[Clubber]

>A crib will protect a baby from a cat or dog

A cat can easily get into a crib, not only can they climb, they can jump pretty high too. My cats regularly scale a 6" wood fence in the back yard to see what the neighbors are up to. The first 5" is pure jump, followed by a fairly ugly pull-up.

>Consequently, the most disturbing examples involve ferrets attacking immobile newborns in cribs.

My college roommate had a ferret. I don't remember him every climbing anything and he could hardly jump. He was adept at pooping all over the corners of our dorm room though.

Always keep in mind that now a days, just about anything you read in a publication or on the internet is over-hyped or dramatized, or sensationalized for effect.

"Ferrets can get into a crib and there have been instances where a ferret has attacked a child, but the same holds true for cats and most household pets," just doesn't sell the drama as well.