Over the last week or so, I've seen the following statements repeated over and over. 1. Ferrets are the third most popular domesticated animal 2. Ferrets have been domesticated for thousands of years. 3. Ferrets were domesticated before cats It's my understanding that all three statements are incorrect so I'm looking for an authority on these subjects to set us all straight. Are you around, Bob? What I understand is: 1. The survey (conducted by whom?) actually lumped ferrets with all other small mammals - "pocket pets". Thus ferrets were in this "pocket pet" category along with creatures like rats, gerbils, etc. 2. The domestication history of ferrets has never been proven. Domestication certainly goes back hundreds of years but is unclear when we are talking "thousands" of years. 3. Cats have been domesticated for many thousands of years and certainly much, much longer than ferrets. It is easily proven that the Egyptians held domesticated cats. Could an expert please set me straight? -Carla [Posted in FML issue 2541]