[first few words lost. BIG] ssssssssssssssssssssse hear about them all the time. We probably have experienced one or two, or even more in our lifetimes. But what exactly makes a ferret geriatric? Oh, I have heard of all the medical jargon that is used to describe to me in detail what is happening in their bodies, but to me, it's just not the way I want to think of my "older" ferrets. When I was told that Chook and Taero, at the age of 5, were considered geriatric ferrets, I couldn't believe it. You can't tell me, I would say, that these two very active, able to climb stairs, able to trash a cupboard in minutes ferrets, were old. They don't look old... they don't act old... so what makes them geriatric? When we lost Max last year to adrenal disease, I knew he was old because he looked old. But then again, the ravages of the disease did nothing to change my opinion. But, at nine and a half, and having a skinny, hairless body that was wrinkled, and toe nails that were yellow and tough to cut, and being incontinent, he just seemed to me to be an old man. He even had a few wisps of old man hair at the top of his head, and a few white hairs in his facial beard. Now those are signs of being old. But I have read here on the FML that there are those ferrets that have lived to wonderful ages, like 12, 15, even 17 years of age. (Wasn't that last one, one of Bob's?) Now that's old! So, in my mind, I just can't accept my five year olds being called geriatric. I don't like the association I have of the mental picture of being geriatric with being wrinkled, unsteady on ones feet, maybe being incontinent, and so on. I guess I truly feel that if I actually say out loud that they are geriatric that it will mean they will start acting old... I enjoy their youthful antics ever so much. So for me I follow the adage that if I think young, I will remain young, at least in my heart, forever. And that's the way I treat my older guys. But that's not to say that I have anything against old ferrets - I do not. In fact, I welcome the coming of their twilight years. Ferret old age seems to bring on a kind of peacefulness that I wish for when it's my turn to be called a senior. They are calmer, and like to cuddle more. They seem to want to be carried everywhere and enjoy being held for longer periods of time. They seem to understand that being babied is a part of the Big Picture Plan and so I oblige them by making the food a little more mushy so it goes down a little bit better, and made their bedding a little more softer, and forgive them of their litter box misses. It's only the heartache of losing them when it is their time to go that remains to be the only thing I do not look forward to. But, as death is partner of old age, I understand it must come. So, my dear little fuzzy carpet sharks, let me, in my own naive way, push aside the term geriatric, and perhaps come up with a new term for my not-so-old companions... and let me just call you friend. Betty and Her Blur O'Fur To my ferts: Thank you for letting me experience life in the not-so-fast lane.... your graceful aging gives me something to look forward to. [Posted in FML issue 2662]