Ferrets

The elastic dancer, mischievous to the tip of his whiskers.

6 breedsPhoto · David J. Stang (Wikimedia Commons)

The ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a mustelid domesticated 2000 years ago for rabbit hunting. Strict carnivore, hyperactive, playful, it is the antithesis of the cat: it demands 4 hours of stimulation per day, lives 6-10 years, and requires careful cohabitation with other small animals (predation instinct).

Overview

0.7–2 kg

Weight range

min ↔ max documented

6–10 ans

Life expectancy

all ages

Small

Majority size

6 breeds of 6

100%

Suited for apartments

referenced breeds

Ideal profile

What should good food contain for ferret ?

Nutritional ranges validated by our team. These are the ranges our PawScore considers ideal.

Ferret dry food

Protein36–45%
Fat18–25%
Fiber1–3%
Calories380–450kcal

Ferret wet food

Protein10–16%
Fat6–12%
Fiber0.2–1%
Calories90–140kcal

Values outside the range are not dangerous, but slightly reduce the PawScore according to our methodology.

Lifestyle

Always in a group or pair (isolation = depression). Multi-level cage 1m+ for the night, out-of-cage 4h/day minimum in a secure room (the ferret slips everywhere, chews everything, steals everything — seal wires, baseboards, under furniture). Hammock, tunnels, toys, 18h/day nap.

Nutrition

Strict ultra-fast carnivore. Ferret-specific kibble (≥35% animal protein, ≥18% fat, ≤3% fiber) or BARF diet (chicks, raw meat, offal). Premium cat kibble (Acana, Orijen) work as emergency backup. NEVER grains/sugars, chocolate, fruits/vegetables in quantity (short digestive syste