Feeding Ferrets Cat Food

Feeding ferrets cat food is generally accepted as being a "bad idea". It is believed that cat food is improper for ferrets, containing too much plant protein and not meeting the nutritional needs of a ferret. However, I have been feeding my ferrets cheap cat food for a number of months and have witnessed no ill effects. In fact, their health improved while on a grain free food (more energy, softer glossier coats). I feel the difference between foods is not even that significant.

Here I will compare Marshall Pet Products Select Chicken Formula Ferret Diet and Zamzow's Grandma Z's Super Premium Grain Free Cat Food.

Grandma Z's Ingredient list:

Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Oat Meal, Pearled Barley, Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product, Flaxseeds, Natural Flavors, Sodium Bisulfate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salmon Oil, Salt, Dried Whey, Brewers Dried Yeast, Choline Chloride, Tomato Pomace, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Potatoes, Dried Beet Pulp, Taurine, Calcium Propionate, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Cranberries, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Dried Blueberries, Dried Carrots, Ferrous Sulfate Monohydrate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Mineral Oil, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacinamide, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Dried Parsley, Barley Grass, Dehydrated Alfalfa, Dried Spinach, Amorphous Silicon Dioxide, Citric Acid, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Vegetable Oil, and Rosemary Extract.

 Made in the USA: YES

Guaranteed Analysis:

Protein, min. - 33.0% 
Fat, min. - 20.0% 
Fiber - max.2.5% 
Moisture - max. 10.0%

 Marshall's Ingredient List:

chicken, chicken by-products (organs only), chicken by-product meal, corn meal, dried beet pulp, brewers dried yeast, sodium propionate (preservative), Dl-methionine, L-lysine, taurine, mixed tocopherols, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin supplement, niacin, biotin, choline chloride, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, manganous oxide, inositol, ascorbic acid, BHA, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, zinc oxide, cobalt carbonate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite, rosemary extract.

Made in the USA: YES

Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude Protein (min.) 36%,
Crude Fat (min.) 18%,
Crude Fiber (max.) 4%,
Moisture (max.) 10%.

The only thing I would be concerned about is the lack of L-lysine in the cat food, it is good for immune health, but still not a requirement to maintain a ferret's health, it is more a preventative measure, like giving medicated feed to chicks. This would actually be a good thing to add to cat food, as it helps decrease the symptoms of the incurable feline herpes, which is so prevalent in cats! Now, this food does have a lot of plant material, which some veterinarians feel can be fatal or hard or a ferret, but the crude fiber is lower than that of the Marshall Ferret blend... Interesting isn't it? This is the grain free version of the food:

Guaranteed Analysis:

Protein, min. - 50.0%
Fat, min. - 22.0% 
Fiber - max.3.0% 
Moisture - max. 10.0%

INGREDIENTS: Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), White Fish Meal, Tapioca, Natural Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Kelp, Carrots, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Dried Enterococcus Faecium, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Inulin, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentation Solubles, Taurine, Green Tea Extract, Ascorbic Acid (source of vitamin C), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), d-Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement (Sources of Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Rosemary Extract.

I've read the protein should cap at 40%, but have not heard of negative affects associated with it being over 40%. Interestingly, this food has slightly more fiber, but is still lower than the Marshall food.

Ferrets, like cats and dogs, are strictly carnivores. Some ferrets were accidentally domesticated from the Black Footed Ferret, and are even used by hunters (in a sport called "ferreting") to chase hares/rabbits out of their burrows so the hunter can catch them. Being that they are strictly carnivores, some even have a cage muzzle so they can't catch and eat the hunter's kill.

Some vets even recommend feeding rats and/or mice to ferrets! Be careful with this though, make sure you get your rodents (or chicks) from a source which is free of coccidia. I don't know about gerbils or mice, but rats can carry coccidia without showing symptoms. Chicks usually show symptoms, but are usually risk free if they are started on medicated feed which stomps out the nasty little bug. Some owners also feed chicken necks, turkey necks, or other parts of poultry, swine, or beef that humans normally don't want to eat; instead of whole or live prey.