Domestication is a phenomenon governed by the rules of economics,
especially when it comes to diet.  Humans have ALWAYS substituted foods
of lesser economic value than those normally consumed by domesticated
animals, however that value is determined at the time (in the case of
herbivores, herbivorous competition is usually also eliminated, such as
the destruction of the bison for cattle).  The problem with ferrets is
that they have always eaten meat, so they were always economically a
borderline case because of their dietary requirements.  Ferrets, after
2500 years of domestication, rarely form feral colonies, yet feral cats
exist everywhere.  This is a clue to the popularity of cats and why they
supplanted ferrets so easily after centuries of domestication and
cultural acceptance.  Even though both ferrets and cats ate economically
important meat, cats were able to supplement their diet with food
distained by people (rats, mice).  Ferrets ate the same foods people
desired (hamsters, rabbits), so remained in economic competition with
humans.
 
You can track ferret popularity by looking at published descriptions of
their diet.  When eating an economically expensive diet, ferrets were
never very popular.  As dietary substitutions became economically viable,
ferrets increased in popularity.  When kibbled pet foods became available
and ferrets no longer competed with people for food, ferrets became
popular pets.  It is simple economics, but it illustrates an extremely
important aspect of ferret ownership: pet popularity is highly correlated
to cost of upkeep (but shelters already knew that).
 
The reason the effect of an Ad Libitum diet is of such vast importance to
ferrets and their owners is not just the issues of health and longevity.
It isn't just the cost and convenience of feeding the furry little
monkeys.  It is also the economics of sick ferret abandonment and
sheltering.  You may not like it, you may think it is unethical or
even immoral, but the fact is, when animals become ill many of them
are discarded (killed or given away).  This is probably the number one
problem faced by shelters: overcoming the economic problems faced by
the constant influx of ferrets requiring extensive veterinary care.
 
There are only three real possibilities: an Ad Libitum diet causes health
problems and shortens lives, it does not, or some degree of health
problems in between the extremes.  If the Ad Libitum diet has ZERO
negative effects on ferrets, it would be a discovery of great importance:
ferrets would be the first species exempt from what is considered to be a
phenomenon that is considered phylogenetically independent.  But if an Ad
Libitum diet has ANY impact on the health of ferrets, then there is an
ethical and moral imperative to discover those problems and attempt to
correct them.  It can help ferrets live longer, healthier lives, may
reduce veterinary costs, and may help slow the influx of sick ferrets
into our shelters.
 
Bob C
[Posted in FML issue 3980]