Your Pet Ferrets like any other animal needs food to survive; however, not every food is right for them. Generally, Ferrets’ diet should consist of meat and anything related to it.

Vegetable protein in fruits, vegetables and Carbohydrates are not recommended for them at all as they most times react poorly to it.  Ferrets are carnivorous animals which imply they are carnivores, thus the reason they eat meat.

They can also eat kitten food because it is high in meat protein. Baby food is also suitable for them as well as dried ferret food rich in meta protein. You can do well to give your Pet Ferrets raw meat like Turkey necks, stripped carcasses. Chicken wings, Pigeons, Game birds, Lambs heart, Offal, Minced beef, Lamb and several other kinds of meat.

Ferrets can even eat a whole prey like Mice, Chicks, Rats, etc., but it might not be advisable to feed them raw meat. However, raw meat is a replication of their natural habitat which fully meets their nutritional needs. 

Feeding your Pet Ferrets food meant for other species because it is available and convenient is usually the norm, but it is not safe and healthy for your Ferrets. They also have nutritional needs peculiar to them; hence, the need to give them the right food. Knowing the proper diet for your Ferrets is equally essential that you know the food Ferrets should not eat. Here’s a list of what your Pet Ferrets should not eat. Baby ferrets are to be nursed by their mothers till they are six weeks old and after that, can eat the same food as adult ferrets. 

Cooked Bones 

Dogs and cats do not eat cooked bones, so also Ferrets. It would help if you never fed cooked bones to them. Ferrets can easily digest small raw bones, but when the bones are cooked already, digestion is more challenging and more rigid. The cooking process automatically makes the bones hard and indigestible. This can further result in the formation of sharp fragments that can damage their digestive system. 

Grapes, but not for Ferrets

Grapes are healthy and nutritious fruits. However, they are not in any way meant for your Pet Ferrets. Grapes are toxic to ferrets, dogs, and cats, such that the excess consumption of it can cause kidney failure to the animals. The exact amount of Grapes that will cause the toxicity is unknown; thus, it is best to avoid feeding it to them at all. 

Some Plants 

Plants are also not harmful in themselves, but some species can be toxic for Ferrets. Ferrets are curious animals and intense playmates.

Therefore, it is essential to monitor them when they are playing to know what they are up to and what they put eat. More often than not, Pet Ferrets tend to chew plants and furniture when playing.

Some of the poisonous plants include Amaryllis, Kalanchoe, Buckey, Calla Lily, Asparagus, Apricot, Onion, Marijuana, Mistletoe, Dragon Tree, English Ivy, Croton, Cherry, Poison Oak German Ivy and so on. Note that some of these plants are very useful for other things, just not Ferrets. 

Adult Cat Food or Dog Food

Ferrets are carnivores, but they are not built to digest Fiber. Ferrets need enough fat and protein quantity, and you are to make sure their diet is more of meat. Kitten food is rich in protein and fat so that you can feed them that.

But adult cat food is low in protein, but it is the only diet not meant for ferrets, but it can be used instead. If it is the case that you cannot provide your Pet ferrets with a balanced raw diet, then you can give them adult cat food. 

Caffeine and Chocolate 

Chocolate and Caffeine are toxic to dogs and cats, as well as Ferrets. Try as much as possible to avoid feeding it to them. If you have it in your home, take it away anywhere they might run to while playing. It is best to keep things such as these in a ferret proof part home. 

Sugar-Free Foods Containing Xylitol

Anything that contains xylitol, and is sugar-free is very toxic to cats, dogs, and pet ferrets. Things like gum, toothpaste, chewable vitamins, have xylitol in their composition, so make sure to keep them away from your ferrets. These things might look friendly to those lovely creatures, but it is a death trap. 

Grains or Bread.

Grains, bread, biscuits and treat are mostly meant for humans, so try to avoid it for your ferrets. These foods are not bad, but they might not go well with the digestive system of ferrets. They may not even be able to swallow it before even digesting it. Try to keep it away, so they do not choke on bread on grains. 

Dairy Products.

Ferrets love sweet things like milk, ice-cream, cheese and its likes, but they are not recommended for them. Ferrets are not omnivorous but carnivorous and as such cannot process dairy products. They are meant to eat meat and any food high in protein strictly. So also, ferrets, do not have enzymes that are needed to digest lactose.

It is safe to say ferrets are lactose intolerant like some humans are. Feeding them dairy products can cause diarrhea and possibly dehydration and a compulsory visit to a vet. Giving the small amounts of milk might not seem harmful, but they might eventually lead to severe discomfort for your pet ferrets. 

Vegetables and Fruits.

As a pet ferret owner, one of the essential foods to avoid feeding your ferrets are veggies and fruits. Most especially carrots, as they form intestinal obstructions. This is because high carbohydrate food predisposes them to insulinoma. Ferrets can grow to love sweet treats like humans, but it is harmful to them.

Make sure to avoid high carbohydrate foods for your pet ferrets. For a change, you can give your pet ferret scrambled eggs, raw or cooked meat. 

Other Questions

How often should ferrets be fed?

Ferrets are crepuscular animals, which implies that they are most active at dusk and dawn. They sleep for about 18 hours a day, but they play and eat in between those times. These lovely animals have a very high metabolic rate and a short digestive tract, so they eat little at a time and process their food fast. 

Therefore, ferrets can eat up to 8 times daily under normal circumstances. You can make feeding and eating adventurous by making it difficult to find so they can search for it. Mental stimulation is great for ferrets. 

How many days can Ferrets go without eating?

Ferrets are considered free-feeding animals, meaning they always have to have fresh water and food closeby. They should be eating every 4-hour interval but in worst-case scenarios, your pet ferrets should not go for more than 72 hours without eating. In theory, healthy and robust ferrets can last up to 3 days without eating.

Some ferrets might not even last up to 3 days before they give up living. Try not to starve them, but regulate their feeding.  Ferrets do not die instantly from starvation, as it starts slowly. They get tired at first, become irritable, and then become susceptible to being ill. 

What is the best thing to feed a ferret?

The nutrition of your pet ferrets is significant to their growth and development; thus, you have to see that they are well fed.  Like we discussed above, ferrets have certain foods perfect for them, and they also have the food they should never be provided.

Cooked meat is ideal for them as it prevents the risk of exposure to diseases and contaminations. You can also give them pellets if you do not have the time to prepare home-cooked diets for them. The amount of food you give your pet ferrets should be based on their age, activity level, weight, health status, etc. 

References

If you require more information, please check these references

Clinical Approaches to Analgesia in Ferrets and Rabbits , article, "www.sciencedirect.com", retrieved on, Thu 07-January-2021

Diet of feral ferrets (Mustela furo) from pastoral habitats , article, "www.tandfonline.com", retrieved on, Thu 07-January-2021