What do Ferrets Eat

Ferrets are cute, furry creatures that are related to otters, weasels and polecats. They are not rodents, but, mammals belonging to the Mustelidae family. It is believed that the domestication of ferrets was started by the ancient Egyptians. Later, these animals were used for hunting purposes. However, they were not commonly raised as pets, till the last decades of the twentieth century. After that, the popularity of ferrets increased and now, there are thousands of pet ferrets in the United States itself. But, raising a ferret is very much different from raising a pet cat or dog. This little creature needs special care regarding its diet and other requirements.

Proper Ferret Diet

Ferrets are strictly carnivorous in nature and their wild ancestors fed on rabbits, mice, small rodents and insects. This can be substantiated with the fact that ferrets have well-developed carnassials (specialized teeth that are meant to tear meat). Apart from that, these animals do not have appendix and cecum, as in case of omnivores. So, they are unable to digest foods rich in carbohydrates or fibrous foods, like, vegetables, fruits or grains. They need a high protein diet with some fat. This requirement can be fulfilled with meat and animal products only. However, your pet ferret may feed on anything that comes across its way. An improper diet can negatively affect the health as well as the lifespan of a ferret.

• There are many different types of ferret foods available in the market. Go for the one with 35% to 40% protein, 18% to 30% fat and around 2% fiber.
• While fresh meat is claimed to be the perfect food for ferrets, some people go for cooked ones too. However, regular feeding of fatty meat is not recommended. You can feed them small frequent meals of raw/cooked poultry, lamb, fish, beef and cooked eggs.
• Fresh food for ferrets include mice, chicks, eggs and some types of fish. But, make sure to keep your ferret confined, till it finishes the meal. This is because, these animals can hoard food and stack such food materials in different locations. Apart from that, eating rotten food may affect their health too.
• It is also suggested that ferrets are lactose intolerant and can get ill, if fed with milk. So, it is always better to provide them with fresh water throughout the day.
• An occasional treat of fruits like banana and pineapple, or vegetable like broccoli and carrots are allowed, but, in very small quantities. It will be better to cook and mash these foods, before feeding the ferrets.
• Other ferret treats include animal parts, boiled egg, a mouse and pieces of cereal. Treats must be given in very small quantities. Otherwise, it may cause health problems like heart diseases, obesity and dental problems.
• You must avoid feeding ferrets with sugary foods, junk food, dairy products, soda, cat or dog food, candy, cakes, chocolates and sugar coated cereals. While sugars can cause diabetes, other food can cause life-threatening diarrhea.

In short, it can be said that ferrets are strictly meat eaters and their diet should consist of meat and other animal products, high in proteins with a considerable amount of fat. But, such foods, must be low in carbohydrates and fiber. You must feed them with raw or cooked meat as small and frequent meals with a 24 hour supply of fresh water. However, it is always better to seek the opinion of a veterinarian about the proper ferret diet, if you decide to raise a ferret as pet. You may even seek the opinion of the vet, regarding the ferret foods that are available in the market.