What was fed may depend on where one lived. I lived in CA 40 years ago and we fed our dog and cat kibble and canned. It was readily available on the store shelves. My grandmother fed her dogs and cats kibble and canned and table scraps. Her cats caught mice and birds at times, but didnt' eat them. We lived in the city. Thirty years ago, here in Kansas in agricultural country, a friend's parents owned a farm and they fed their outside dog and cats a mixture of table scraps, kibble, and the animals scavenged whatever else they wanted to eat. The rabbits that were kept were fed rabbit pellets. I don't remember hearing of any rabbits fed a raw diet. With 4-H being popular in this area there were/are lots of rabbits raised. When we had ECE in 1996, I asked Dr. Williams for advice on feeding - for ferrets that are not drinking or eating on their own, recommended amount is 90 cc/lb/day (3 oz/lb/day), for ferrets that are drinking on their own, recommended amount is 60 cc/lb/day (2 oz/lb/day), with feeding every 4 hours. Fortunately I have access to the vet med library and when I can find some time I'll go over and see what I can find on nutritional deficiency effect time-lines on ferrets. The only way to get this type of information would be to actually do a study that starved ferrets to death. Quite honestly, I'm hoping I DON'T find a study like that, for the sake of the ferrets that would have had to endure starvation to death. As for wild mustelids dying young, do we know their nutritional needs are being met since they die young? Obviously those that die of starvation aren't, but what about the others? Of the domestic ferrets in my care, the majority are health compromised, and live to about 8+ years. I've had few that died earlier and none were nutritional deficiencies that I or our vet am aware of. The ferrets in my care have insulinoma, adrenal, lymphosarcoma, IBD, cardio, and other ferret ailments. I've had 2 ferrets with mouth problems requiring medical care. My group eats kibble and recipe. I add what I believe to be beneficial vitamins and supplements to their recipe. Do I believe that kibble itself keeps my group with glossy coats, good weight and energy? No, which is why I feed the supplemental recipe. My recipe isn't raw or natural yet my group lives long and looks and acts as healthy as their conditions and proper medical and supportive care allows. Others have added recipe to their feeding kibble and their little ones gain weight, glossier coats and become more active too. It isn't just what is fed that helps to keep ferrets healthy, it also includes supportive and vet care, exercise, stimulation, socialization, interaction, and love. Bottom line, people need to do research, not just take someone's word, before doing anything that will affect those in their care. Each person should make their own decision on what they want to do to make life more enjoyable, healthier, and perhaps longer for those in their care. I'll post whatever info I find after I visit the vet med library. Hugs. tle (one who eats ice cream for breakfast, packaged sugary cereal for dinner, processed meals in between, and who plans on enjoying eating for the time I'm here) ;-) [Posted in FML issue 5209]