[Starling]

Outside the flat someone had dumped a chest of draws last night.  About 10 mins ago we saw a quivering pink nose, oh no another rat I thought, but we couldn't see how it could have got in.  It didn't seem scared of our prescence. OH lifted the bookcase for a quick look and it was a ferret.  It is nowin the flat in a box gulping down a huge amount of water.  We will put up some posters because I think it is a pet, but unfortunatley from where it was it looks like it has been dumped not an escapee.
Does any one know what to feed it please? 

[8doubles]

It will be happy with cat food if you have any, dog food will be ok for a short time. Bit of raw chicken , beef would be enjoyed.

[Starling]

Thanks 8doubles, just need to convince OH and 5 year old we can't keep it!

[8doubles]

When you do decide to keep it there are proper dry ferret foods available, Wellbeloved springs to mind. Ferrets have fairly catholic tastes and enjoy lots of foods that are not particularly good for them.

A bit of fish raw or cooked is another favourite, or a raw egg.

[Val H]

Take a look at this thread as well http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=60645.0

Scabs would take him/her off your hands if you were closer .

[raeburg]

We found one in our garden and the RSPCA collected her and took her for rehoming.

[Starling]

Thanks again 8doubles, OH and 5 year old have returned from the shop with Wellbeloved and have enquired about cages .  I repeat we are not keeping it, we don't have a garden.
Thanks Val, we may yet decide to take a drive to scabs, 5 year old is in tears at the thought of the "RAC" coming to take it away.  We tried to explain they only deal with cars. 
Thanks for moving me MOS 
raeburg, tried the RSPCA who are not open to pick up stray animals until office hours on Monday - so we are trying to find somewhere safe to keep it until then.

[mobilekat]

I would suggest speaking to the National Ferret Welfare Society guys- I used to know some of their members and they were a great bunch

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ferreter/index.htm

They would be able to put you in touch with a local ferret rescue person, and I would rate them as better for re-homing ferrets with 'real ferretty people'

[Starling]

Will try them tomorrow mobilekat, thanks.
She has spent most of today sleeping but has allowed us to handle her.

[Mosslane]

Oh She is lovely no wonder your daughter doesn't want her to go.

[Pretty Chick]

She's beautiful How can anyone just dump her like that

[madcat]

She is one seriously lucky ferret - finding nice people like you! 

[Starling]

She has snuggled down of her own accord in the cat travel basket OH bought from the pet store.  She hasn't eaten yet but is drinking.
Thank you all for your help, interest and kind words, I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.
Just have to keep reminding the boys and myself we can't keep her

[arugula]

She has snuggled down of her own accord in the cat travel basket OH bought from the pet store.  She hasn't eaten yet but is drinking.
Thank you all for your help, interest and kind words, I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.
Just have to keep reminding the boys and myself we can't keep her

She's lovely!

Go on........ you know it makes sense! You cite not having a garden as the reason you can't keep her, but you don't need a garden. Have you any outdoor space at all?

[Starling]

No Argyllie, not near the flat.  The allotment is 5 mins away but I couldn't keep her there. 
I have just emailed the ferret people - but have just asked for advice on how to find her owners and how to look after her in the meantime. Couldn't actually bring myself to ask them to pick her up   Then found myself looking at ferret leads