason why I did, was to try to get them into my day rythm which succeeded very well. The dog and the youngest ferret play a lot - mostly with a teddy bear. The eldest ferret does not like the dog very much but they respect each other. In the kitchen each has his foodbowl and they do not eat of each others. I feed the ferrets cat's food (dry) which they like a lot and which does not sting when they drag it under here and there. The dog is fed human food which the ferrets do not like anyway. When the dog first moved in a year ago, he used to steal the ferret food but he has learnt not to. I have also reacted to how you people in the US treat your little friends for heart deseases, insulinoma, liver- and kidney problems etc. Lots of suffering and lots of money. I do not do that. When mine get a fatal desease, I put them asleep (i.e. my veterinarian does) I think this is more human then letting them through all kinds of treatments. Of course I do not put them asleep just like that, I first examine, look at the possibilities of getting back to full health and then I take my decision. All my ferrets before have had to walk over the rainbow bridge at an age of 8 years. But now I have one male at probably 7 (was found) who has not been ill one day since I got him 6 years ago and one female at the age of 6 who had an adrenal desease but was cured with cortisone. These seem to last longer. And when they go I get new ones. They are very fascinating little creatures. Let them out of their cages!!!!!! Ingella Arwidsson @lamb.se [Posted in FML issue 2337]