Ferrets

General Health

A healthy ferret should:

• Be bright and alert
• Have a glossy coat, with no bald patches or sores
• Have no discharges from eyes, ears, nose or mouth
• Have a clean anal area
• Move around the cage easily

An average life-span for a ferret is 8 years.

Housing

Ferrets can be kept indoors or outdoors, provided the accommodation is dry, draught-free, escape-proof and out of direct sunlight.

Ferrets are active animals and need a large amount of accommodation.  A separate sleeping area should be provided and if more than 2 ferrets are kept together, separate nest boxes should be provided.

Ferrets are very susceptible to the sun and can get sunstroke if not enough shade is provided.

Wood-shavings or cat litter are suitable floor coverings.

Ferrets are easily trained to use a litter tray as they often use the same area everyday.

Diets

Ferrets are carnivorous.  They are best fed a complete pellet food, such as ‘Supa Ferret Excel’.

Ferrets eat meat

Ferrets are carnivores with a simple stomach and a relatively short intestinal tract. They require a meat based diet and not one full of Soya and cereals. Although many ferrets are fed mince or day old chicks, the use of dry extrusion cooked food is now commonplace.

Dry food is better for their teeth

Dry food is cleaner to feed in the summer than fresh meat and is beneficial for the ferret's teeth since they have a tendency to suffer from dental tartar. Dry food can be left out all day since obesity in pet ferrets is rare.

PET Passports

Ferrets can have a PETS passport which will allow them to travel abroad.  They will need to be micro-chipped and vaccinated against rabies.  Your vet can advise you further.

Worming & Fleas

Your ferret should be wormed regularly (Lapizole) and treated against fleas(Advocate spot-on).

Common Problems

Ferrets can suffer from canine Distemper, which can be life-threatening.  They should be vaccinated against this disease. 

It is advisable to have your ferret neutered.  Females can become seriously ill if allowed to repeatedly come into season without being mated.  Females should be spayed and males castrated or vasectomised. Contact us to discuss the best option for your ferret.