By Julie Lauzon, agr, MSc, Pet Nutrition
Feeding Ferrets
Ferrets are adorable little obligate carnivores, and they are becoming more and more popular as small animal companions! They are also the best candidates for raw feeding! Their dietary requirements are close to those of cats, with some specific differences. Just like cats, ferrets tend to become attached to their food, imprinting on their diet around 6 months old. Therefore, early exposure to a wide variety of foods increases the likelihood of acceptance later in life. For that reason, transitioning to a raw diet can be difficult for older ferrets, just as it is for older cats. A slow transition, mixing both raw and their previous food together, might be the only solution. Ferrets simply need to learn that raw is food! Warming the food with hot water can also be very helpful.
Just like felines, taurine is an essential amino acid for ferrets. This means taurine must be consumed in their diet, through ingredients or with supplementation. Big Country Raw proteins with the highest amount of taurine are turkey, lamb and pork, as well as all of our Fare Game formulas. Chicken and Beef also has sufficient amounts of taurine, only rabbit and duck tend to be lower and require supplementation if fed exclusively.
Speaking of Fare Game, these recipes will probably be the best choice, not only in regards to their formulation, but their ½ lb packaging as well. Because Fare Game recipes include up to three proteins in each meal, they make diet rotation very easy. They also include a good proportion of heart organ meat, making them easier to digest for small carnivores and provide sufficient taurine in the formulas.
Ferrets also have other very specific requirements: Did you know that ferrets are crepuscular animals, requiring at least 12 hours of darkness per day, and 14-18 hours of sleep? This is to prevent melatonin deficiency! Ferrets also have a very high metabolism and need to eat 7% (adult or summer diet) to 10% (young or winter diet) of their body weight per day. Beware though, they are obligate carnivores with a sweet tooth! Feeding them too many carbohydrates will increase their chances of obesity. Ferrets fed carbohydrate-heavy diets need free access to their food to help manage blood glucose. Conversely, raw-fed ferrets usually manage very well with 2-3 meals per day.
It is a popular belief that fish should be avoided in a ferret’s diet, since fish are not part of it naturally. There is a lot of truth in that, but it is good to keep in mind that wild ferret diets include small prey with a naturally good balance of omega-3 and omega-6. Today, domestic/farmed whole prey and meat are much higher in omega-6 and will need to be balanced by adding extra omega-3. Therefore, ferrets will benefit from a little bit of fish oil, or a few fish (2-3 times a week) in their diet, without exceeding 15% of their total diet with whole fish. If your ferret isn’t a fan of fish, you can also try hemp seed oil.
Ferrets will very much enjoy a whole prey diet, including meat, organ, bones, feather, skin and fur! They will also love raw meaty bones, which are ideal for their dental health. Whole quail, chicken neck and chicken feet are the perfect size for them. It will also be very good mental and physical stimulation for them, providing environmental enrichment is key for a healthy life!