Ferret food
Ferrets need a diet built around high protein and high fat with minimal fibre, closer to their wild diet of whole small prey than to typical cat or dog food. A ferret's digestive system moves food through very quickly, which means they need concentrated nutrition available frequently rather than large infrequent meals, and a diet designed for another species can leave them genuinely malnourished over time.
What a proper ferret food actually contains
Look for a food with meat listed as the first ingredient and a protein content typically in the region of 30-40%, with fat similarly high and fibre kept low, since ferrets cannot digest plant matter and grain-heavy fibre efficiently. Purpose-made ferret kibble is formulated specifically to this profile and is the more reliable choice over adapting a cat food, even a good-quality one.
Kitten food is sometimes used as a stop-gap because of its higher protein and fat content compared with adult cat food, but it is still formulated for a different species and a dedicated ferret food remains the better long-term choice where one is available.
Feeding little and often
Because food passes through a ferret so quickly, most keepers feed dry food available throughout the day rather than in one or two large meals, so ferrets can graze as their fast metabolism demands. Fresh water needs to be available constantly alongside it.
Treats should stay genuinely occasional and meat-based — fruit, vegetables and sugary treats are poorly tolerated and offer little nutritional value to an animal that cannot process plant matter efficiently.
Signs the diet is not right
Poor coat condition, weight loss despite eating, or soft stools can all point to an unsuitable diet, though they can also indicate other health issues, so persistent problems are worth raising with a vet rather than adjusting food alone and waiting to see.
Switching a ferret onto a new food, including moving from a stop-gap kitten food to a dedicated ferret diet, is worth doing gradually over a week or so rather than all at once, since a sudden change is more likely to cause loose stools than the food itself being wrong. It is also worth rechecking the ingredient list occasionally even on a food you already trust, since manufacturers do change recipes, and a formula that was previously a good fit can shift in protein or fat content without the packaging looking noticeably different.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Vitalin Natural Ferret
Complete dry food for ferrets from three weeks old, built on 48% chicken meat meal
£14.19
Selective Supreme Science Selective Ferret
Complete ferret food in 2kg and 10kg packs, with 43% dried chicken protein
From£12.50
Burgess Excel Ferret Nuggets
Complete dry ferret nuggets in a 2KG bag, with chicken declared at 41%
£10.39
Mr Johnson's Advance Ferret
A 2kg complete dry food for ferrets, built on poultry meat meal with added taurine
£7.49
Dr John Merlin Ferret
A complete ferret food built on chicken and liver, for pet or working ferrets
From£11.99
Four Flags Quick Ferret Muzzle — Grooming & Handling Aid
A temporary, reliable muzzle designed specifically for ferrets — useful for grooming, medicating, and routine handling.
£14.99
Ancol Burrow & Squeak Ferret Harness Set
A ferret harness and 120cm lead set, green camouflage, up to 27cm girth
£8.29
Beaphar Ferret Malt Paste
A dual-action vitamin and malt paste for ferrets, with taurine for eye and heart health
£6.26
Ferret Care Pack
Burgess Excel ferret nuggets, a malt paste for hairballs and a harness and lead set for supervised outings.
£22.49
Beaphar Dimethicare Line-On Mite Flea & Lice Control for Rabbits, Ferrets & Guinea Pigs
A pesticide-free line-on mite, flea and lice treatment for rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs
£6.99
Tiny Friends Farm Russel Rabbit Tasty Nuggets
Complete dry nuggets for adult rabbits, with added vitamins and minerals
£5.90
Common questions
- Can ferrets eat cat food?
- A good-quality kitten food can work as a temporary stop-gap because of its higher protein and fat content, but it is still formulated for a different species. A dedicated ferret food, with meat as the first ingredient and low fibre, is the better long-term choice wherever it is available.
- Why can't ferrets eat regular dog or adult cat food?
- Standard adult dog and cat foods are generally lower in protein and fat, and higher in fibre, than a ferret's fast digestive system is designed to process. Fed long-term, an unsuitable diet can leave a ferret genuinely malnourished even though they are eating normally.
- How often should I feed my ferret?
- Most keepers leave dry ferret food available throughout the day rather than feeding one or two large meals, since food passes through a ferret's short digestive system quickly and they need to graze frequently to keep up with their fast metabolism.
- Are fruit and vegetables good treats for ferrets?
- Not really — ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot process plant matter efficiently, so fruit and vegetables offer little nutritional value and are poorly tolerated in any quantity. Small amounts of meat-based treats are a more appropriate occasional extra.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.