Post by Calvin_and_Hobbes on Apr 23, 2005 11:53:17 GMT -5
Welcome to ferret ownership! So you have the bedding, the supplies, the vet, the cage…wait! What about food? Are you just going to buy the cheapest kitten brand from Walmart? I should think not! If you are having trouble finding the right food for your ferret, you have come to the right place!
First of all, getting the cheapest cat food is not the best way to go. Take a look at the ingredients. The first five should be mostly meat, with no corn products in it at all. Ferrets are carnivores, and cannot digest corn, therefore, food with corn is not good.Also make sure there is not any sugar content, such as fruits (as there are in some “ferret foods”). Sugar is a no-no for ferrets. The first ingredient is usually chicken. Chicken by-products are ok, but not the best. The next couple of ingredients should be meat also, such as chicken meal, eggs, chicken fat, etc. It is ok if the top 5 ingredients are not all meat. Next, take a look at the guarenteed analysis. The crude fat content should be at least 20%. The protein should be at least 30%. Fat and protein are important aspects of a ferret’s diet. Ash should not be above 7%, as it cause squishier poopies. Also, cat/kitten foods can also be used…as long as they contain all of the above. Following these guidelines, you should be able to find a good food. Remember, good quality foods usually cost more, but it is worth it in the long run.
Food should be free fed, not on a timetable like you may do with dogs. Ferrets may eat 8-10 small meals everyday, and therefore always need access to food. They also need a full water bowl with clean water, and a backup waterbottle or two.
What about treats? We all love spoiling our fuzzies, so many of us think that treats are great spoilers! However, treats should not be a sole part of the diet. A treat is a treat. It should not replace your ferrets kibble (whatever you feed your ferret). Treats should not contain corn,dairy products, sugar, vegetable or fruit matter (which can cause blockages). Ferrets cannot digest any of these. Some bad treats that should not be fed to ferrets and reasons why include**:
· Yogies *dairy, sugars, blockages*
· Raisins *sugars, and large ones may cause blockages*
· Any dehydrated/dried fruits or veggies *blockages*
· 8in1 Fruit and Crunch, PeanutButter Crunch, Marshamallow Cakes, Fruit Cakes, Fruit Frenzy, Toob Snax *blockages and sugars*
· Any Kaytee Treat *sugars and blockages*
· Any FM Brown's Treats *sugars and blockages*
Good treats that can be fed and how often include**:
·Ferretone *dime sized drip daily* (mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with Olive Oil - to cut the amount of Vitamin A)
·N bonz *1/4 stick weekly
·Cheweasles *1/2 star bi-weekly*
·Cheweasles *1/2 star bi-weekly*
·Foamy Fries *1/2 fri weekly*
·Totally Ferret Brand Treats *2 peices daily*
·Rosies Rewards *1 peice daily*
·Whole Life Treats *1 peice daily*
·Cooked unseasoned meats
·Homemade Duck Soup
Please do not feed all these treats at once! Feed them throughout the day. If you feed too many treats, a ferret may stop eating his/her regular kibble because they are waiting to eat treats! So use sparingly.
Using these guidelines for a good diet, you should have a happy, healthy ferret.
**Thanks Kristen for posting the right treats!
Rachel aka Calvin_and_Hobbes
Check your Foods here on this chart
everythingfert.proboards36.com/index.cgi?board=kristen&action=display&thread=1109195167
Modified to make it a little easier to read and to add the food chart.
First of all, getting the cheapest cat food is not the best way to go. Take a look at the ingredients. The first five should be mostly meat, with no corn products in it at all. Ferrets are carnivores, and cannot digest corn, therefore, food with corn is not good.Also make sure there is not any sugar content, such as fruits (as there are in some “ferret foods”). Sugar is a no-no for ferrets. The first ingredient is usually chicken. Chicken by-products are ok, but not the best. The next couple of ingredients should be meat also, such as chicken meal, eggs, chicken fat, etc. It is ok if the top 5 ingredients are not all meat. Next, take a look at the guarenteed analysis. The crude fat content should be at least 20%. The protein should be at least 30%. Fat and protein are important aspects of a ferret’s diet. Ash should not be above 7%, as it cause squishier poopies. Also, cat/kitten foods can also be used…as long as they contain all of the above. Following these guidelines, you should be able to find a good food. Remember, good quality foods usually cost more, but it is worth it in the long run.
Food should be free fed, not on a timetable like you may do with dogs. Ferrets may eat 8-10 small meals everyday, and therefore always need access to food. They also need a full water bowl with clean water, and a backup waterbottle or two.
What about treats? We all love spoiling our fuzzies, so many of us think that treats are great spoilers! However, treats should not be a sole part of the diet. A treat is a treat. It should not replace your ferrets kibble (whatever you feed your ferret). Treats should not contain corn,dairy products, sugar, vegetable or fruit matter (which can cause blockages). Ferrets cannot digest any of these. Some bad treats that should not be fed to ferrets and reasons why include**:
· Yogies *dairy, sugars, blockages*
· Raisins *sugars, and large ones may cause blockages*
· Any dehydrated/dried fruits or veggies *blockages*
· 8in1 Fruit and Crunch, PeanutButter Crunch, Marshamallow Cakes, Fruit Cakes, Fruit Frenzy, Toob Snax *blockages and sugars*
· Any Kaytee Treat *sugars and blockages*
· Any FM Brown's Treats *sugars and blockages*
Good treats that can be fed and how often include**:
·Ferretone *dime sized drip daily* (mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with Olive Oil - to cut the amount of Vitamin A)
·N bonz *1/4 stick weekly
·Cheweasles *1/2 star bi-weekly*
·Cheweasles *1/2 star bi-weekly*
·Foamy Fries *1/2 fri weekly*
·Totally Ferret Brand Treats *2 peices daily*
·Rosies Rewards *1 peice daily*
·Whole Life Treats *1 peice daily*
·Cooked unseasoned meats
·Homemade Duck Soup
Please do not feed all these treats at once! Feed them throughout the day. If you feed too many treats, a ferret may stop eating his/her regular kibble because they are waiting to eat treats! So use sparingly.
Using these guidelines for a good diet, you should have a happy, healthy ferret.
**Thanks Kristen for posting the right treats!
Rachel aka Calvin_and_Hobbes
Check your Foods here on this chart
everythingfert.proboards36.com/index.cgi?board=kristen&action=display&thread=1109195167
Modified to make it a little easier to read and to add the food chart.
all my kids are doing well otter is getting real beefy feeling <winter weight?> and his coat is getting real soft not many noticeable changes overall,, new guy is getting big
Daxy is SO happy the weather is cooling off! He doesn't like the AC - it limits him to one room but when I let him go other places, he just flat ferrets cause it's too hote