what do ferrets eat (besides packet ferret food)?

Answer 1

Most ferret-owners give their ferrets a high-quality kibble, either cat or ferret food. Kibble is practical and convenient, it can be stored a long time, it doesn't smell much and it doesn't spoil from one day to the next. You must read the labels carefully when you're choosing brands. Remember also that up to the age of 4 or 5, ferrets need more protein and fat than cats do, so if you choose a catfood, it's often best to pick the kitten type. Up until that age their food should contain 34-38% protein, 18-22% fat, and no more than 3% fiber. Ferrets, like cats, need taurin, which chicken contains. If your brand is not chicken-based check whether there is any taurin added. The first ingredient should be a meat, preferably chicken, and the more of the following three ingredients that also are meat, the better. Lots of fish in the food makes the litterboxes smell and many avoid those food for that reason. I have made a food chart with a lot of different food, both for cats and ferrets. Look at it and compare the different brands yourself.

It's a good idea to mix at least two kinds of food. Ferrets can be very picky when it comes to food, they imprint on what is food at a young age, mainly by smell, and can have difficulties accepting anything else unless they get a varied diet. If the brand you give for some reason becomes unavailable your ferret might refuse anything else because it does not recognize it as food. A ferret used to variation in his diet will probably also be easier to give medication or supplements if he gets ill. Finally there is also the aspect of how dull it must be eating the same food year after year. Variation makes it more enjoyable and easier for you both.

Other food
Even if the main diet should be kibble, it won't hurt to treat your ferrets with real meat sometimes. Try different things, chicken, beef, pork, shrimp. You can give the meat raw, but if it's a ferret that has never had raw meat before, his stomach might be upset at first, start slowly with small amounts if you are unsure of how your ferret will cope with it. Cooked or fried is also an option, but don't overcook as nutrients disappear quickly with heat. Most ferrets who are able to choose prefer their meat raw. Liver, heart, etc, are very good to supplement the diet with, but shouldn't be given too often. Fish can be given but will make the litterboxes and possibly also the ferret to smell more than otherwise. Some also give their ferrets more "natural" food once in a while for variation. It is possible to buy reptile food in most petstores today...

Treats
Many ferrets like vegetables or fruit but the large amount of fiber and sugar makes it advisable not to give as anything but a small treat. Small pieces of apple, raisins, banana (mashed), cucumber, etc. Personally I don't give my ferrets anything of these, but if you decide to give to your ferret, remember - SMALL pieces!

Eggs are often appreciated, both raw, cooked or scrambled. If you want to give raw eggs you should only give the eggyolk, since raw eggwhite can cause biotin deficiency and result in hairloss. Milk should be avoided in large quantities. Ferrets, like many other animals, become lactoseintolerant after they've been weaned. A rule of thumb is that the more fat a milkproduct contains, the less lactose is in it. Yogurt are often tolerated better because they contain a lactase that helps digest lactose.

Almost every ferret loves Ferretone. It's an oil with vitamins, but it should be given moderately since it contains vitamin A that is poisonous in large doses. You can also try olive oil that is almost as popular. This can cause diarrhea in large amounts, so moderation is needed here also. Some people give their ferrets kittymalt, especially during shedding season. There are several products, both for cats and ferrets but I haven't heard that there are any major differences between them.

Don't give:
Chocolate and coffee should not be given! Both these products contains a substance that can be poisonous to dogs. No-one knows for sure how ferrets can take this, but there is a risk. There is also the fact that both chocolate and coffee contains stimulants and increases the heartrate, that's not good in such a small animal that already has a high pulse to begin with. Onions, garlic and other members of that family can cause Heinz anemia in cats and dogs, it should not be given to ferrets. Salt and strong spices should also be avoided, as well as any product with a lot of sugar.

Answer 2

Please don't give your ferret wood blocks or anything else designed for rodents. Ferrets are not rodents. I had a couple of ferrets who would only eat ferret food, and then some who liked the occasional treat like a raisin or piece of banana. Ferrets are carnivores, so if you want to try feeding them something other than ferret food, try meat! You have to be very careful with foods like that because too many raisins for instance can cause serious health problems. If you aren't already you should be giving your ferret a liquid vitamin supplement (which I've never seen a ferret turn down) like FerretVite. But read the bottle carefully and never give too much. Also store the vitamins away where your ferret can't get the bottle because a vitamin overdose can be fatal. (The cap is screw on however one time my ferrets got the dang thing off but I caught them before it was too late!)

Answer 3

ferrets are meat eaters, Period. their system is not designed to digest plant foods, grains or fruits or veggies. Feeding these things to your ferret will not just Shorten its lifespan but will also cause all sorts of health problems for it. A ferret is Not a cat! Most Cat foods have a lot of corn meal and wheat products as well as other fillers, ferrets do best on live or raw meats. if you are squeamish about handling raw meat or offering live food (pinkies or fuzzies -baby mice) then look into frozen mice available from places like "PetCo." there is excellent nutritional info for ferrets at

Answer 4

Duck soup! A yummy nutritious blend of kibble, chicken, ferritone, baby food, and uncle jim's duck soup mix. All blended with water into a soupy treat. It's perfect for the sick ferret and is high in protein and fat, along with being easy on the tummy. But it's an excellent treat and the fuzzies have to get hooked onto it before they get sick. So that they are more likely to eat it when they need it. Some instruction here: http://www.everythingfert.proboards36.com/index.cgi?board=Soup&action=display&thread=1106240033
The link should work, if you can't read the info then just join the forum. It's a wonderful ferret community.

Answer 5

Meat mainly. Offer some cooked chicken as a treat. Cooked is key, there are parasites present in uncooked food, and while it's true that's what they would eat in the wild, in the wild they would have gotten parasites. We don't want that for our pets.
See if they want fruit and veg, like dogs some will accept it.
There is a new food for ferrets coming soon at naturapet.com called Innova EVO. It's the best yet.

Answer 6

Between my mom and i we have 10 ferrets and we always buy them a bag of ferret food and a bag of cat food and mix them together and they like it.....we also go to petco or something like that and buy them yogurt chips......they really love them things....we don't feed ours meat because some may just get the taste of blood then they start to bite all the time.......

Answer 7

I have ferrets and they are both 5 years old. I do not feed them the expensive ferret food. I feed these little guys 9-lives catfood that they absolutely love. Mine will not eat the ferret food. I also buy the vitamin supplement for my ferrets just to be assured they get the proper vitamins.

Answer 8

ferrets are obligate carnivores (meat only). my ferrets will eat live/frozen baby mice, chicks, evo ferret food, Evangers makes a high quality canned food just for ferrets. please do not feed your ferret anything with corn, wheat or soy. ferrets just like cats cannot digest those items.

Answer 9

i had a ferret until recently she died at the age of 12 years human years. she loved iams cat food, and she also loved killing and eating mice in the house.. never had a problem with mice. she ran around the house like a cat or dog would, never had her in pen.. as far as potty breaks... i had about ten cat boxes in my house all over cuz they can climb and she loved to sleep in my dresser for clothes.

Answer 10

oh my gosh, ferrets are so cute, i had 2 but the recently died..Ferrets love cat food, i mean the expensive ferret food is almost the same as a $4.00 7lb bag of Purina kitten chow!