Never leave ferrets loose with these animals. Dog food lacks the fat and certain amino acids required by ferrets. The cat food found in supermarkets or grocery stores is not acceptable since it contains fillers and dyes and is grain based. When reading the label, check to see that the first item is chicken, poultry or lamb. The second or third item should also be one of these meats.
Many people purchase a ferret that was altered when the kit was very young.
There is much controversy about altering a ferret before it has had a chance to fully mature. Some experts believe that the early altering leads to a higher incidence of cancer. In any case, a ferret should be altered no later than 5 to 7 months of age. A jill will not go out of season on its own. To avoid aplastic anemia, a fatal condition, a female ferret must be spayed before her first season.