Food
VERY IMPORTANT:
Please do not feed your ferret dog food or cat food. This can cause severe malnutrition!!! Some high quality KITTEN foods do qualify, as long as the nutritional guidelines below regarding protein, fat, fiber, & Taurine etc. are followed.
When selecting a ferret food or treat/snack, check the label carefully!
- Avoid unacceptable preservatives (Ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT).
- Avoid sugar (corn syrup, raisin juice, dried fruits, beet pulp).
- Check for and avoid dried fruits, dried veggies, or meat jerky. These might expand when they absorb liquids in the stomach and cause intestinal blockage.
- Look for:
- Protein: at least 34% ANIMAL protein (not soy & such)
- Fat: at least 18% ANIMAL fat (not vegetable oils/fats)
- Fiber: no more than 3.5%
- Ash: no more than 6.5% (cat foods are High in ash)
- Moisture: no more than 10%
- Amino Acids: Taurine & Arginine
- Look for the top ingredients:
- More animal meats/fats than grains/fillers
- Quality animal meats/fats: Specific vs. generic ("animal", "poultry", "byproducts")
- Grain Type: corn fluctuates blood sugar levels more than rice
- Fish: smell encourages feeding but fish is Not as nutritious as chicken
- Dairy: not easily digestible
- Observe shape and size: round/ball shapes might cause a choking hazard. Star, triangle, or Y shapes are easier to grab/chew.
| Protein | Fat | Fiber | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |
| Ferret Store Original | 38% | 20% | 2.5% | Chicken Meal | Brown Rice | Preserved Chicken Fat | Dried Egg Product | Lamb Meal |
| Holistic Select | 34% | 21% | 3% | Chicken Meal | Brown Rice | Preserved Chicken Fat | Oatmeal | Dried Egg Product |
| Innova Evo | 50% | 21% | 1.5% | Chicken | Turkey | Chicken Meal | Herring Meal | Potato |
| Marshall Premium | 38% | 18% | 3.5% | Chicken by-product Meal | Herring Meal | Corn | Cod Fish | Chicken Liver |
| Path Valley | 34% | 22% | 3% | Chicken | Chicken by-product Meal | Corn Gluten Meal | Brewers Rice | Preserved Chicken Fat |
| Totally Ferret Active | 36% | 22% | 1.5% | Chicken by-product Meal | Rice Flour | Egg Product | Chicken Fat | Poultry Fat |
| Wysong Archetypal I | 50% | 28% | 2.8% | Beef | Beef Liver | Chicken | Chicken Liver | Ground Bone |
| Zupreem Ferret Diet | 40% | 20% | 2% | Chicken Meal | Chicken Fat | Ground Wheat | Wheat Flour | Chicken |
Once you find acceptable food, you should mix at least three different brands together so the ferret is used to eating more than just one kind of food.
Sometimes, a company will change its formula, or a store will be out of the brand you usually buy. Things will go much more smoothly for you and your little one, if it eats several different brands.
Ferrets are finicky eaters and imprint early on!!
