Ferrets – A Guide to Proper Feed and Care

A few minutes a day, some basic knowledge, and a little common sense are all it takes to make sure your ferret has a healthy, active life.

The right food:
For a balanced diet, their meal should have 30% protein and 15% fat. High quality cat foods like Iams, Science Diet, or ProPlan have the nutrients they need. An 8 pound (3.6 kg) bag of dry food will last a ferret several months, so the cost of feeding higher grade foods is quite reasonable.

Soft cat foods normally don’t contain enough protein and is not hard enough to remove decay causing plaque from their teeth. Stick with the dry. Dog foods lack the nutrients needed by your ferret, so stay away from these as well.

Vitamin supplements:
Ferretone and Linatone consist mainly of cod liver oil that supplies the ferret with natural oils for a shiny coat and healthy skin. Ferrets always seem to be “itchy’, so the EFA’s (Essential Fatty Acids) added to their diet can help keep the skin ‘lubricated’ from the inside and reduce the amount of itching. Ferretone or Linatone should be available in most pet stores. It’s always a good idea to ask your vet about proper supplements and foods when you first have your ferret examined.

Good treats:
Fruits and vegetables are enjoyed by most ferrets. Try a slice of banana, raisins, pieces of pear, freeze dried liver (cat treats), green beans – almost anything actually, if given in small pieces. Your ferret will let you know what’s favoured and what’s not.

Avoid these things:
Most ferrets love milk and ice cream, but the lactose in cow’s milk gives them diarrhoea and they can easily dehydrate. Goat’s milk is okay, so give them that instead.

Limit high fibre foods like raisins, bananas, prunes, oatmeal, apples, and anything with bran in it. Just like humans, excess fibre can also give your ferret diarrhoea. A lick of your peppermint stick will be fine, but use common sense in giving too much sugar. Chocolate is to be avoided. It contains xanthines which may be toxic to ferrets in large enough quantities. Nobody’s positive about this, but it’s better to be on the side of caution. Give them an occasional chocolate chip, but stop there.

Grooming:
Like all animals, ferrets have their own odour. Theirs is a distinct musky smell caused by natural oils emanating from glands throughout the skin. De-scenting will not change this. To control your ferret's scent, the best thing to do is to change the bedding every few days and keep the litter pans clean. Most of the musk stays in the cloth, on the litter or paper, and on your floors and furniture, not on the ferret himself.

Frequent bathing is not necessary and won’t rid them of their odour. Too many baths can cause dry skin, especially in the winter months. Bathing a couple of times per year should be sufficient.

They do shed hair (fur, actually) with spring and fall being the worst. Ferrets don’t need brushing, but it helps reduce the amount of hair on your furniture and clothes during shedding seasons.

Ferrets groom themselves and this will mean hairballs. A hairball remedy like Laxatone or Petromalt helps if given regularly. It also helps them pass the rubber bands, Styrofoam and other litter that they love to eat.

Nails become very sharp and should be cut every 2-3 weeks, at least. Use regular nail clippers that you use for yourself, or you can buy special ferret clippers.

Bedding:
Pet stores often use wood shavings in ferret pens which isn’t a good practice. They can choke on the wood chips, so it’s best to use an old towel, baby blanket, or t-shirt as bedding. It’s far more comfortable than sleeping on wood.

Those are the fundamentals to proper care and feeding of your ferret. Now all you have to do is add love and you’ve got yourself a healthy, playful companion for a long, long time.