From:
Roger Vaughn
Date: 2002-06-04 15:38:00 UTC
Subject: Low fat foods
What are the effects of feeding a ferret low-fat foods?
Here's why I ask. I have recently started feeding my cats IVD
Hifactor. Both of them are middle-aged and have (different) urinary
problems. Unfortunately, most of my ferrets have taken a liking to the
stuff, and eat that in preference to their own (high-quality) ferret
foods. I would feed everybody on ferret food, except that it's too
rich and contains too much magnesium for the cats. One of the cats was
developing struvite crystals, and I suspect it was *because* she had
started eating the ferret food.
(What's wrong with the pet food industry? Cats prefer ferret food;
ferrets prefer cat food.... <sigh>)
The first problem I see is that the Hifactor contains only 8% fat - a
bit low for young ferrets. I'm not sure if the lower magnesium is not
a problem, too.
So, you see, I'm not actually feeding low-fat foods, but I can't keep
the ferrets away from it. I can keep the cats away from the ferret
food by putting it in cages, but I haven't figured out how to keep the
ferrets away from the cat food.
Any suggestions on how this might affect their health, or on how to
keep the cat food away from them?
Thanks.
Roger & the Fibonacci Ferts