The Basic Things You Will Need

• A cage - the bigger the better!  Cages can be multi-leveled with different surfaces and most important, must be easy to clean.

• Food bowls

• Food

• Brush and comb

• Area for digging (ferrets love to dig)

• Plenty of sturdy, plastic toys

Diet

Ferrets are carnivorous mammals. 

Your vet will be able to advise you on a suitable diet for your ferret.  These days there are special diets available which are more suited to the ferret’s digestive system.

A ferret’s diet should be high in animal protein, relatively high in fat and low in fibre. They have a quick metabolism and a short digestive system so they need to eat frequently every 3-4 hours and should have access to food day and night. Ferrets only eat to meet their calorific needs and will not generally eat consistently.

Ferrets love treats such as raisins, banana, apples, hard-boiled or scrambled eggs and peanut butter but these should only be fed in moderation and in small amounts of no more than 1-2 small pieces per day.

Ferret food is now available in our on-line shop!

Handling

Domestic ferrets are generally gentle to handle and are not aggressive.

Ferrets have poor eyesight and should never be put in a situation where they could fall off a high surface.

Ferrets should also not be held too near to your face even if you are familiar with their behaviour, because your nose can look very much like a toy to be grabbed onto!

Most of the time they like to be held in your arms and enjoy lots of human company.

Caring for Your Ferret

At least once a year, your ferret should visit the vet for a check-up to ensure your ferret is fit and healthy.

Did you know you can also get your ferret microchipped?  If you ferret did escape and get lost, the microchip will have your details on so that your ferret can be returned to you.

If you are ever concerned about the health of your ferret you should consult a vet as soon as possible.