Expert: Cindy Petrauskas - 10/31/2009

Question
I ran out of ferret food and can't get out till morning is there something I can give her for the night? Cat food maybe? Thanks

Answer
Since it will be difficult to obtain ferret food tonight, I recommend offering the best quality food you can find by following some of the guidelines listed below. Ferrets need to eat every 4-6 hours to remain healthy due to their high metabolism. It is not wise to withhold food for this reason.  Change back to your ferret's normal diet tomorrow by mixing some into the cat kibble you found.  NEVER switch brands suddenly if you can help  it.  Always transition slowly whenever possible.  

Guidelines for food:

Look for a cat or kitten dry kibble with a high fat and protein content. Generally look for 35-40 percent protein (I have found any higher creates soft stool) and around 22 percent fat. Whichever brands you choose, make sure the first 3 ingredients are meat-based and try to stay away from animal by-products since these are "filler" and contain little nutritional value.  Stay away from fish products if possible.  Make sure there are no vegetable additives and minimal carbohydrates, since ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot digest plant material.  

Do NOT buy anything with CORN, BARLEY or RICE within the first three ingredients.  Ferrets cannot digest it and need meat as their protein source.  

Remember, it is not a good idea to suddenly switch brands of food for any pet.  It can cause all sorts of GI problems, including vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, etc. Another problem is any cat food you can get at this time of night is not the quality sufficient for a ferret.  They need a very specific diet. More information regarding this can be found at the link listed below.  Make sure you are providing the proper nutrition to your pet.  Diet is VERY important and most ferret specific foods are NOT healthy and can cause serious health problems. Please read the information in the link.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ferrets-2277/2009/5/picky-eater-3.htm

Good luck!  If you notice any vomiting or diarrhea, have your ferret seen by a vet ASAP.  Ferrets get very ill quickly and severely dehydrated.

-Cindy P.