What Do Albino Ferrets Eat?

Ferrets are curious, playful creatures that make loyal and lovable pets. Their fur colors can range from light and smoky grays to dark chocolate brown or even black. A lack of pigmentation in the skin and eyes results in an albino ferret. The albino ferret is typically the same size and weight as any other ferret, but the albino has white fur and red or pink eyes. A healthy diet is important to prevent obesity and illness. A few simple guidelines should be followed when taking care of your albino ferret's nutritional needs to keep it strong and healthy.

  1. Dry Food

    • Dry food should be a staple in a ferret's diet. To choose a good dry food for your ferret, always read the label on the food to examine the nutritional content. Ferrets are carnivorous and need to eat food that is high in protein. An acceptable dry food for your albino ferret should contain 1 to 20 percent fat, and at least 32 to 40 percent meat-based protein. Food should also contain taurine, which is essential for healthy heart and eyes.

    Wet Food

    • Canned, moist food is also a good choice for your albino ferret. Many pet stores sell wet food for ferrets, but some canned cat food can also be used. Look at the labels and make sure the main ingredients of the wet foods are meat products. Ferrets cannot digest sweeteners or grains, so do not buy products with these ingredients. Wet food should not be the ferret's main source of nutrition, but your ferret will enjoy alternating between dry and wet food a few times each week.

    Natural Diet

    • Some ferret owners prefer feeding their ferret a natural diet instead of commercially prepared foods. A natural diet consists of protein-rich meats that you prepare at home. Small pieces of boneless chicken can be cooked in a pan or boiled and fed to your ferret. While this should not replace your ferret's daily meals, it is a healthy treat that can be given to supplement a dry kibble diet. Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs are also high in protein, and can be fed to your ferret along with dry food.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • Fruits and vegetables can be given to your ferret on occasion, but cannot replace a meat-based diet. Soft fruits that are non-acidic are the safest fruits. You can mash a banana and feed your ferret ½ tsp. once or twice a week for a snack. Many fruits are high in sugar, so do not feed more than twice a week. Never feed your ferret any fruit that has seeds, as these cannot be easily digested. Small bites of green vegetables are safe to give as snacks, as long as they are washed thoroughly to remove bacteria.

    Treats

    • There is a wide variety of ferret treats available in pet stores that are healthy and tasty. Treats formulated specifically for ferrets will provide the best nutrition. If you cannot find ferret treats, cat treats are safe to give your ferret as long as they contain meat-based protein. Never give your ferret any cat treats that are vegetable-based or have less than 15 percent crude protein. Some cat treats are larger than ferret treats, so you might want to break them in half so your ferret can chew them more easily. Soft, chewy treats work best.

    Vitamin Supplements

    • Vitamin supplements are also a good way to make sure your albino ferret gets a healthy and balanced diet. Pet food stores carry vitamins in paste or gel form that you can add to your ferret's food or let your ferret just lick it off your finger for a treat. Vitamin supplements can also be found in liquid form that can be added to your ferret's water supply. Your ferret will find these supplements tasty, and they add much-needed nutrients to ensure your ferret has a long and healthy life.