Hello all ferters: Just a few responses... I have been skimming the mail but have been too busy to really respond to much of anything lately. On Furovite, my fuzzies hate it due to the fact that it is so sticky, it was almost traumatizing for them. They prefer their ferretvite due to more of an oily texture I believe. In response to the backward movement of a ferret outside (sorry I forgot the name) sounds like the digging behavior they would engage in if they were pulling dirt out of a tunnel to build a home. My girl Tasha loves to take a soft ball and grip it between her paws while dragging it backwards. She seems to have great fun. She does the same thing when exposed to soft dirt. My sympathies to the owners of fuzzies who were killed by dogs. I had the same thing happen last year and it was devastating. It still makes me very sad to think of Hobson dying under those conditions. She was my escape artist. I spend a lot of time counting noses now. Just an update on my four fuzzy twits. They were all pretty sick with ECE a couple of months ago, and I learned all about it on the FML. My thanks are belated, but heartfelt for all of the suggestions and information. It seemed that the soupy mixture was the major contributor to their recovery and I was lucky in that I started it very early, just from luck and suggestions from my VET and knowing that they were losing weight and needed my help with feeding. I learned once on the FML that I was heading down the right path and now all of my fuzzies are healthy, happy and war dancing as a group. As a aside, Toby picked on Alfie a lot at first, but I supervised them at play and gradually introduced them together and now they are best buddies and sleep together all the time. Initially Toby grabbed Alfie and dragged him into the bathroom drawer causing punctures in poor Alfie's neck. He did the same when I introduced Daxter. Yet he was gentle as a lamb with Tasha, but at that point I know he was depressed from the loss of Hobson too. Maybe I am just lucky that all of my babies are now an integrated happy dancing group. This morning they all woke up dancing together, now that's entertainment. Finally guess I will get on the soapbox wagon... I have been reading all of the strong opinions on various matters and we do all have our own strong opinions. People write things that are insulting, well this is a free country. That doesn't keep me from wanting to read or participate in this list. I guess I am of the camp that says if you don't like how someone says something then ignore it. It would be nice to change people who are capable of lecturing, parental, domineering and rude behavior, but they have probably gone on in that way long enough that it is doubtful getting into a power struggle will change anything in their behavior. I am here to learn, participate and meet others who own fuzzies and despite the fact that I may disagree with some of which I read I and my fuzzies will remain. I am saddened that people leave due to hurt feelings from rude people. Guess this is long enough...Just wanted to say how much I appreciate the experience and opinions of most of the FML'ers it has already been great help despite the short time I have been on. Kathleen and her four fuzzy twits: Alfie (Awe mom, but I like digging in the plants), Toby (yawn), Tasha (well I might hold still if you scratch my back), Daxter (who says I'm the smallest, I'm still the toughest...known as the tiny wonder and has no problem taking on a 5 LB ferret) [Posted in FML issue 2446]