Can I feed Ginny canned food?

[mindy]

Since Fred started eating only mushy food when he got sick Ginny has decided that she won't eat kibble anymore either.

I have been mushing up her Go! kibble with hot water but I just thought today that maybe I can give her Go! canned food instead. I feed my cats the canned food and they are doing really well on it.

Here is the link to the food - www.petcurean.com/index.php?page_id=155

It is grain free and the same formula that she was getting in the kibble. She might not even like it but I thought that I would ask.

I was thinking she would get maybe a 1/2 a can a day, I don't know.

What do you think?

[Tressie]

Hi Mindy,

Are you adding any kind of ferret food to the mix?

You can feed the canned food but I would add ground up ferret kibble to it and make sure to leave dry kibble available for her all the time. The canned type generally is lower in fat and protein.

Ferrets do seem to prefer a softer food. Cannoli is about my only ferret out of all the ones I've had, including fosters who seems to prefer kibble to mushy duck soup.

Makes sense if you consider that live prey aren't dry and crunchy

Insulinomic ferrets tend to go off dry kibble altogether and have to be fed duck soup regularly or they'll risk seizures.

Mariah and Chinook won't touch dry kibble at all. Sadie my other senior rescue is temperamental, some days she won't touch dry other days she won't touch wet Tortellini will only eat A/D wet and otherwise eats her kibble mix.

Rest eat mushed up Innova EVO Ferret, Totally Ferret Turkey, Lamb & Venison, and Zupreem plus Innova EVO 95% Feline Duck, warm water and 100% pure pumpkin. In addition, I allways leave out kibble mix for everyone in cages and out of cages to munch on.

Marco and Polo will eat their wet mush if its cold, but rest will turn their noses up at it if its not warmed first. Some will actually look at the bowl and up at me as if to say, "Please warm a little more." And then will dive in when I give it another 10 seconds in the microwave

Try keeping up with a dozen different food preparation preferences

They domesticated us to their ways a long time ago

Tressie

[mindy]

Thank you Tressie

I don't feed Ginny any "ferret" kibble at all. She only gets the Go! kibble. I don't have the option to get any high quality ferret kibble around here. Actually I don't find that any of the ferret kibble is any good at all except for EVO but that was just bought out by Proctor and Gamble. That makes me worrisome.

I have 2 dishes of kibble out for Ginny at all times. I have a dish in her cage and a dish next to her water dish out in the room. I have been giving her mushy kibble 3 times a day every day. She doesn't touch the kibble at all.

I know that canned food is the best choice for a cat but that is because they don't drink enough water. I wasn't sure if the canned food would be a good choice for Ginny too.

I will stick with the mushy kibble. I tried making the food soggy but not mushing it up, keeping it kibble shape, but she turned up her nose... Picky picky picky!

Tressie, just another quick question. Is there any illness that can cause her to gain weight and put on her winter coat now? She is so plush and soft and fuzzy and CHUBBY! I am assuming the chub is from the mushy food, I think that she is eating more than before, but I don't know why she would have a winter coat now.

[Tressie]

Hi Mindy,

Can you not mix the mushy kibble in with the canned food?

Well having 13 ferrets has reinforced how individual they all are. Cappuccino just went through his spring shed months after most of the others. Cannoli is now going through his spring shed. I assume some of that is because I keep the ferret room dark and cool.

A thick fluffy coat simply means they are healthy! She may have an early shed when the time comes. Carissima is like a plump fuzzy little bear. She is the one with the deformed paw and so is not as active as the others.

Ginny may be less active now as well and therefore, is gaining more weight.

Marco one of the fosters, has a thick, plush coat as well.

Tressie

[TayLa]

Hi Mindy
TayLa n' Abby eat a 1/4 dish of kibble mud twice a day. Once in the morning about 6 a.m. and again about 6 p.m. We feed the kibble mud so we know they are eating and getting enough liquid and they love it. We have served this menu since they arrived. During the day and night Abby will take dry kibble from other dishes and hide it in her several hidey holes or choose to eat it. TayLa prefers to wait for the kibble mud. TayLa will not go near can food. Tayla is hesitant to eat other brands of foods. Abby will eat anyting! They are both chubby and full fur. Abby has gained a lot of weight since she has been here. Photo attached.

Good luck,

John

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[mindy]

Thanks guys

I can try mixing the canned and the mushy kibble together. I will try it next time I feed her to see what she thinks. She is a picky pants!

I caught her eating some regular kibble this evening!! Woo! I don't mind giving her the mushy kibble but I feel better knowing that she will eat the crunchy kibble if she gets hungry between the mushy kibble.

I think that Ginny looks like a kit now! She is so chubby and plush that she really looks like a baby.

John, that picture is very cute!