If you’ve just brought a ferret home for the first time, you may be wondering, “What do ferrets eat?” Maintaining a proper ferret diet is a key factor in ensuring your furry friend lives a long and happy life, and there are many ferret food options on the market today.
What can ferrets eat?
Ferrets, like cats, are obligate carnivores, so they get their nutrition from meat-based proteins. Many veterinarians believe that common problems such as inflammatory bowel disease and insulinoma are directly related to feeding your ferret the wrong food.
Never feed cat food to ferrets. Although ferrets can technically eat cat food, ferrets require higher amounts of protein in their diet, which most cat foods cannot provide. Be sure to feed your pet ferret a diet specially formulated for ferrets.
Healthy ferret food should have no seeds, nuts, or dried fruit pieces in the bag. All ferret foods should look the same and be free of artificial colors and other variations.
The formulations of many foods designed for ferrets may change frequently. Ferrets are often very picky about their food and obsess over its taste and feel. This can be a big problem if manufacturers make changes, so it’s a good idea to buy several different ferret food brands and blend them into a common container. This allows you to mix flavors and make future transitions easier if needed.
Ferrets need food available 24/7 and should be checked daily. Remove any grains that are wet, dirty, or crumbled to the point where they are no longer edible.
ferret snacks
Since ferrets are small animals, the amount of treats should be kept small to keep them well-nourished. Choose healthy snacks that complement your meal rather than ruin it.
Pureed meat baby food without additional ingredients is often a tasty treat for ferrets, and is an especially useful snack when combined with medication if necessary. Do not feed baby food that contains rice, vegetables, or lumps.
Another good treat for ferrets is Bob Church’s chicken gravy (also known as duck soup). It is a staple food for sick ferrets and can be a healthy addition to your ferret’s diet.
You can also feed your ferret cooked lean chicken, turkey, beef, and fish cut into small pieces. Be sure to remove the bones and skin, cook thoroughly, and cut into relatively small cubes.
Other commercially available ferret treats you can consider include:
What should ferrets not eat?
List of ferrets shouldn’t What to eat is much longer than their list should eat. As a general rule, non-meat-based foods should not be fed to ferrets.
Here are some things ferrets shouldn’t eat:
how to feed a ferret
The actual process of feeding a ferret is simple. Simply add about 1/4 cup of a healthy kibble blend to a heavy crock feeder once a day. Keep in mind that ferrets love to play in food and water, so using heavy utensils and keeping food and water several feet apart can help prevent dirt and contamination.
Food and water should be checked after approximately 12 hours and replaced if necessary. Ferrets often don’t like eating breadcrumbs, so if you see crumbs building up in the bowl, throw them out and start anew. Water should also be provided in heavy containers and checked and replaced frequently. Some ferrets will drink water from a water bottle, but the majority of ferrets prefer and drink water better.
Frequently asked questions about ferret food
What do wild ferrets eat?
Ferrets as we know them do not exist in the wild. They are thought to have been domesticated from the European polecat, which feeds primarily on small rodents, amphibians, and birds.
What do domestic ferrets eat?
Domestic ferrets eat a high-quality, high-protein kibble blend designed for ferrets. A ferret’s diet is often supplemented with softer, high-protein treats, such as pureed baby food or meat.
Can ferrets eat cat food?
No, there are some expensive high-protein, low-carbohydrate foods designed for cats that are also suitable for ferrets, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Kibble also tends to be different sizes, which can make it difficult for your ferret to chew and potentially damage its teeth.
Can ferrets eat dog food?
No, you should never feed dog food to ferrets. It has too many carbohydrates to digest properly, it doesn’t have the right balance of nutrients for your ferret’s metabolism, and it’s too large to fit properly in your ferret’s mouth, potentially causing some damage.
Featured image: Irina Vasilevskaya/iStock, Getty Images Plus
