Hey and Dooks to the furkids ! Well, started integrating Muttley and the other newbie, DOOKESBURY <Like, just call him "Dooks!"> with the rest of the group. Muttley and Dooks get along together just fine. They share the upper tier of the cage. I give them play time by themselves to get used to the surroundings. Attempt 1 - I let some of the smaller kids (Prissy, Cuddles, Furrice) and then the seniors (Lacey, Simon) out one at a time. They seemed to be doing quite well. The prob started when I let out my albino female Sprite. She great pleasure in throwing Muttley around like a rag doll and terrorizing Dooks. Figgering the newbies had had enough, I went to pick up Dooks to put him in the cage <YEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOWWWWCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHH!!!!!!>. Okay, next time I wear leather gloves. Attempt 2 - started out the same. Only the larger kids figured they wanted some attention too. I had forgotten to put the lock on the cage door and they busted out. The larger kids (Cinna, Socks, Hershey - all 3-4lbs), and Sprite (maybe 1lb) all piled on Dooks and started going to town like they were drawing and quartering him. Okay - went to rescue him again <YEEEOOOWWWCCCHHH!!!>. Dammit!! Need THICKER leather gloves <sigh>. Attempt 3 - Let littler kids out to play, all was well. Put Dooks back in cage with door open in case he wanted to join in. Let all kids out. Dooks watched for a while and started to climb out of cage. I took Dooks out and held him while sitting on floor. Dooks seemed pretty calm. He sat in my lap for a while watching other kids <promising>. Then Dooks jumped from my lap and started to run and dook with others (oh, yes, yes yes!!!) Happiness was short lived. Larger kids started to pounce on him. He did a great job of evading and defending himself. I was just about to break it up when Dooks broke free, LAUNCHED himself onto Sprite, took out a chunk of her fur then ran to the cage, climbed up to the side door (about 5' up) and went inside the cage. Sprite appeared to be shocked at the nerve of what Dooks did. I, ummm - well, was kinda impressed. Dooks was a bit scared and hissed at me a few times when I reached into the cage. Didn't bite me though <whew!>. The cage door remains open in case he decides to venture out again. I did try to close it but he began pawing and biting at it. Well, guess I'll leave the option open to him. Keeping my hopes up <and the iodine close> Kevin B and the Way Kewl Critter Crew Featuring ~~THE~~FANTASTIC~~FUZZY~~FLURRY~~OF~~FOURTEEN~~ ~Furrice~Simon~Lacey~Hershey~Sprite~Socks~Cuddles~Java~Rascal~Miss Priss~ Cinna~Racer~Muttley~Dookesbury~ Guest STAR - ~Fur-Angel Lady~ Cast Appearance by - Min-Pins Geordi , Jaida, and Spice Missing our friends - Kimo the Sumo Cat (and Honorary Fert) and fellow ferts ~Petey~, ~Nibbler~, ~Max~, ~Romeo~, and ~Bandit~ Saying "Hey!" to ~Pandora~, ~Noser~ and the rest of the Tennessee Brat Pack !! [Posted in FML issue 2815]