Just to add my .02 cents to the free roam comments. My first was in her own room for the first few months. Since then she and my later addition have been free roam. It can't be for everyone but I don't agree with the arguments that say "never" either. I'm single so door openings and closing's are pretty regulated by just me as opposed to a large family which could be hard. My house is fairly small and was easy to ferret proof. BTW - I can see caging or confining to one room till the kits pass 1 year. Seems as they mature they get a little less likely to go searching for trouble:) As ferrets get older you might give it a try if all else fits safely. I'm pretty tolerant of poop mistakes and ferrets sleeping in my kitchen drawers:) and no one else lives here to complain. In the 3 years of reading FML I have seen where some accidents occurred with the ferret out and no one home - maybe if someone had been home or the ferrets caged they could have been averted. However far more have happened when the ferrets are out and the humans are home. We are in some ways their biggest threat. But you can't cage them all the time. So I agree with the poster who mentioned quality of life. By no means should we become complacent - ferret proofing is an ongoing thing and you should take all means possible to ensure their safety. Mine are also far calmer I think than if they were caged. In some ways maybe this is less fun. But I can't imagine my female caged. The male might adjust but she is such a wild spirit. She lives for walks outside in the brushy meadow. I think she'd be most happy in a hunting home in the UK personally. Right now winter is closing in, dark comes early and she is mighily depressed about no walkies. As for those with mice problems - Giesela wants to come help out! Mary, Boris, Giesela and the dog Booker (Booker stays outside when I'm not home, or if too cold the ferrets and the dog take turns staying in a closed room) [Posted in FML issue 2496]