FOOD FOR FERRETS >When it is recommended that ferrets have a MINIMUM intake of 35% protein, >it is just that - a minimum percentage. It is ideal to actually feed 35+, >and the listing on Eukanuba CAT is that it contains no less than 34%. ACTUALLY, ferrets require different meat protein levels at different stages of their lives. Kits should have very high meat protein and high fat for the first year (35%+ and 20%+ respectively). Adults can keep the higher protein, but can lower the fat, especially if it is showing up in the waste line, to 18%. Seniors should have lower protein, 32%, with a fat content of 18%. Ferret foods with 15% fat content are good for "dieting" ferrets, since no "lite" formula of cat food has enough protein. One other argument on the protein percentages: those percentages just state minimum protein, not MEAT protein. The first three ingredients are what I consider the determining factor as to how much vegetable protein there is to meat protein. For example, Eukanuba's first three ingredients are all meat sources, so I'd say their 34% protein is very high in digestible meat protein. I would give preference to any food with the first three ingredients being meat, then two out of three, then meat as the first ingredient. I also recommend avoiding corn and fish in the first three ingredients. Pam Grant / STAR* Ferrets [Posted in FML issue 2131]