And the funniest (well maybe that's not the right word) thing happened re: the pooping the other day. We left his cage door open during the day to see if he would 'roam free'.

That little stinker actually went over to Neko's litter box and pooped on the floor right in front of it!!!! (that was his usual poop on the floor spot)

Now when he's in his cage, he has no problems going to the bathroom in the litter box.

I've also found that he likes to eat in there too. I feed him and Neko together but Tama will only eat a few bites and then hops back in his cage. At that point I put his food dish in there and he gobbles it right up.

I'm glad I was able to make you feel better. I was so upset when I first decided to confine him- I felt like I wasn't doing the right thing, that I was a horrible person for doing this and that if I told anyone, they would think poorly of me. But with time, and since Tama seems to love it in there, I'm coming to grips with the fact that he may spend many years in there.

He's never given me any indication that he's upset or in distress over it.