When you evaluate the factors about owning a ferret the one factor that is likely the most significant would be their diet.
There are multiple reasons for this.
First, the ferret is a carnivore and eats primarily meat.
This is important since the ferret has difficulty digesting much else.
They need to be placed on a high quality diet and it should remain steady and not changed.
The best ferret diet is one that is a high quality ferret food that lists meat as the first and primary ingredient.
This meat should be poultry, if possible.
While it may seem that you are doing a good thing by offering your ferret some fruits and vegetables, you are not.
The truth is that for the ferret they present no dietary importance.
They require a lot of protein and fat and minimal fiber.
Ferrets have a very quick digestive system and because of this they have to eat quite frequently.
It is best for them if they have a bowl of fresh dry food available to them 24/7.
Never leave out any wet foods for them because they are made of meat and will spoil quickly.
Ferrets will only consume food when they are hungry and because they are so full of life they burn off calories fast thus reducing the concern for overfeeding.
The most important thing is to make sure the food and water are always fresh.
Ask your vet what they recommend in regards to a good high quality ferret food.
If you are left with making this determination on your own then spend a little time at the pet store looking over the ingredients.
The first rule of thumb is making sure that the top listed ingredient is meat.
Make sure the food has no "by-products" since they offer zero dietary worth and are difficult to take in.
A food that is made primarily with poultry and eggs is ideal.
While the number of ferret foods might seem overwhelming, eliminating those that do not meet this grade will thin down your options.
The food need to offer plenty of protein that will be good for your ferret so make sure that the proteins come from primarily grains.
Never offer your ferret any sweets or fish.
If, in fact, you must change ferret food, never do so abruptly.
Ferrets do not embrace change so your best bet is to start adding a little of the new food each day until the change has been completed.
If you speak with other ferret owners you might be told that their ferret did well on kitten food.
This used to be the case but manufacturers have now put out a good deal of really good foods for ferrets and there is no need to rely on kitten food.
Actually, kitten food does not make the grade in meeting the dietary requirements for ferrets.
Ferrets do not require treats but if you decide to splurge do so with food that will not harm your ferret.
Offer treats that are made of cooked meats and eggs.
Never offer them sugar products, fish, fruits or vegetables.
The ferret diet really is not complex but does need to be followed closely to ensure the health of your pet ferret.