More Dooks Ferret Food Chart

Summary
This ferret food chart mathematically rates dry ferret, cat, and kitten foods.
Keep in mind that it is impossible to determine the exact quality or the meat content of a food from just the information that is required to be on its label. The best we can do with the bit of information we get is approximate (or look at foods that provide meat content claims or other extra information).

This chart rates foods by assessesing the amount of protein and fat they contain, and then scoring the quality of their main sources. It also penalizes high amounts of carbohydrates (such as vegetables and sweeteners).

The Exact Math (feel free to skip if you're lazy)
We award equal points to both protein and fat being as high as possible. Each percent that is in the food earns 0.51 points. The first 6 ingredients are rated on a weighted scale (meaning points are more greatly affected by ingredients that are higher on the list):

+6 for the first ingredient, +5 for the second, +4 for the third, +3 for the fourth, +2 for the fifth, +1 for the sixth
Named meats and meat meals. Named animal fats or oils.

+3 for the first ingredient, +2.5 for the second, +2 for the third, +1.5 for the fourth, +1 for the fifth, +0.5 for the sixth
Unnamed meats, meat meals, fat, or oils.
Named by-products and digests.

0 points awarded
Unnamed by-products and digests.
Flavoring, plant oils, supplements, and anything else not listed.

-3 for the first ingredient, -2.5 for the second, -2 for the third, -1.5 for the fourth, -1 for the fifth, -0.5 for the sixth
ALL vegetables and fruits. Grains/corn/wheat will not be punished beyond other vegetables unless someone can find substantial proof that they do more harm than potatoes. I've spent a lot of time trying with no luck getting results.

-4.5 for the first ingredient, -3.75 for the second, -3 for the third, -2.25 for the fourth, -1.5 for the fifth, -0.75 for the sixth
Vegetable proteins (not to specifically penalize them, but rather to roughly take back the points they awarded for elevating the protein level of the food)

-12 for the first ingredient, -10 for the second, -8 for the third, -6 for the fourth, -4 for the fifth, -2 for the sixth
Sweeteners (sugars that provide no nutritional benefit).

This criteria seems to be quite effective for scoring the majority of foods, but do keep in mind that some foods with a very limited ingredient variety may score a bit lower than they "should" (ie. Instinct Chicken).


The Score
All Foods are given a ranking in points, and point ranges are divided into tiers.
Green Tier: Excellent Foods that a ferret can thrive on.* These all have a minimum of 40% protein. Most of them are grain-free and provide a promise of at least 75% animal ingredients.
*note that Epigen cat/dog is an exception that has excellent protein levels, but does not contain enough fat for a ferret to thrive on (it is 11-12% fat) and is thus recommended as a treat or 'mixer' only.
Blue Tier: Solidly good foods. Most of them meet a ferret's basic requirements for protein and do so without using meat by-products.
Orange Tier: A ferret could certainly live on these foods, but I would not personally expect them to thrive. I would recommend switching or mixing with a higher quality food.
Red Tier: Foods that I would personally NOT consider to be suitable for a ferret.

Important Tips
  • If you're entirely new to ferret nutrition and would like a crash course to help understand this logic, visit our Ferret Nutrition for Newbies- Where to Start page.
  • While we believe that high quality kitten foods are ferret-suitable (especially compared to some of the low-end ferret foods out there), there are also people who don't. If you're not comfortable feeding cat food, don't do it. You can scroll down to the bottom of the page to disclude cat foods or change the chart's scoring system if you disagree with our scoring setup.
  • I'm not a vet, so please consider my word to be professional medical advice. Read our full disclaimer here.
  • DON'T feed only one food. Pick 2 or 3 foods and mix them or rotate (read why here).
  • Whole prey or raw meat is generally regarded as the very best diet, I recommend checking it out before making any decisions.

    PointsNameTypeProteinFatFiberFirst 6 ingredients
    58.3
    Wysong Ferret Epigen 90
    dry60%20%3.5%chicken chicken meal chicken fat chicken giblets gelatin apples
    56.59
    Innova EVO ferret
    dry50.2%22.53%1.39%turkey chicken meal chicken herring meal chicken fat peas
    56.59
    Innova EVO cat and kitten
    dry50.2%22.53%1.39%turkey chicken meal chicken herring meal chicken fat peas
    55.29
    Young Again Zero Carb Cat
    dry55%24%4%chicken meal pork protein concentrate poultry fat soybean oil fish oil herring meal
    54.66
    Go! Fit and Free
    dry48%18%1.5%chicken meal deboned chicken deboned turkey duck meal turkey meal salmon meal
    54.22
    Wysong Epigen 90 [RECOMMENDED AS MIXER ONLY]
    dry60%12%3.5%chicken chicken meal chicken fat chicken giblets gelatin apples
    52.62
    Orijen Cat
    dry42.0%20.0%3%boneless chicken chicken meal chicken liver herring boneless turkey turkey meal
    51.63
    Wellness CORE Kitten
    dry45%18%3%deboned turkey whitefish meal deboned chicken herring meal chicken meal peas
    51.63
    Wellness CORE cat
    dry45%18%3%deboned turkey deboned chicken chicken meal whitefish meal herring meal peas
    50.96
    Wysong Epigen [RECOMMENDED AS MIXER ONLY]
    dry60%11%3.5%chicken chicken meal chicken giblets vegetable protein poultry fat egg
    50.1
    Natures Variety Instinct Duck and Turkey
    dry40%20%2.5%duck meal turkey meal chicken meal herring meal chicken fat tapioca
    49.59
    Instinct Rawboost Duck and Turkey
    dry42%17%2.8%duck meal turkey meal chicken meal herring meal chicken fat tapioca
    48.72
    Natures Variety Instinct Chicken
    dry50%22%2.8%chicken meal chicken fat tapioca salmon meal chicken flavor pumpkin seeds
    48.72
    Instinct Rawboost Chicken
    dry50%22%2.8%chicken meal chicken fat tapioca salmon meal chicken flavor pumpkin seeds
    48.6
    Natures Variety Instinct Rabbit
    dry40%20%2.4%rabbit meal chicken meal salmon meal herring meal tapioca chicken fat
    48.22
    Young Again 50 22 Cat
    dry50%22%4%chicken meal pork protein concentrate poultry fat potato starch tomato pomace herring meal
    47.22
    Natural Gold Ferret Food
    dry50%22%5%chicken meal pork protein concentrate potato starch poultry fat soybean oil grape seed oil
    47.22
    Young Again Ferret
    dry50%22%5%chicken meal pork protein concentrate poultry fat potato starch tomato pomace cellulose
    46.12
    Innova Kitten
    dry40%22%3%turkey chicken chicken meal rice barley chicken fat
    45.6
    BLUE Wilderness Kitten
    dry40%20%3.5%deboned chicken chicken meal turkey meal potato starch fish meal fish oil
    45.06
    Chicken Soup for the Kitten Lovers Soul
    dry34%22%4%chicken chicken meal turkey meal chicken fat cracked pearled barley white rice
    44.55
    Acana Cat Grasslands
    dry35%20%2.5%boneless lamb lamb meal salmon meal russet potato herring meal chicken meal
    44.06
    Serengeti Cat
    dry38%18%2.5%chicken meal chicken chicken fat dried potato product salmon meal natural flavors
    44.06
    Innova Cat and Kitten
    dry36%20%2.5%turkey chicken meal chicken potatoes egg barley
    43.58
    BLUE Wilderness Duck
    dry40%18%3.5%deboned duck chicken meal turkey meal potato starch fish meal peas
    43.58
    BLUE Wilderness Chicken
    dry40%18%3.5%deboned chicken chicken meal turkey meal potato starch fish meal peas
    43.12
    Innova PRIME Cat
    dry42%20%3.5%chicken chicken meal peas turkey flaxseed pea fiber
    42.58
    Drs Foster and Smith Ferret
    dry38%20%2.8%Chicken Meal Brown Rice Chicken Fat Dried Egg Product Lamb Meal Chicken Digest
    42.11
    8 in 1 ULTIMATE Crunchy
    dry45%16%3%chicken chicken meal ground rice chicken fat chicken digest raisin juice
    42.09
    Path Valley Farm PVF Crunchy
    dry37%22%1.5%chicken meal rice flour egg product chicken fat catfish meal wheat flour
    41.59
    Felidae pureELEMENTS
    dry39%20%1.5%Chicken meal turkey meal lamb potatoes potato protein peas
    41.16
    Solid Gold Indigo Moon
    dry46%20%3%chicken meal potatoes canola oil chicken chicken flavor salmon oil
    41.1
    Zupreem Premium Ferret [OLD FORMULA]
    dry40%20%2%chicken meal chicken fat ground wheat wheat flour chicken egg product
    41.08
    BLUE Wilderness Salmon
    dry40%18%3.5%deboned salmon chicken meal turkey meal potato starch pea protein peas
    41.04
    Before Grain Salmon Cat
    dry36.0%18.0%3.0%salmon meal chicken meal dehydrated potato turkey meal chicken fat dehydrated sweet potato
    41.04
    Before Grain Tuna Cat
    dry36.0%18.0%3.0%deboned tuna chicken meal dehydrated potato turkey meal chicken fat dehydrated sweet potato
    41.04
    Before Grain Chicken Cat
    dry36.0%18.0%3.0%deboned chicken chicken meal dehydrated potato turkey meal chicken fat dehydrated sweet potato
    40.06
    Professional Kitten Chicken and Rice Formula
    dry34%22%3%chicken chicken meal ground rice chicken fat pea protein egg product
    40.06
    Premium Edge Kitten
    dry34%22%3%chicken chicken meal brown rice chicken fat oatmeal fish meal
    40.05
    Totally Ferret Turkey Venison and Lamb
    dry35%20%1.75%turkey meal dried egg product brown rice poultry fat catfish meal rice flour
    40.02
    4Health Cat
    dry34%18%3%chicken chicken meal egg product cracked pearled barley ground rice chicken fat
    39.6
    Triple F Farms Ferret Food
    dry38%22%1.5%chicken meal rice flour egg product chicken fat wheat flour dried beet pulp
    39.59
    L Avian Plus Ferret
    dry36%23%3%chicken meal chicken fat wheat middlings chicken by-product meal brewers rice ground flax seed
    39.52
    HealthWise Cat N Kitten Dry Food
    dry32.51%20.48%1.67%chicken meal brown rice chicken chicken fat herring meal flaxseed
    39.06
    Marshall
    dry38%18%4%chicken by-products chicken herring meal corn oatmeal cod fish
    38.85
    Zupreem Premium Ferret
    dry40%20%2%chicken meal wheat flour chicken fat potato protein chicken dried egg product
    38.6
    All Living Things Ferret Daily Diet
    dry40%20%3%chicken chicken meal corn protein concentrate brewers rice poultry fat fish meal
    38.58
    Totally Ferret Active Show Pet
    dry36%22%1.5%chicken meal rice flour dried egg product chicken fat wheat flour corn meal
    38.1
    Vitalin Ferret
    dry40%20%2%chicken & chicken meat meal whole rice herring meal whole egg chicken liver & sugar beet vitamins & minerals
    38.08
    AvoDerm Kitten
    dry36%22%3%chicken meal ground whole grain corn chicken fat herring meal corn gluten meal whole ground brown rice
    38.05
    Wysong Archetypal-2
    dry35%20%3%Chicken Chicken Giblets Poultry fat Ground Brown Rice Ground Wheat Ground Corn
    38.04
    Fromm Kitten Gold
    dry34%20%3.5%duck chicken meal pearled barley white rice salmon meal chicken fat
    37.06
    Simply Nourish Kitten
    dry38%18%3%chicken chicken meal rice flour canola oil natural flavor tomato pomace
    37.05
    Acana Cat Prarie
    dry35%20%3%chicken meal russet potato boneless chicken boneless walleye whitefish meal peas
    36.59
    Eukanuba Kitten
    dry36%23%2.5%chicken chicken by-product meal corn meal corn grits dried egg product dried beet pulp
    36.54
    By Nature Kitten Formula
    dry34%20%4%chicken meal ground barley chicken fat ground oats chicken chicken livers
    36.54
    Lifes Abundance Cat
    dry33%21%3%chicken meal ground brown rice chicken fat dried beet pulp dried egg product catfish meal
    36.51
    Marshall Senior
    dry34%17%3%chicken by-products chicken herring meal corn oatmeal cod fish
    36.33
    Royal Canin Babycat 34
    dry34%24%3.5%chicken meal rice chicken fat corn gluten meal chicken corn
    36.3
    James Wellbeloved natural ferret food
    dry36%19%3%turkey meal ground whole wheat turkey fat fish meal turkey gravy potato protein
    36.06
    Iams Premium Protection Kitten
    dry34%22%3%chicken corn meal chicken by-product meal poultry by-product meal animal fat dried egg product
    36.06
    BLUE Kitten
    dry36%20%3.5%deboned chicken chicken meal whole ground brown rice ground barley oatmeal chicken fat
    36.02
    California Natural Cat and Kitten food
    dry36%16%1.5%chicken chicken meal brown rice rice chicken fat natural flavors
    35.6
    Living World Ferret
    dry38%22%3.5%poultry meal poultry fat ground maize dried egg brewers rice dried beet pulp
    35.52
    Natural Balance Ultra Premium Cat Food
    dry34%18%3%chicken meal chicken brown rice barley oatmeal chicken fat
    35.52
    Felidae Chicken Meal and Rice Formula
    dry32%20%2.5%Chicken meal brown rice chicken fat egg product cracked pearled barley peas
    35.29
    8 in 1 ULTIMATE Soft-Moist
    dry36%18%3.6%chicken meal chicken rice flour soy flour poultry fat corn gluten meal
    35.04
    Wellness Kitten
    dry36%18%3%deboned chicken chicken meal rice ground barley ground rice chicken fat
    35.01
    Fromm Chicken A La Veg Cat
    dry32%19%3.5%chicken chicken meal pearled barley white rice chicken broth sweet potatoes
    34.81
    Wellness CORE Cat Turkey and Duck Formula
    dry38%18%6%deboned turkey turkey meal peas potato protein canola oil tomato pomace
    34.79
    Authority Kitten
    dry34%20%3%chicken chicken meal brewers rice corn protein concentrate poultry fat ground corn
    34.6
    Zupreem Grain-Free Ferret
    dry42%18%3%chicken meal sweet potatoes peas chicken fat potato protein salmon
    34.56
    PRO PAC Cat Kitten
    dry34%22%3%chicken meal rice ground corn chicken fat dried egg beet pulp
    34.55
    Eukanuba Adult Lamb and Rice Formula
    dry34%21%2.5%chicken chicken by-product meal corn meal corn grits Lamb Brewers Rice
    34.54
    Evolve Kitten Formula
    dry34%20%4%chicken chicken meal ground brown rice corn meal corn gluten meal chicken fat
    34.54
    Iams Kitten
    dry33%21%3%chicken corn meal chicken by-product meal animal fat dried beet pulp dried egg product
    34.52
    Holistic Select Cat and Kitten
    dry32%20%2.8%chicken meal ground brown rice chicken fat oatmeal anchovy & sardine meal flaxseed
    34.36
    Nutro Natural Choice Kitten
    dry43%18%3%chicken meal corn gluten meal ground rice chicken fat wheat flour herring meal
    34.04
    Prairie Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Medley
    dry34%20%2.5%chicken meal brown rice oatmeal chicken fat menhaden fish meal ground flaxseeds
    34.02
    Go! Refresh and Renew
    dry32%20%2.5%chicken meal deboned chicken whole brown rice whole white rice oatmeal chicken fat
    34.01
    Halo Spots Stew Grain-Free Cat
    dry33%18%6.5%chicken eggs pea protein vegetable broth chicken fat peas
    33.54
    Marshall Select
    dry36%18%4%chicken chicken by-products chicken by-product meal corn meal dried beet pulp cane molasses
    33.53
    Kaytee FortiDiet Ferret
    dry35%18%4%poultry meal fish meal pork fat soy flour kibbled corn dried beet pulp
    33.3
    Eagle Pack Kitten
    dry34%21%3.8%chicken meal ground brown rice chicken fat corn gluten meal ground yellow corn anchovy & sardine meal
    32.85
    Taste of the Wild feline
    dry42%18%3%chicken meal peas sweet potatoes chicken fat pea protein potato protein
    32.75
    Holistic Blend Chicken and Salmon Feline
    dry32%18%3%chicken meal ground brown rice chicken fat hulless barley chicken soy protein
    32.58
    Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Formula
    dry40%18%2.5%chicken chicken by-product meal corn gluten meal brewers rice soybean meal animal fat
    32.55
    Science Selective Ferret
    dry36%19%2%poultry by-product meal whole wheat chicken fat fish meal turkey meal dried beet pulp
    32.34
    Pro Plan Dry Kitten Food
    dry41%18%3%chicken brewers rice corn gluten meal chicken by-product animal fat soybean meal
    32.04
    Blackwood Kitten
    dry33%21%2.75%chicken meal brown rice oat groats chicken fat dried beet pulp egg product
    31.77
    Sunscription Vita Prima Ferret
    dry36%16%4.5%porcine meat and bone meal chicken by-product meal ground corn brewers rice poultry fat corn gluten meal
    31.55
    Sheppard and Greene Ferret Food
    dry35%20%2%chicken meal ground rice corn gluten meal chicken fat ground corn dried whole egg
    30.77
    Browns Zoo Vital Ferret
    dry34%18%2.5%poultry meal ground wheat chicken fat fish meal wheat middlings soybean meal
    30.29
    Path Valley Farm Premium
    dry34%20%3.5%poultry meal poultry fat cooked corn soy meal porcine blood meal wheat middlings
    30.03
    Totally Ferret Complete
    dry35%18%2%chicken meal wheat flour corn meal chicken fat brown rice potatoes
    29.03
    Royal Canin Kitten 36
    dry36%17%3.5%chicken meal brown rice corn gluten meal corn chicken fat chicken
    29.03
    Kaytee Fiesta Max Ferret
    dry34%19%3%poultry meal poultry by-product meal brewers rice ground wheat dried egg product poultry fat
    28.97
    Blackwood Adult Cat
    dry30%17%3.5%chicken meal brown rice ground sorghum millet chicken fat egg product
    28.83
    Science Diet Kitten
    dry37%21%2.5%chicken by-product meal ground whole grain corn animal fat corn gluten meal brewers rice chicken liver flavor
    28.55
    Kaytee FortiDiet Pro Health Ferret
    dry35%20%3%poultry meal poultry by-product meal brewers rice poultry fat dehulled soybean meal ground wheat
    28.51
    Kaytee Fiesta Ferret
    dry35%16%5%poultry meal ground corn fish meal rice pork fat dried beet pulp
    28.45
    Wild Harvest
    dry30%15%3%chicken meal ground rice chicken fat papaya pineapple chicken digest
    27.97
    Iams Original Chicken
    dry32%15%3%chicken chicken by-product meal corn meal corn grits dried beet pulp poultry by-product meal
    27.84
    Mazuri Ferret
    dry38%20.5%4%poultry by-product meal ground brown rice dehulled soybean meal porcine animal fat (BHA) poultry digest poultry fat (ethoxyquin)
    26.52
    Felidae
    dry32%20%2.5%Chicken meal brown rice cracked pearled barley peas millet chicken fat
    25.75
    8 in 1 Ultra
    dry35%15%3%chicken meal ground yellow corn brewers rice corn gluten meal animal fat corn oil
    23.03
    Purina Kitten Chow
    dry40%12.5%4%chicken by-product meal corn gluten meal brewers rice soy flour animal fat wheat flour
    21.51
    Meow Mix Kitten
    dry36%15%4.5%chicken by-product meal brewers rice corn gluten meal ground yellow corn soybean meal beef tallow
    20.9
    LM Farms Bonanza Ferret
    dry30%10%5%kibbled corn fish meal poultry meal soy flour spray dried animal blood feeding oat meal
    14.63
    Wild Harvest Daily Blend
    dry30%8%4%poultry by-product meal brewers rice ground yellow corn corn gluten meal chicken fat brewers dried yeast
    animalfishvegetableother
    *All foods below 8% or above 12% moisture have been converted to kibble matter on this chart

    Foods Database

    This is an advanced tool for searching through our database of ferret, cat, and/or kitten foods, and ranking the results based on a points system.  If you want to save a chart made with your own search criteria, you'll need to log in.  If you'd like some help understanding how to use this tool, or want to know more about how its math works, click here

    Search Criteria

    Search in foods designed for:
    Ferrets Cats Kittens Dogs
    Search in these varieties of food:
    Dry Kibble Freeze-Dried Commercial Raw Canned Food Other (air dried, soups, etc.)

    Protein should be between (min) % and (max)%. Reward points for it being as as possible within that range.
    Fat should be between (min) % and (max)%. Reward points for it being as as possible within that range.

    Weighted scale points for the top 6 ingredients:
    1. In the top few ingredients I want to points, max for ingredients in this category
      OR matching this phrase:
    2. In the top few ingredients I want to points, max for ingredients in this category
      OR matching this phrase:
    3. In the top few ingredients I want to points, max for ingredients in this category
      OR matching this phrase:
    4. In the top few ingredients I want to points, max for ingredients in this category
      OR matching this phrase:
    5. In the top few ingredients I want to points, max for ingredients in this category
      OR matching this phrase:
    6. In the top few ingredients I want to points, max for ingredients in this category
      OR matching this phrase:
    7. In the top few ingredients I want to points, max for ingredients in this category
      OR matching this phrase:
    8. In the top few ingredients I want to points, max for ingredients in this category
      OR matching this phrase:
    9. In the top few ingredients I want to points, max for ingredients in this category
      OR matching this phrase:


    Additional points for the entire ingredients list:
    1. I want to points if this phrase: '' appears anywhere in the ingredients list.


    Exclude fish-based formulas.

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