A common question ferret owners ask is, “Can ferrets eat cat food?”
and if they can eat cat food, what cat food can ferrets eat?
we all want to feed our pets the best food for them and keep them healthy.
However, for less popular pets like ferrets, pet stores don’t always offer the right food. and employees don’t always know the best way to care for them.
That’s why you often find people feeding cat food to ferrets.
To really know if cat food is enough for your ferret, you need to understand a ferret’s diet and what it needs to not only survive, but thrive.
nutritional needs of a ferret
Are ferrets like cats when it comes to nutrition?
First of all, you should know that ferrets are carnivores, just like cats. They only eat meat, and nutritionally balanced ferret pellets are the best ferret food for them.
They have a high metabolic rate, which means they need to eat more often throughout the day. When it comes to meal frequency for a ferret vs. a cat, a cat eats 2-3 meals a day, while a ferret eats 8-10 smaller meals.
Your meals should be high in protein and fat and made with chicken or lamb.
Whenever you buy ferret food, check the ingredient list and make sure the source of the meat is listed as the first or second ingredient.
In addition to protein, your ferret needs to get enough fatty acids, so it is a very common supplement for the animal.
cat food for ferrets
so can ferrets eat cat food?
The answer to that question is yes, they can. but not all types of cat food are suitable for a ferret.
If, for whatever reason, you can’t find ferret food at the pet store or vet’s office, some kitten foods are just as good, as long as you also supplement them with a fatty acid.
Most cat and kitten foods contain a lot of grains, such as rice. Ferrets don’t need grain, and in fact, it can be harmful, especially if it’s one of the main ingredients in the food they eat.
If a ferret eats foods with insufficient amounts of protein and fatty acids, they can suffer from malnutrition, a dull coat, and other health problems.
The main thing to keep in mind is that you must be very picky when choosing cat food for your ferret. a diet based solely on cat food can lead to inadequate nutrition over time.
best cat food for ferrets
When choosing a cat food for your ferret, make sure it is grain-free and high in protein.
Kitten food is made with higher percentages of protein to aid growth, making it more suitable for ferrets than adult cat food.
When choosing your ferret’s food, check the ingredient list to make sure it has all the nutrients your pet needs.
protein should be the first or second ingredient, and there should be no grains or artificial preservatives.
Something to keep in mind is that ferrets also eat more than cats, due to their fast metabolism and short digestive tract. one study found that a ferret ate twice as much as a cat.
Keep in mind that a ferret’s food should be at least 30% protein and 15% fat. ferrets that do not receive enough of these nutrients can suffer from poor reproductive performance and frequent illness.
can ferrets eat wet cat food?
this is another common question, and the answer is tricky.
Ferrets can eat wet cat food, but it’s not recommended for a number of reasons.
For starters, wet cat food typically doesn’t contain enough caloric density for a ferret. ferrets require diets high in fat and protein. they would need to eat a lot of wet food to meet their nutritional needs.
canned cat food isn’t crunchy enough for a ferret, either.
When your ferrets eat your pellets, it not only provides them with nutrition, but also helps remove plaque from their teeth. if a ferret ate only wet food, it would experience plaque buildup.
can ferrets eat cat treats?
Although cats and ferrets are carnivores, they have different nutritional needs. when it comes to treats, you need to exercise moderation.
You can feed your ferret cat treats, but not often.
Poor quality cat treats are often made with low amounts of protein and fat, the main ingredients that make up a ferret’s diet. not only that, but they often contain rice and corn, which are things you don’t want your ferret to eat.
Your ferret may not want to eat a poor quality treat, as he will notice that there is little animal protein.
If you’re going to give your ferret cat treats, check the ingredients. make sure there is enough protein, fat and a low amount of fiber. and most importantly, there should be no grains in the ingredient list.
In addition to cat treats, healthier treats for your ferret include meat, eggs, raw fruits or vegetables (less than a teaspoon per day), or semi-moist meat or liver treats.
make sure packaged treats are low carb. do not overfeed your ferret with treats.
ferrets and cat food
so the answer to the question “can ferrets eat cat food?” is yes.
if you carefully review the ingredient list and ensure all nutritional needs are met, the cat food is fine.
Of course, if you can get real ferret food, that’s always the best option.
Avoid grains and high carbohydrate foods and treats, and your ferret will live a long and healthy life.
related articles
- all about neutering your ferret
- more information on how to feed your ferret
resources and further reading
bell, j. a. (1999). ferret nutrition. North American Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice, 2(1).
sa, f. c. et al (2014). Comparison of the digestive efficiency of extruded diets fed to ferrets, dogs, and cats. nutritional science journal, 3(e32).
