I got my ferret a few days ago from someone who rescues cats. She was eating kitten food there, and when I tried to get her to eat her ferret food she wouldn't eat it. How do I get her to switch?
2007-03-02 07:11:50 · 9 answers · asked by ~~ 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
mix the cat and ferret food together and gradualy lessen the amount of cat food in it till it is just ferret food.
2007-03-02 11:32:28 · answer #1 · answered by Thumbs down me now 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Slowly mix the food over and do 9 to 1, 8 to 2, 7 to 3.....1 to 9 and then fully ferret food. If this doesn't work, I've heard of two different things where you don't let it eat for about half a day and then feed it mostly ferret and some kitten and then all ferret or just complete switch from kitten to ferret. Animals won't starve themselves while food is available...unless some reasons like being sick.
2007-03-03 13:12:40 · answer #2 · answered by hondavtec34 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is beyond me why someone would feed a ferret cat food. Its really quite simple actually...dog food for dogs, cat food for cats, kitten food for kittens, and FERRET FOOD FOR FERRETS! lol Sorry, its not your fault.
The reason your ferret is not eating is because he/she is used to the kitten food and is being jolted off of it. I would recommend (as much as I hate to say this) mix into the ferret food some of the cat/kitten food she used to eat. If your not sure what brand give the lady a call and ask her what exactly she was feeding her. Make a mix...50% kitten food - 50% cat food. SLOWLY reduce the amount of cat food in his/her dish everyday until there is nothing left but ferret food. You can also try squeezing some FerriVite onto the ferret food to entice the ferret to eat it. FerriVite is a "high calorie vitamin" that is sold in all pet stores right next to where the ferret food is. Its pretty much a "must" in a ferrets diet anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to purchase it.
2007-03-02 18:20:22 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you do it take 3/4 cat food and add some ferret food. And over a couple days keeping adding more ferret food and less cat food. Then finally the ferret will be used to eating ferret food.
2007-03-02 15:19:17 · answer #4 · answered by Jude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never done any of those things before (mixing cat food w/ ferret food), but in my oppinion, don't do anything. You might think she will starve if you don't give her cat food, but that is wrong. If she is hungry and she learns that this is the only food she's going to get, then she will eat it. Don't complicate things. Also, she just went into a new house and a new enviornment. Let her get used to things before you start freaking out about her eating problem. She might just be stressed and not want to eat.
2007-03-02 16:16:55 · answer #5 · answered by animal luva 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mix a little cat food and ferret food and give more ferret food in the portions as time goes on. This is called Weening.
2007-03-02 15:19:16 · answer #6 · answered by Scott Skates 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do everything that the people are telling you AND make sure you get her high quality ferret food. Marshalls is a really good one. And I think the other really good one is called Totally ferret or Total Ferret food
2007-03-02 15:31:29 · answer #7 · answered by gizmo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave her on the kitten food if it meets what the ferrets requirements are nutritionally.
Nutritional Requirements
Protein: 32-38%; avg. 35%
Fat: 18-25%; avg 20%
Fiber: Less than 3%, avg 2%
Carbs: Simple preferred, no sweets in the food
Starch: Well-cooked, extruded
Ash: less than 7%
Moisture: Less than 12%; avg. 10%
2007-03-02 17:02:12 · answer #8 · answered by ashley k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put her in a cage for a few days . she may be stressed and not eating because of this , puting her in a cage will give her the comfort of a space that is hers and will help to de stress her .
2007-03-02 15:19:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋