What should I feed my pet rats?

Natural scavengers, rats are opportunistic omnivores who will eat just about anything they manage to sniff out, even if it’s absolutely no good for them! When caring for your pet rats, feeding them a suitable diet is essential to keep them happy and healthy. 

If you’re not sure about the best way to feed your pet rats, our Q&A can help!

Q: What’s the best daily diet for pet rats?

A: Small pet experts agree that choosing a pelleted dry food created especially for rats is the best choice. High-quality rat nuggets will provide your super smart rodent chums with all the essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals they require.

“It's easy to feed your rats a fresh, healthy and balanced diet by feeding them commercial food pellets,” advises the RSPCA. “Always feed them food designed specifically for rats, rather than pellets for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters or other herbivores – these won't give rats the nutrients they need.” 

Burgess Pet Care in-house vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes, adds: “Rats are renowned for being selective feeders, picking out the bits they fancy and leaving the rest, which puts them at risk of not getting all the nutrients they need. The way to overcome this is to feed them an all-in-one, pelleted food, which contains all of the nutrients they need in every crunchy mouthful. Burgess Excel Rat Nuggets contain prebiotics to support healthy digestion, balanced protein to support healthy growth and added linseed to maintain a healthy skin and coat.”

Q: What fresh foods are suitable for pet rats?

A: While rat pellets should be the foundation of your pet rats’ diet, providing a variety of fresh foods will be appreciated by these omnivorous rodents. Keep portion sizes small – a slender slice or a compact cube is enough.

Safe veggies and herbs for rats include carrot, white cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet peppers, cucumber, courgette, cress, peas, chicory, basil, sage, parsley and coriander. 

Rat-friendly fruits include apple, pear, ripe banana, strawberry, peach and melon – but only offer very small amounts as fruit is high in sugar. As a guide, a piece the same size as a rat’s ear is a good portion for each of your rat friends.

Don’t panic if you spot your rats eating their freshly deposited droppings – this is a natural behaviour that helps them to absorb all the nutrients and minerals they need to stay healthy, even though we humans find it rather strange!

Q: Can pet rats eat human food?

A: As with all pets, if in doubt, avoid feeding human food to your rats, but there are some things they can enjoy.

Veterinary charity PDSA advises that small pieces of cooked, lean meat, cooked lentils, beans, peas and chickpeas are good options as occasional treats, or offer a cooled, hard-boiled egg – your ratty pals will enjoy working out how to get it out of the shell. 

Q: What foods should be avoided?

A: Avoid anything sugary or high in fat, such as dairy products. Foods that are harmful to rats and should never be given to them include onion, garlic, citrus fruits, walnuts, blue cheese, avocado, rhubarb, grapes, raisins and chocolate.

Q: How often should you feed pet rats, and how much should you give them?

A: Rats are most active during the dark hours, so it’s important to schedule their feeding routine around their natural behaviours. In low light, rats locate food by sniffing, grasping it with their mouths, and sitting on their haunches to eat it.

“Rats feed mainly at dawn and dusk, and drink mostly during the night, so feed your rats twice a day – in the morning and evening,” advises the RSPCA. 

“Rats gain weight easily, so follow the feeding guidelines on the packet and weigh their food out each day to make sure you aren’t giving them too much,” adds PDSA. “Give your rats their food in open ceramic bowls (not metal, as this creates ultrasound noise, which rats find disturbing) – this allows them to carry food and handle or eat it wherever they want.”

Every morning, take away any leftovers from the day before to keep your rats’ accommodation clean and hygienic.

Q: What’s the best way to provide pet rats with water?

A: Clean, fresh water should be available for your ratty friends at all times. Without water, rats become seriously ill. Choose good-quality water bottles rather than water bowls, as bits of stray bedding and droppings will end up in bowls, contaminating the water. Remember to check and test water bottles regularly to ensure they’re not leaking or blocked. Clean bottles regularly to avoid algae/bacteria build-up and refill twice daily to ensure your pets are never thirsty. It’s a good idea to have multiple water bottles available, so your rat pack can drink simultaneously, avoiding competition.

Q: Do pet rats need things to chew on?

A: As with all rodents, rats have teeth that grow continuously, so gnawing helps to keep them in good shape. The RSPCA advises that suitable gnawing materials include commercially available wooden items, bits of fruitwood branches (such as apple wood) or low-calorie dog biscuits.

Q: How can I make feeding time more fun for my rats?

A: As well as ensuring that your pet rats get all the protein, vitamins and minerals they need, rat nuggets are also ideal for adding enrichment, making feeding time extra fun for curious rats who will relish the chance to figure stuff out. 

In the wild, rats would spend a lot of time searching out food, and you can encourage this foraging behaviour by scattering a few nuggets around your pets’ accommodation and among fresh bedding. Hide some in an old rolled-up sock, paper bag or cardboard tube for them to investigate, or push some into a pinecone for them to extract. Rats will happily dig in trays of chinchilla sand to find hidden favourite food items. 

Burgess In-house Vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes, says: “Enrichment is really important as it facilitates natural behaviours such as climbing, tunnelling, foraging, chewing and gnawing. Enrichment is well established as a way of minimising stress-related behaviours and improving quality of life. Providing food and treats in innovative ways is a great way for rat owners to make their pets’ lives more interesting and rewarding by increasing cognitive problem solving and reducing boredom.”

What do these loyal and loving rodents need to be healthy and happy? Find out with our ultimate happy pet rat guide >>

Why choose Burgess Excel Rat Nuggets? With a whole host of *5-STAR REVIEWS*, take a look at what our customers have told us:

* “I always use this brand for my small animals. The rat nuggets are a fantastic complete diet. Great value for the high-quality ingredients.” * “My rats are always excited for mealtime with this food. The nuggets are a good size and easy for them to hold. Top product for rat owners.” * “My rats are thriving and have lovely shiny coats. Very pleased with this purchase.” * “The nuggets are a good crunchy texture, which is great for their teeth. The 1.5kg bag is a very convenient size for storing. Top food choice.” * “My fussy rats never leave any of this food. It's a complete and balanced meal for them. Highly recommended by my furry friends.” * “This food is brilliant for ensuring they get all the nutrients they need without selective feeding. They eat every nugget. Excellent quality.” * “My two rats absolutely adore these nuggets. They are a great complete food, and the 1.5kg bag lasts a decent amount of time. Highly recommend for rat owners.” *

CARE MORE Find lots of useful advice on caring for your pet rats from Burgess, the pet experts. Behaviour, training, housing, health, it’s all here >>

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At Burgess Pet Care, all our high-quality recipes have been formulated by vets and nutritionists. This ensures they contain the right balance of vitamins and minerals to supplement your pet’s diet to help keep them happy and healthy. With a long tradition of supporting British farmers, we actively source all our ingredients as close to our mill as possible.

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