Healthy Foods for Your Rats

What You Can and Cannot Feed Your Pet Rat

Knowing what your rat can and cannot have is important. Of course, pet stores and most large store chains carry rat food, which is fine for feeding your rat. However, sometimes you may want to give your rat a snack or feed him or her what you’re feeding your family that night. In that case, it is important to research to make sure that the food is safe for your rat.

When I cook, I try to conserve food that I would have thrown away for the rats. Potato peals are a good example. I keep a bag in the freezer, and when I peel potatoes while cooking, I will place the peels in the freezer and occasionally treat my furry friends to a snack. Frozen veggies are great for rats on hot days. They love it when I place the veggies in some water so they can play with their food before they eat it.

When you first feed your rat a new food, you will probably notice them take a small bite, then ignore the food. Many owner think they are done and will take the food away. However, what the rat is doing is testing it. Rats do not have a gag reflex, so if they eat too much of something that will make them sick, it could kill them. By testing their food, the rat is trying only a little to see if it makes him or her sick. If it doesn’t, your pet will go back and finish off the food.

However, I’ve noticed that after a while, rats will begin to trust their owners and eat all of the food without testing it more and more frequently. It is important to realize this as an owner so that you are careful to not feed your rat something that may make him sick.

It is also important to remember that your rats are strong. If you leave food laying around while your rats are out, you can expect it to be dragged off before long. Rats are strong enough to move large pieces of pizza, hot dogs, and even tacos or bean burritos.

Below are lists of the foods that are okay for your rat, the foods that are not, and the foods you should be careful with. If you don’t see a food you are looking for, try doing a little online research. Always check around before you feed your rat a new kind of food. You never know whether or not the food could be poisonous or toxic to your furry friend.

• Apples. Cut the apple up and make sure to remove all the seeds. Seeds are hazardous for rats.

• Applesauce. Feed them very little if the applesauce has lots of sugar or other fattening ingredients.

• Apricots.

• Avocados. These are very fatty for rats and should be given in moderation.

• Bananas. My rats love it when I smash the bananas up like pudding and add nuts or other fruits.

• Beef. Chicken is healthier for your rat, but beef is okay if the fat is kept to a minimum.

• Blackberries.

• Blueberries. Be careful when feeding these to your rats because they can be messy!

• Blueberry buckle baby food.

• Boysenberries.

• Bread. While my rats love bread and haven’t had any problems, I’ve read some articles about rats choking on bread. I would recommend feeding only very small pieces to your rats and toasting it first. You may even soften the bread by dipping it in milk or water.

• Broccoli.

• Butternut squash. Make sure that the squash is thoroughly cooked before feeding it to your rat.

• Cantaloupe.

• Carrots.

• Cashews.

• Cauliflower.

• Celery. This vegetable is fine for rats, but it doesn't have very much nutritional value.

• Cheese. Small amounts are okay for rats. Soy-based cheese is healthier for them.

• Cherries.

• Chicken. This is the healthiest meat for your rat.

• Chicken bones. Surprisingly, these are not only healthy for rats but also good chew toys. Next time you have chicken for dinner, save the bones.

• Choy.

• Cold cuts.

• Cooked sweet potatoes.

• Corn. Corn is good for your rats whether it is on the cob, from the can, or even frozen.

• Cottage cheese.

• Cranberries.

• Cream cheese on crackers.

• Cucumber.

• Dog food. People who make their own rat food will often add dog food to the mix. However, you don’t want to skimp on quality, and you want to get a low-protein type of food.

• Dried bananas. These are great for rats because they are high in potassium.

• Dried cranberries. If your rat is prone to urinary tract infections, this is great to add to its diet. Cranberries are good for keeping the urinary tract clean and healthy.

• Dry cereal. Cheerios are great for feeding your rat. However, be careful about feeding your it cereal that contains a large amount of sugar. Puffed rice cereals are yummy for rats, but avoid rice krispies and other sugary choices.

• Dry rolled oats. Any type of oats is fine as long as it does not contain any sugar.

• Fruit baby food.

• Grapes. Purple grapes are believed to prevent cancer in rats.

• Green beans. Cooked green beans are very nutritious.

• Green peppers. Just make sure they aren’t too spicy for your rats and try to feed them in small amounts at a time.