Ferret Food

The diet you feed your ferret is vital to their health and overall well-being . Most regular cat/kitten foods do NOT contain the proper level of nutrients that they need, and dog food should Not be an option or given. Ferrets are obligate carnivores (strict meat eaters), so anything containing fruits, vegetables or moderate-high level of corn (usually used as a filler) should be avoided at all costs. They cannot digest these items and can lead into blockages and other health issues.

When deciding on a food, you should examine the ingredients, especially the first five. There should be no fruits or vegetables (especially in the first five) and if corn appears it should be no higher than the fourth or fifth ingredient. Ideally, the first two ingredients should be meat-based, however three of the first five should contain meat. Equally important is to examine the guaranteed analysis. Ferrets require high protein (suggested min 36% - tissue growth & muscle repair), moderate fat (18 - 40% - heating the body and provide energy), low fiber(approx max 3% - no cecum to process it) and low carbohydrates(average is 34%, but the lower the better - it is believed a high count contributes to insulinoma) [might not be reflected on the label]. All of the above should be considered when deciding on a food.

Click here for printable version of food chart.

Brand	1st Ingredient	2nd Ingredient	3rd Ingredient	4th Ingredient	5th Ingredient	Protein	Fat	Fiber	Moisture	**CARBS
Ferret Foods						Not less than		Not more than
8 in 1 Premium	Poultry by-Product	Brewers rice	Ground yellow corn	Corn gluten meal	Chicken fat	30.0%	8.0%	4.0%	10.0%	53.3%
8 in 1 Ultimate	Chicken	Chicken meal	Ground rice	Chicken fat	Chicken digest	45.0%	16.0%	3.0%	10.0%	28.9%
8 in 1 Ultra Blend	Chicken meal	Ground yellow corn	Brewers rice	Corn gluten meal	Animal fat	35.0%	15.0%	3.0%	10.0%	41.1%
The Ferret Store Superior Choice Natural	Chicken	Chicken meal	Brown rice	Lamb meal	Chicken fat	38.0%	19.0%	2.5%	12.0%	32.4%
The Ferret Store Superior Choice Original	Chicken meal	Brown rice	chicken fat	Dried egg product	Lamb meal	38.0%	20.0%	2.5%	12.0%	31.3%
Innova EVO Ferret	Chicken	Turkey	Chicken Meal	Herring Meal	Potato	50.0%	21.0%	1.5%	10.0%	15.0%
Kaytee Exact Rainbow	Poultry by-product meal	Poultry meal	Ground corn	Brewers rice	Poultry Fat	32.0%	10.0%	3.0%	12.0%	48.9%
Kaytee Fiesta	Poultry meal	Ground corn	Fish meal	Animal fat	Dried beef pulp	30.0%	16.0%	5.0%	12.0%	42.0%
Kaytee Forti Diet	Poultry meal	Fish meal	Animal fat	Soy flour	Kibbled corn	35.0%	18.0%	4.0%	12.0%	35.2%
Marshall Premium	Chicken by-products	Herring meal	Corn	Cod fish	Chicken liver	38.0%	18.0%	3.5%	10.0%	33.9%
Mazuri Ferret Food	Poultry meal	Poultry-by-product	Animal fat	Ground corn	Soybean meal	38.0%	20.5%	4.0%	12.0%	29.0%
Natural Gold	Chicken Meal	Pork Protein Concentrate	Potato Starch	Poultry Fat	Soybean Oil	50.0%	22.0%	5.0%	10.0%	14.4%
Path Valley Farm	Chicken	Chicken meal	Whole grain brown rice	Corn gluten meal	Chicken fat	34.0%	22.0%	3.0%	10.0%	34.4%
Totally Ferret Active	Chicken by-product meal	Rice flour	Egg product	Chicken fat	Poultry fat	36.0%	22.0%	1.5%	10.0%	28.5%
Totally Ferret Older	Chicken-by-product meal	Rice flour	Egg product	Chicken fat	Wheat flour	33.0%	18.5%	1.5%	10.0%	41.1%
Wysong Archetype I	Beef	Beef liver	Chicken	Chicken liver	Ground Bone	50.0%	28.0%	2.8%	3.0%	16.7%
Wysong Archetype II	Chicken	Chicken Giblets	Poultry Fat	Ground Brown Rice	Ground Wheat	35.0%	20.0%	3.0%	12.0%	34.1%
ZuPreem Premium	Chicken meal	Animal fat	Ground wheat	Wheat flour	Chicken by-product meal	40.0%	20.0%	2.0%	10.0%	31.1%
Cat Foods
Chicken Soup for the Kitten Lovers Soul	Chicken	Salmon	chicken meal	Whole grain brown rice	Chicken fat	34.0%	22.0%	3.0%	10.0%	34.4%
Eukanuba	Chicken	Chicken liver	Brewers rice	Fish meal	Maize grits	36.0%	23.5%	1.5%	8.0%	33.7%
Felidae	Chicken meal	Turkey meal	Brown rice	Lamb meal	Chicken fat	32.0%	20.0%	2.5%	9.0%	40.1%
Iams Kitten	Chicken	Chicken by-product meal	Corn grits	Ground whole grain Sorghum	Chicken fat	34.0%	22.0%	3.0%	10.0%	34.4%
Innova Feline	Turkey	Chicken meal	Chicken	Potatoes	Egg	36.0%	20.5%	2.5%	10.0%	34.4%
Premium Edge	Chicken	Chicken meal	Rice flour	Oatmeal	Chicken fat	32.0%	21.0%	3.0%	10.0%	37.8%
Wellness	Deboned chicken	Chicken meal	Chicken liver	Ground brown rice	Ground whole oats	33.0%	19.0%	5.0%	10.0%	36.7%
		Meat Product (meets their needs as an obligate carnivore)				**CARBS: Derived from an estimated calculation.
		Acceptable Ingredients
		Corn which can lead into blockages and other health concerns

Click here for printable PDF version of Food Chart

If you are unable to obtain food specifically labeled for ferrets, you could substitute a high quality cat/kitten food(meat based food that is high in protein and low in fiber). If your local pet store does not carry food specifically for ferrets, The Ferret Store carries a wide selection of ferret food, which you can order on line. The Ferret Store is also an excellent option if you live in a non-ferret zone as they will ship your packages in unmarked boxes. It is highly recommended that you feed your ferret a mix of food, so as to not imprint them on only one brand. Problems could arise if for some reason you cannot get that particular brand and need to substitute, as they could refuse to eat the new food leading into health/medical problems.

Canned food should not be provided all the time, but rather as a treat, the hard kibble assists in the breaking apart of the plaque that forms on their teeth, keeping them healthier and cleaner. It is however, a good idea to get your ferret accustomed to a mush type food (Duck Soup, Prescription Diet AD, Gerber's baby Food) for when they are ill and not eating on their own. As ferrets have a very small digestive track they require the availability of food and water all the time. There is really no fear of your ferret overeating, due to their high metabolism and their small digestive track which will generally only retain food/water for about 3 hours.

Feeding the Sick Ferret

It is a good idea to get your ferret accustomed to a mush type food (Duck Soup, Prescription Diet AD, Gerber's baby Food) before they are ill and not eating on their own. There are a wide variety of different recipes out called "Duck Soup", but the most popular and simplest is Gerber's Chicken stage 2 baby food. The food should be slightly warm to the touch (NOT HOT), and can be feed by finger, spoon or syringe. At first your ferret will most likely not be interested, but after a few tries/days they will start eating it on their own and look forward to it as a treat. Do not wait until your ferret is sick first before trying the Gerber's or Duck Soup! When they are ill, it is very important that they eat and take in the required nutrients or additional health problems will occur. Either one can be feed for an extended period of time if necessary, as they contain all the necessary ingredients at the correct levels.

Ill ferrets may not be interested in eating any food (even if finger fed), so it is up to you to ensure they do. You should always have feeding syringes (NO NEEDLES) on hand; 35cc monoject catheter tip. Getting the tip into the side or front of their mouth, you will need to SLOWLY push the food through the syringe, giving them time to swallow. Too much at once could lead into choking and/or aspiration, so take your time. A ferret not eating on their own should be fed approx 25-35cc of food every 3-4 hours, for a daily intake of about 80 - 120 cc's.

Treats

Providing treats/snacks to your ferret should be given only in moderation so it will not interfere with their normal and necessary food intake. Providing them pieces of kibble by hand will often suffice as a special treat. Raw vegetables should not be given as their bodies are unable to break the fiber down and can lead into intestinal problems and other health issues such as blockages, diarrhea, etc. Any treat you provide for your ferrets should be meat based, do not provide any sugary treats. Keep in mind ferrets do not crave treats, this is a human emotion, so provide vary sparingly.