Good food for rats
We have all the information you need about rat food. It might seem complicated because rats are and need a mixture of food types to keep them healthy, so just follow our easy guide.
Here are the food types you need to think about offering your rat:
- Fresh water: essential for life
- Concentrate (nuggets or mix): needed for nutritional balance
- Cooked legumes (never raw), fruits (no apple seeds or avocado) small amounts of cooked meats, cooked grains, low fat cottage cheese and cooked eggs.
- Leafy, green vegetables
- Snacks or treats: Supreme treats, toast, yoghurt, dried fruit
Fresh water – must always be available. It can be provided in a bottle or a bowl. Make sure to check the sipper of the water bottle at least daily as they can become clogged. Water bowls should be heavy so they are not knocked over.
Concentrate – rat food concentrates provide the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that may be absent or present in variable amounts in other foods.
Wholegrain’s provided in a rat food are recommended to wear down their constantly growing teeth and to keep their gut healthy. Nuggets or kibbles provide all the nutrients needed in each mouthful.
A mix (which can contain cereals and vegetables that might be dried whole or flaked) provides the nutrients that are needed overall in each of the components. It is important when feeding a mix to ensure the bowl is cleared before it is topped up, so that each meal provides all the nutrients your rat needs. A high-quality concentrate or mix will contain natural ingredients that rats like to eat, without the addition of sugary syrups which can result in digestive upset or dental disease.
Leafy, green veg – a small handful of leafy green vegetables provides a welcome addition to a rat’s diet daily. Find a list of safe veggies for small pets here.
Rat treats – hand feeding a treat or snack is an important part of bonding with your rat. Treats like our Selective Naturals Harvest Loops are healthy and contain no added sugars.
