Howdy there everyone! Hope everyone is doing well - to those with ill ferrets or recent losses, we extend many well wishes. So, here's the update on our latest addition, Tessa. She and the others - Frodo and Geisha - are getting along just great. After only one week, she was sleeping in the main cage with the other two. I was very impressed with how readily she settled in!! In the past, the integration of a new ferret usually took more like a month! She definitely has a sock fetish but at least she's not biting quite so hard in her effort to abscond the socks off of your feet! Tessa also seems to be getting the hang of the word 'no'. If she does bite at my feet, she usually lets go once I firmly say 'no'. She still occasionally gets a bit overexuberant, but that's when she's already all wound up and excited. It however didn't work so well the other day when I was wearing my Isotoner slippers - Tessa got biting too hard and I had to scruff her since nothing else was working. I had to do this twice and it started to sink in that maybe this wasn't a very nice way to play with mom. I think since the slippers look/feel/taste?? different from the socks, she had abit of trouble making the differentiation. Otherwise, she's an absolute gem and graces my chin and lips (eek! watch where that tongue goes! blah!) with lots of kisses! Thanks again Randy!!! It was also Geisha's sixth birthday yesterday. Needless to say she got slipped a few extra treats and got some extra ear rubbing and back scratching! She is definitely slowing down (sigh!) but she's still a great little gal with personality to spare! ***** On another note, to the person who was *extremely* upset over the idea of someone feeding their ferrets mice - what do you think they ate before kibble was made??? This is an animal that has been domesticated for quite a long time. As others have pointed out, there was a big discussion about this topic not so long ago. I have to admit I toyed with the idea but changed my mind - I'm too squeamish I think. I definitely wasn't against the idea because of the idea - they're carnivores - more to avoid embarrassing myself by losing my cookies over watching the scene unfold. If you want to feed your ferrets mice, by all means go ahead, they're good for them (provided of course if the mice are from a trusted source). As for Limejello and his "Gravy Adventure", I thought it was a howl! It was a joke - make us laugh some more folks!!! By the way, I had forgotten some of your ferrets' names until someone posted about Insanity and Ka-Boing! Could you list the rest cuz I think the names you chose are just great!!! Well, that's all for now - take care and hugs to all! George, Jasper and the Crew of Geisha, Frodo and Tessa ************************************************************************ Georgette Peters Nothing is ferret-proof to a Steacie Science Library sufficiently talented ferret. York University 4700 Keele Street ***** North York, Ontario ********* M3J 1P3 ***** (416)736-5084 Dook, dook, bjork, bjork! e-mail - [log in to unmask] - Swedish Ferret ************************************************************************ [Posted in FML issue 2754]