Diet

A well-balanced feret diet consists of:

• High-quality ferret food; ferrets are obligate carnivores.
• Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water, changed daily.
• Do not feed chocolate, caffeine or alcohol as these can cause serious medical conditions. Avoid sugar, food and treats high in carbohydrates and high-fat treats.

Normal Behavior

• Intelligent, playful and mischievous; love to collect and hide household items; love to dig, so be conscious of house plants. Never allow out of habitat unsupervised.
• Some ferrets may communicate by making entertaining noises or by using body language.
• Nipping is a natural behavior to get attention or show defensiveness when awakened.
• Can be litter box-trained.

Feeding

Things to remember when feeding your ferret:

• Fresh food and water should always be available.
• A limited amount of ferret treats; remember, treats should not exceed 10% of total food.
• All food given to ferrets 16 weeks or younger should be moistened for easy consumption.

Habitat Maintenance

• Clean and disinfect the habitat and its contents at least once a week with a 3% bleach solution. Rinse and allow to dry completely before placing the ferret back into the habitat.
• Scoop litter box daily; change bedding at least once a week, or more often as necessary.

Housing

• Ferrets acclimate well to average household temperatures, not to exceed 80°F; be cautious of extreme temperature changes. The habitat should never be in direct sunlight or in a drafty area.
• Ferrets need a large, multi-tiered, wire-sided habitat with good ventilation, a secure door and a solid floor; openings between the wires should be small enough so the habitat is escape-proof; habitat should also include a hammock, hiding place, litter box and toys. It is best to provide the largest habitat possible.
• 1 to 2″ of bedding should be placed in the habitat; proper bedding includes high-quality paper bedding, crumbled paper bedding or hardwood shavings. Cedar-based products are not recommended.
• Ferrets are very social and may be kept in pairs or multiples if raised together or introduced correctly. Some younger ferrets tend to be asymptomatic carriers of ECE, Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis, a viral disease that can be fatal if left untreated. Use caution when introducing new ferrets to your home as the new ferret will appear healthy, but other ferrets in the home may become sick within 3 days to 2 weeks. Seek immediate veterinary attention if you suspect your ferret has ECE.
• Different types of small animals should not be housed together.

Grooming & Hygiene

• Monthly baths with ferret shampoo are recommended, but conditioning sprays can be used in lieu of a bath; ferrets have a natural musky odor that bathing will not remove; outer ears should be cleaned using a cotton ball and ear-cleaning solution.
• All of a ferret’s baby teeth should be in by 3 months of age. They will begin losing them as their adult teeth come in, which should happen by the time they are 9 months old.
• Nails should be cut every 2 to 3 weeks. Fur may be brushed daily with a soft brush; ferrets shed their coat twice a year.