What Should I Feed My Ferret?

Ferrets, like cats, are obligate carnivores, meaning that they must eat meat to survive. However, their protein requirements are even higher than those of adult cats, and they cannot tolerate the levels of fiber used in some cat foods.

For many years, it was advised that ferrets be fed kitten food, which is generally higher in protein than adult cat food. However, with the introduction of higher-quality all-life-stages cat food, (as well as more foods made specifically for ferrets) it is no longer possible to say that all kitten foods are better for ferrets than all cat foods.

An ideal ferret food should meet the following requirements:

  • Certified to meet the nutritional needs of cats, ferrets, or both
  • Free of corn, wheat, byproducts, and non-species-specific meats
  • Protein content of at least 30%
    • Some ferrets thrive on foods with protein levels as high as 50% or more, but others experience digestive problems with very high protein levels.
  • Fat content of at least 18%
  • Fiber content of 3% or less
  • Little to no fish, which can increase odors, unless the ferret is unable to tolerate other protein sources

Foods that meet these requirements are listed below. Brands that make foods appropriate for ferrets can also be found by doing a search by country; however, as not all food varieties made by a brand are suitable for ferrets and not all varieties are sold in each country, further research may be required.

Ferret-Appropriate Foods

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