Ferrets are intelligent, playful and social mustelids kept as companion animals, with welfare requirements including social housing, adequate space for running and exploration, and a diet appropriate to their obligate carnivore physiology.
Ferret welfare requires understanding of their specific physiological and behavioural needs. As obligate carnivores, ferrets require raw meat or high-quality animal protein diets — grain-heavy commercial ferret foods cause nutritional deficiency and associated health problems. Their need for social companionship with other ferrets is strong, and single ferret keeping causes psychological welfare harm. High energy mustelids that cannot run, explore and play develop frustration behaviours. Spaying of female ferrets is a welfare necessity rather than an option — unspayed females experience life-threatening medical conditions from prolonged oestrus if not mated. Ferret welfare benefits from owners who understand the species rather than treating them as small dogs or cats.