Ferrets Cuddle Up in Celeb Handbags

It looks like ferrets are the new chihuahuas: after Paris Hilton was spotted in Las Vegas with a pet ferret stuffed into her hoodie, ferret ownership is rising among women. But many people remain apprehensive about the offbeat pets, worrying about their ferocious appearance and reputed bad smell. Not a problem, vet Pete Wedderburn writes in the Daily Telegraph.

Cage-cleaning keeps ferrets smelling sweet, and the rodents "respond well to gentle care and consistent training," Wedderburn writes, so "if a ferret bites you it's probably your fault." Which was certainly the case with the ancient English sport of "ferret-legging," in which contestants tied their pant legs closed at the bottom and put a ferret down each leg. "Fortunately, ferret-legging has waned in popularity as awareness of animal welfare has increased," Wedderburn notes.
(More ferret stories.)