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No, ferrets should not eat cheese. Like most pets, they make little of the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar, so dairy often gives them diarrhoea. Cheese is also fatty and salty. A crumb stolen from your plate is unlikely to do lasting harm, but cheese should never be a treat. Give a small piece of plain cooked meat instead.
| Safe? | No |
|---|---|
| How much | None |
| How often | Never |
| Best served | Not at all. Use plain meat or egg as a treat |
| Watch out for | Diarrhoea, tummy ache and weight gain |
Why can't ferrets eat cheese?
Cheese is dairy, and dairy upsets a ferret's gut. VCA lists dairy among the foods ferrets should avoid because it can cause diarrhoea, and Aloha Vegas Vets puts dairy on its avoid list too. The ASPCA explains why: pets make very little lactase, the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar, so dairy can cause diarrhoea and other stomach upsets.
Cheese brings two more problems. It is high in fat, and ferrets put on weight easily. It is also salty, and PDSA warns against salty foods such as processed meats for ferrets. Some cheeses add onion, garlic or chives, and onion is on the avoid list from Aloha Vegas Vets.
Is hard cheese or soft cheese worse for ferrets?
Neither is a good choice. Hard, aged cheeses such as Cheddar and Parmesan hold less milk sugar than soft cheeses, but they are saltier and fattier. No good source says any cheese is safe for ferrets, so we treat them all as a no.
| Cheese | Main problem |
|---|---|
| Cheddar, Parmesan and other hard cheeses | Fat and salt |
| Cream cheese, cottage cheese, soft cheese | More milk sugar, so more likely to cause diarrhoea |
| Cheese spreads, strings and crackers | Salt, plus starch or flavourings |
| Cheese with onion, garlic or chives | Onion is a food ferrets should avoid |
My ferret ate cheese: what should I do?
- Take the rest away. Check how much was eaten, and whether it had onion, garlic or herbs in it.
- Keep water topped up. The RSPCA says ferrets need constant clean water and become seriously ill without it, which matters more if diarrhoea starts.
- Watch for a day. Loose or smelly droppings and a quieter ferret are the most likely signs.
- Ring your vet if it goes on. Call if diarrhoea lasts more than a day or has blood in it, or sooner if your ferret stops eating or seems weak.
Ferrets often beg for cheese because it smells strong. A bit of cooked chicken gives the same excitement without the stomach upset.
What treats can ferrets have instead of cheese?
Ferrets do best on meaty treats. Plain cooked meat is covered in can ferrets eat chicken?, and egg in can ferrets eat eggs?. Milk is covered in can ferrets drink milk?. The full safe list is in what can ferrets eat?, the main diet in our ferret diet guide, and everything else in our ferret care guide.
More questions about ferrets and cheese
Can ferrets eat a little cheese as a training treat?
We would not. Even small bits of cheese can upset a ferret's stomach, and vets list dairy among foods to avoid. Tiny pieces of plain cooked meat or a ferret treat work just as well for training, and the RSPCA lists pieces of meat as a suitable ferret treat.
Can ferrets eat cream cheese or cottage cheese?
No. Soft cheeses like cream cheese and cottage cheese hold more milk sugar than hard cheeses, so they are even more likely to cause diarrhoea. They are often salted too. Leave them out of your ferret's diet altogether.
Can ferrets eat yoghurt?
No. Yoghurt is still dairy, and many yoghurts add sugar or fruit, which ferrets should avoid as well. VCA lists dairy and sweet foods among things that can cause diarrhoea and blood sugar swings in ferrets.
