The Best Ferret Food in 2022

The next section is our buying guide, where we aim to answer some of the burning questions that you may still have about ferret food. Ferrets are interesting animals that require a very specific type of diet – and this is not something that you should mess with heavily. Often, you will cause some sort of digestive upset – or something altogether more serious. The best type of food to offer your ferret is food that has been specially formulated for them. Gone are the days when you would have to rely on kitten food. As the popularity of owning a ferret has increased, so too have the number of good options of food out there. So, let’s go into some more detail right here and now.

What Do Ferrets Eat

The first thing that you should know about ferrets is that they have a high metabolic rate. This means that they should enjoy as many as 10 small meals on a daily basis. Like cats, they are strictly carnivorous creatures, so they need a protein-rich diet. This can be provided by food pellets, which you should be able to get at your local pet store. But don’t assume that they are all created equal. You need to familiarize yourself with the ingredients and what is best. The number one ingredient should be a real meat source like chicken or lamb.

If you find that your local pet store does not stock the necessary ferret food, you can offer them kitten food, which contains a higher source of protein than the adult food. But you will also need to give them fatty acid supplements too. Another way to go is to offer your ferret some homemade food too. Cooked or raw chicken provides a good accompaniment to the pellets. But remember that dry food should be a staple as it helps to protect their dental hygiene.

Again, ferrets are similar to cats in that they usually only like eating a single type of food. But if you try to offer them a bit more variety, you can help to broaden their palette a bit. Try mixing in a bit of new food in so that it doesn’t prove to be too much of a shock.

As for the pellet shape, you should try favouring rounded treats as these are less likely to jab your pet’s mouth than the more angular shapes.

Just like other pets, ferrets love getting a treat or two from time to time. Cat treats, cooked meat, and eggs are all viable options. Never give them anything that has been made for dogs.

Food to Avoid Feeding Your Ferret

It is just as important to know what foods you should avoid feeding to your ferret as the ones that you should. First, you should avoid anything that includes high levels of complex carbohydrates. Fruit and veg, dairy, or anything with sugar fit into this list. This all comes back to the carnivorous nature of ferrets, which means that their digestive tracts are not built to process this type of food. While it may be tempting to offer a bit of chocolate or a lick or ice cream, you need to bear in mind that it is likely you are doing more harm than good.

How to Feed Your Ferret

Feeding your ferret shouldn’t prove to be massively different to feeding any other animal that you may own. Just like all creatures, ferrets need to enjoy a balanced diet to increase their chances of enjoying a long and healthy life. Obviously, what constitutes a balanced diet varies from animal to animal, but things have certainly got a lot better in terms of the quality of ferret food that is now being produced. In the past, ferret owners had to rely on kitten food, which offered generally the same nutrients that ferrets require, but not the exact ones. However, in recent times, ferrets have become more and more popular as a pet, which is why the variety and quality has taken such as significant upturn.

As a rule of thumb, you should be looking for at least a couple of different types of food that prove to be nutritionally satisfying to your pet. Ferrets are well-known as being fussy eaters, and if you only get them used to a single type of food, there is every chance that they will not eat anything else if it suddenly becomes unavailable. If you have your ferret from a young age, this is the ideal time to do a bit of experimentation regarding their food. One option is to blend two foods together as this will stop the ferret from becoming dependent on only one.

Ferrets are carnivores, meaning that a dietary plan based on animal protein needs to form the cornerstone of what they are eating on a regular basis. As obligate carnivores with no cecum, ferrets are not able to digest vegetable proteins, nor utilize the nutrients that are found within. This can be somewhat of a shock to humans who are regularly taught about the importance of eating a protein-rich diet, and they will mistakenly try to give their ferret vegetables to eat. This is certainly a mistake that you should avoid making yourself. When you are looking at ferret foods, you should look for products which list at least three of their main six products as meat. Be wary of foods that list it as a vegetable or some other type of plant matter.

Another dietary point to consider about ferrets is that they have very short digestive periods. After your ferret has eaten a particular type of food, it will be digested in only around three or four hours. Due to this fact, it is so important that ferret diets consist largely of protein and fat – at least a third of the former and a fifth of the latter should make up their total diet. Ferrets are creatures that tend to suffer from a lot of digestive issues, and one of the central reasons for this is that their digestion is so quick that the tract does not have time to extract the things that it needs. You don’t want to give your pet anything that is going to speed things along even further.

You should also ensure that fresh water is always available for your ferret. Make sure to change it on a daily basis.

When a ferret is well-fed, you should see positive signs of life emanating from them. This means a glossy coat, clear eyes, and a supple body. In terms of their personality characteristics, they should show themselves to be alert and playful – and more than a little curious!

What Do Baby Ferrets Eat

Caring for your baby ferret comes along with its own individual set of responsibilities – and diet is obviously a primary concern. Young ferret kits can be weaned at around six weeks old. At this point, they need some proper nourishment to aid in their continuing development. High-quality ferret food is the best thing to give your little kit. Unlike other pets, baby ferrets can eat the same food as adults after they have been weaned. One trick that you can use to make the food easier to eat for mouths and teeth that are still developing is to soak the food in warm water for around five or 10 minutes.

While some ferret owners still rely on kitten food for their pet, this is actually not the best option as the diets and requirements are different between the two animals. Ferrets need to consume a lot of protein and fewer carbs than cats. This all comes back to ferrets having such quick digestion. Feeding your ferret the wrong thing can throw their system completely out of whack. While ferret food tends to be more expensive than cat food, they eat such small amounts that it is bound to last for a lot longer.

A protein-rich diet will encourage better growth and reduce the risk is urinary tract infections (UTIs). Avoid offering any treats until the time comes to housebreak your ferret. While young ferrets may love the taste of milk and ice cream, it is only going to antagonize their stomach and result in diarrhoea. As for sugary treats, these are also not good as they could result in pancreas problems further down the line.

Best Ferret Food FAQ:

Q: How to switch to a new food?

A: Ferrets are notoriously fussy eaters, so switching their food can feel like a massive upheaval and challenge. Perhaps you want to upgrade to a brand with more nutritional benefits, but your ferret is not having any of it. Well, as we mentioned earlier, if you mix the ferret food all along, this helps your pet get used to different tastes. But if you are making a complete transition, you are going to need to do so gradually. Otherwise, this could lead to a host of gastric disturbances including vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Bear in mind that switching food is likely to be more difficult for ferrets that are over a year old. In terms of the length of the transition phase, you should give it at least a week. All you need to do is gradually decrease the quantity of the old kibble and increase the quantity of the new.

There are a few other techniques that can help out too. First, you can try hand feeding some of the new food to your ferret. This has the other positive benefit of improving the bond between the two of you. If you mix the old food and new food in a bag and put it in the fridge for around a day, this helps to blend the flavors and may make the transition that little bit easier. Another way of blending the two is by adding a dash of water to them. You could also try using the new ferret food as a treat, which may help to ‘trick’ your pet into liking it more quickly.

If you are at all concerned about the process or don’t feel like it is going as well as it could be, you should consult your vet to get a better picture of what to do. You also need to take special care if your ferret already suffers from some sort of dietary issues.

Q: Can ferrets eat dog food?

A: No. Ferrets should never be fed dog food. The digestive system of a ferret does not match the digestive system of a dog, who are better placed to be able to enjoy a wide variety of different food stuffs. Remember that dogs are omnivores, while ferrets are carnivores – putting them in totally different categories. If you own both a dog and a ferret, you should find a way of keeping their food entirely separate from one another.

Q: Can ferrets eat fruit and vegetables?

A: No. Ferrets are obligate carnivores who requires strictly meat-based diet. They do not have the digestive means to process fruits, greens, or nuts. Any type of sugars and sweets are a bad thing as they can lead to tooth decay and other issues. Some ferret owners offer their pet things like bananas and raisins, which may be okay in small quantities, but they should not be covered in sugar – and you certainly shouldn’t overdo it. Their short digestive tracts mean that they do not respond well to fiber. So, as a rule of thumb, you should avoid giving your ferret fruit and vegetables. You may think that it will do them good, but the truth is that it probably won’t.

Q: Can I feed my ferret human food?

A: You shouldn’t feed your ferret most types of human food, but there are one or two exceptions. These include small pieces of cooked meat and raw eggs. However, this is not something that you should overdo. You should stick to their usual diet or dry kibbles as much as possible. If you are not sure about whether or not you can offer a certain type of food to your ferret, you should certainly err on the side of caution and consult with your vet beforehand.

Our Top Pick

Returning to our number one choice on the ferret food list, this one has received hundreds of positive customer ratings, and we have also decided that it should be top of the tree. The meat content is very high, which is exactly what ferrets need to enjoy a long and healthy lifestyle. Many ferret owners have reported that their pet goes crazy over the natural taste and flavor, which mimics the type of thing that they would have once enjoyed in the wild. It also contains a host of nutrients and other beneficial substances.

Sources:

1. Roser, R J, Food Habits Of The Ferret At Pukepuke Lagoon, Taylor & Francis
2. Judith A.BellDVM, MSc, PhD, Ferret Nutrition, ScienceDirect