We are all well aware of the fact that ferrets are not common pets. I mean, we frequently saw cats and dogs in our neighborhoods but not ferrets. Therefore facts about these creatures are mostly controversial and make new owners curious about them.

Due to less probability of people keeping ferrets as pets and due to reason of their illegality in several countries, pet store owners are also confused about which food and goodies are specified for ferrets. 

So talking about the ferret diet, you may have seen several people feeding them cat food. As I explained earlier that most of the ferret owners are themselves confused Can ferrets eat cat food? and they are struggling with the question should they give them the cat food. If yes, then what kind of cat food is the best.  

Nutrients required by ferrets:

When we see different ferret owners feeding their ferret’s cat food, we might ponder that are the nutritional requirements of a cat and ferret are the same? Or Can ferrets eat cat food

When it comes to the diet of the ferret and how much they are related to cats. The aspect due to which they are majorly related to cats is their carnivorous nature. Ferrets are pyre carnivorous creatures, and they only eat nothing else. Besides, they will need ferret pellets as food, which are produced according to the exact amount of balanced nutrients required by ferrets.

In contrast to cats, ferrets have a very high metabolic rate, which means they will get their food digested very soon. Ultimately they have to eat more often than cats to maintain a healthier body. This explains that a cat will probably eat 2-3 meals a day while, on the other hand, ferrets can eat 8-100 meals per day. They eat less but prefer to eat many times after a while.

From the above discussion, it is clear, Can ferrets eat cat food yes, they can. Their diet consists of proteins, vitamins, and fats. When you buy ferret food from any pet store, it is strongly recommended to go through the ingredients. This is necessary to make sure that meat should be the primary ingredient in that ferret food.

In contrast to this, proteins are not the only requirement of the ferrets. They also need vitamins and fatty acids to build proper muscle and proper functioning of their body. Therefore you must have seen different stores providing supplements for the fulfillment of these nutrients in the pets.

Cat food suitable for ferrets:

So, after knowing the nutritional requirements of ferrets, let’s jump straight into the question of concern, Can ferrets eat cat food?

Yes, they can eat cat food, but that doesn’t just mean they should always be given cat food for diet.  The same is the case for the fact that they are carnivorous, but that does not mean you should give them only meat, or it also does not mean that meat can be provided to ferrets.

If you fail to find any ferret food at your local pet store, it is perfectly fine to pick up a kitten food. A cat or kitten food also contains the proper amounts of nutrients, and they also usually have the aid of fatty acid supplements. That is just fine for the ferret. Remember that this step is very necessary to make sure that the right food is going in the tummy of your ferret.

Most cat food also contains rice, which is pure grain, and fiber and the ferrets can’t digest it. So if you give your ferret such a kind of feed, they can develop diseases due to poor digestion. 

Also, a diet that lacks proper amounts of proteins and fatty acids can lead to malnutrition in ferrets and several mineral deficiency issues. The lack of any necessary nutrients in the diet can result in laziness, sluggishness, and poor coats.

So you see can ferrets eat cat food the question is okay, but only in the case when you keep a proper check on the ingredients of the cat food.

Can I give my ferret dry cat food?

 Prior discussion has resulted in the curiosity about types of cat food that can be given to your ferret. The internet community has been talking about it ever since, and you will see several platforms that are talking about which cat food should be given to the ferret.

Dry food for your ferret is the best option to give them as feed. Besides, it also has the benefit that your ferret doesn’t create a lot of mess. Formulated ferret dry food is the best for your ferret because it contains all the required nutrients.

Can ferrets eat cat food? Ferret’s digestive system is a more fragile one in contrast to cats and dogs. As they are pure carnivorous animals, they cannot digest any fiber and vegetable proteins, which is often incorporated into the diet of cat and dog food.

For many years in the past, science has not made much progress in the field of pet food and particularly ferret food. But now, there are several companies which are producing high-quality ferret diets which you can give to your ferret.

Just in case if you fail to find any ferret food at your local pet store, you can give them high-quality cat and dog food unless there is no fiber content in it.

In fact, most of the formulated ferret foods are the improvised versions of cat and dog food. This is the main reason that they are more expensive, and due to the same reason, most of the ferret owners shift to a cat or dog food. Some may even choose to give low quality food, which is mostly brand-less.

Remember, these foods are deficient in nutrients. Some may even contain unhygienic content, which makes them much riskier to give to ferrets.

So Can ferrets eat cat food is okay. Yes, you can give them but make sure that the food should be of high quality and should be tested by vets.  Keep in mind that quality comes up with a price.

The ferret food should consist of 30-36% protein and almost 20% of the fats, which also should be free of carbohydrates. The number of fibers should be at least nearly 3%.

Can ferrets eat cat food, Best cat food for ferrets

Can ferrets eat cat food? We have discussed the question much in the above sections. In this section, we are dealing with “Which cat foods should be given to the ferret?” I have filtered out some best ferret foods that will provide the maximum nutrients to your ferrets. I had made sure that the ingredients are of high quality and not just they are nourishing but flavorful as well, so your ferrets will readily eat them. Note: I have skipped those foods which contain fillers in them.

• Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free

• Blue Buffalo Multi-Cat Natural Adult Dry Cat Food.

• Instinct Raw Boost Indoor Health Grain-Free Recipe With Real Chicken

• Whole Earth Farm Grains Free Recipe Dry Cat Food

• Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Question and Answers

Do ferrets eat cat food?

Yes, they can eat cat food. But formulated ferret foods are also now available. In any case; you are not able to find any ferret pet store, you can give them a cat or kitten food but make sure that it is free of grain and should contain the right quality and quantity of the nutrients.

Can ferrets eat fish cat food?

Ferrets are carnivores, and hence it is obvious they cannot digest any carbohydrates and fibers. Meat is their only preference when it comes to diet. Also, ferrets naturally don’t eat fish. However, chicken, lamb, or feed is their regular feed. So your priority should be selecting the cat food in which the meat source is either from chicken, lamb, or beef.

Can ferrets eat wet cat food?

Yes, ferrets can also eat wet cat food. But, due to some reasons, it is prohibited. The major reason is that your ferret needs a high amount of food because he has to eat 8-10 times a day and hence you have to provide a lot of wet food which is not economical. Second, wet food may fail to provide the right amount of nutrients, and it is also not attractive enough for ferrets.