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Only as a stopgap. Most cat food does not have enough protein for a ferret, and vets now recommend a proper ferret food instead. If you run out, a high-protein, low-carbohydrate kitten food will do for a day or two, and a few cat treats are fine. Do not make cat food your ferret's main diet.
| Safe? | Not toxic, but not a full diet |
|---|---|
| How much | Normal meals of high-protein kitten food in an emergency, or a few cat treats |
| How often | Occasionally, or for a day or two if you run out |
| Best served | High-protein, grain-free kitten food |
| Watch out for | Low protein, cereals, fish-heavy recipes and a change in droppings |
Why isn't cat food right for ferrets?
Ferrets need more protein and fat than most cat foods give them. VCA says a good ferret diet is 32 to 40% protein and 10 to 15% fat with under 4% fibre, and Oxbow sets the bar higher still: over 40% protein, at least 20% fat and under 5% fibre and carbohydrate combined. PetMD says most cat food lacks the protein ferrets need, and PDSA says dog and cat food, wet or dry, is not suitable for ferrets. VCA notes cat food was suggested in the past, but ferret-specific diets are now recommended.
When is cat food OK for a ferret?
There are a few exceptions. PetMD says some high-protein, low-carbohydrate cat foods can be suitable. Supreme Petfoods says kitten food and treats are suitable for ferrets because they contain enough protein and taurine, though it does not advise ordinary cat food, and the RSPCA lists cat treats among suitable ferret treats. So a bag of high-protein kitten food is a reasonable backup, and a cat treat now and then is fine.
How do I pick a cat food for an emergency?
| On the label | Look for | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| First ingredients | Named meat: chicken, turkey, lamb | Cereals, maize (corn), rice, peas |
| Protein | Over 40% on a dry food | Adult, light or senior recipes |
| Fat | Around 20% on a dry food | Weight-control foods |
| Fibre | Under 4% | Hairball or high-fibre recipes |
| Main flavour | Poultry or meat | Fish-heavy recipes |
The targets are from VCA and Oxbow. Wet foods list lower percentages because of their water, so compare dry foods with dry foods.
How to switch back to ferret food
- Mix the foods. The RSPCA says diet changes should be gradual, so mix their ferret food back in over a few days.
- Watch droppings. Loose or very smelly droppings mean slow down.
- Keep a spare. PetMD suggests rotating or blending ferret food brands, so a ferret is not stuck if one formula changes or sells out.
Ferrets can get set on one taste, PetMD notes. Getting them used to two ferret foods early makes running out much less of a problem.
Which ferrets should not eat cat food?
Ferrets with insulinoma, gut problems or a vet diet should stick to what your vet advises, and growing kits need the right food most of all. Our ferret health guide covers the signs to watch.
What should ferrets eat instead?
A complete ferret food is the main diet, as set out in our ferret diet guide, with extras from can ferrets eat raw meat?. Dog food is a worse stopgap: see can ferrets eat dog food?. The full list is in what can ferrets eat?, and wider care in our ferret care guide.
More questions about ferrets and cat food
Can ferrets eat kitten food long term?
A very high-protein kitten food is the best cat food option, but ferret food is still the better long-term choice. PetMD says most cat food lacks enough protein for ferrets, and PDSA says cat food is not suitable as their diet. Keep kitten food as a backup.
Can ferrets eat wet cat food?
A spoonful now and then is fine, but not as a main food. PDSA notes kibble helps reduce plaque on teeth compared with wet food, and many wet cat foods are low in meat protein. Pick a meaty, grain-free one if you use it.
Is cat food bad for ferrets?
It is not poisonous, but most cat food is the wrong balance for a ferret, with too little protein and often cereals ferrets cannot digest. Supreme Petfoods says cat food might not contain all the nutrients ferrets need. A few cat treats or a day or two of kitten food will not hurt.
