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Dear Readers: Thinking about getting a ferret? There are a couple of states that ban ferrets as pets, but in states that do accept them, they have become very popular.

Ferret ownership is not as simple as owning a cat -- a ferret's diet has to be rich in protein to aid in digestion. Some ferret owners feed their ferrets a high-quality kitten food, but it might not be as rich in protein as the lamb, beef liver and chicken byproducts that are in some specialized ferret foods. (Check the ingredients on the bag of the dry ferret food.)

Also, a small amount of fruit and cooked veggies may be given, but only once in a while, because these foods are a bit hard for ferrets to digest. Here's a little "ferret fact": These little fuzz balls can consume up to 8 ounces of food a day, which is a large amount compared with their low body weight.

P.S. Remember, these lovable, highly intelligent darlings are nocturnal and need daily care and companionship. They love to play! - - Heloise

Dear Readers: Nancy Furr of Von Ormy, Texas, sent a photo of her daughter Nancy Bloxham's three cats. The photo shows all three standing and facing the camera, and the calico in front has a perfect "mustache." Nancy doesn't know how she is related to Groucho Marx, the famous comedian. -- Heloise

Dear Heloise: Do you have indoor pets and find that pet hair is on your couch and upholstered chairs?

Vacuuming doesn't do a good job of picking up all the pet hair my dog leaves behind on furniture. I dampened an old sponge and slid it across the upholstery, pulled the hair off the sponge and continued rubbing across the fabric until every bit of hair was gone, then tossed the sponge in the trash. It was so easy! -- Sandy C., via e- mail

Dear Readers: Did you ever burn a pot with a nonstick coating? When burned dry, the coating can emit toxic fumes that can be fatal to birds. This is one reason why birds should NEVER be kept in a kitchen. There are other dangers, too, if you let them fly free. A hot stove, a ceiling fan or even cleaning supplies left in a pail or sink could be the demise of your pet bird.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:41 AM