Frisky ferrets entertain dedicated caregiver

Dear Heloise: I am proudly owned by four ferrets who were rescued from people who would probably have sent them to a shelter.

People may see them in the pet store, where they look so adorable and interesting, but they are a lot of work. It is well worth it, but they might not make a great pet for younger children or people who work long hours or are just too busy.

We feed our “fur-babies” a high-protein diet — it is actually four types of food that we mix together. Ferrets are carnivores, so they need a lot of animal protein. Mine have kept the spider and cricket population in my house to a minimum.

They also love to play and have a funny dance they do where they run and jump off things, do somersaults and run around like crazy. They like to steal my socks and do get into trouble, but they look at me with those cute little faces and I can’t stay mad for long.

Bottom line, if you want a wonderful, rewarding, entertaining, loving friend, ferrets are a good choice, but only if you are willing to commit to the time and energy requirements. Lisa, via e-mail

Lisa, having had several ferrets as pets (years ago), I can attest to their high energy and rascal-like personality. They also make the cutest chuckling sounds, but they do need care and attention. Heloise

Dear Readers: Janie Mitchell of Waterville, Maine, sent a photo of her 9-year-old Maine coon cat, Calvin Coolidge Mitchell, snuggled in the couch while holding a cordless telephone and waiting for a phone call!

Go to my Web site, www.Heloise.com, and click on Pet of the Week — you’ll find Calvin’s picture there! Heloise

Dear Heloise: When your pet cat leaves a “trophy” dead bird on your doorstep, use barbecue tongs to pick it up. But first, place the tips of the tongs inside of a plastic grocery bag. The bag blocks the sight of the bird and makes the job much easier to stomach. Just have an open brown bag nearby and drop in the “trophy,” plastic bag and all, sight unseen.

And, because the tongs never touch the “trophy,” I have no qualms about running them through the dishwasher and using them on the barbecue once again. J.P., Kihei, Hawaii

Aloha to all of my friends in Hawaii and my readers of the Maui News on your beautiful island. Please send some pet or other hints, and we will print as many as we can. Heloise

Dear Heloise: The best way to have someone else feed my fish while I’m on vacation is to use those little plastic day-of-the-week pill dispensers. They come in all sizes, have the days of the week marked and can be opened one day at a time. They seal tightly and leave no room for error. Elaine L., Louisville, Ky.

XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate