There is, frankly, a darn lot of information out there regarding rat nutrition. I'm no expert, and this page is not the be-all and end-all of rat nutrition, but rather a good solid page on the basics.

Rats, like people, are omnivores, which means that they eat both animal and plant foods. Their nutritional needs are somewhat similar to people's too-- more similar than they are to those of cats and dogs. However, please do not just feed your rats whatever you are eating. Rats still need specially tailored diets to meet their dietary needs.

So what is the best diet for a rat? The truth is, nobody really knows for sure. There are differing schools of thought on the subject. As with everything, you need to research the subject, talk with your vet, and come to your own conclusions. This page is meant to provide you with information and resources to help you in this endeavor.

Like humans, rats tend to enjoy yummy junk food, but fresh and wholesome foods are what they need. A rat's diet should consist of roughly 80% staple (specially formulated rat food) foods and roughly 20% fresh fruits and vegetables.

You can also share what you're eating with your rats, to some extent. There are some foods that should be fed with caution, some that should be fed in moderation, and some that shouldn't be fed to your rats at all. There are also some foods that may have additional healing properties for your rats.

Sometimes rats need specifically modified diets.

Pregnant, nursing, and young rats need more fat and protein--but, as always, watch for protein sensitivity, and do not overfeed!

Elderly and sick rats have their own set of needs. Both need diets packed with extra nutrition. They also often benefit from being fed soft, easy to eat foods so they don't have to expend as much energy eating. In some cases, it is also physically difficult for a rat to eat harder foods that require enough strength, healthy teeth, and coordination to eat. Rats with respiratory ailments in particular are susceptible to rapid weight loss as it is more difficult for them to eat when they can't breath well.

A low sodium diet can be beneficial to rats with some health problems, particularly heart failure. For a low sodium diet, avoid all canned foods. Check the labels on all packaged foods and avoid those that have salt listed as an ingredient. Also avoid dairy, baked goods, and processed foods.

In addition to a good diet, don't forget about fresh water! Rats should always have plenty of clean water available. Every day rinse the bottle out and refill it. Once a week wash it well-- don't forget to wash all the parts. In our house we like Edstrom's Water Buddy bottles. They're more expensive than your average water bottle, but they're worth it. We love them because they're high quality, they don't leak (really!) and they can be filled from the top.

Staple Foods

The most common staple foods are

• Blocks
• Store-bought mixes
• Homemade mixes
• Dog food

Blocks

Blocks are scientifically formulated to provide all the nutrients a rat needs. One great aspect of this type of food is that the rats can't pick out the bits they like and leave the rest-- they are sure to maximize the nutritional value of the blocks by ingesting everything the block has to offer.

The quality of various blocks ranges, so please read the ingredients of each brand you are considering and compare them. Blocks which have soybean or wheat listed as the first ingredient above corn are preferable as corn is not especially nutritious but is cheap and so is often used as a filler. Most blocks found at pet stores have corn as the first ingredient.

Harlan Teklad offers a good line of blocks that have wheat as the first ingredient. They offer several varieties, which mainly vary in terms of protein content. Pregnant, nursing, young, or ill rats need more protein while adult and overweight rats need less.

Harlan blocks are harder to get than regular pet store blocks. Several rescue organizations and other rat product stores online offer them, but shipping can be prohibitive.

Something to keep in mind when considering buying Harlan products is that the company sells rats, as well as other animals, to labs to be tested on. Whether or not you support animal testing is a personal decision and this is important information to know when deciding whether to buy from Harlan or not.

Store-Bought Mixes

There are a few different brands of store-bought mixes available for rats, and it's important to do your research on each one you consider because a lot of them are simply not suitable for rats.

Many store-bought mixes contain high amounts of corn, seeds, alfalfa, nuts, and other cheap fillers that are inappropriate as part of a rat's staple diet. Corn is not particularly healthy in the first place, and dried corn can harbor fungus. Most seeds and nuts are high in protein and are fine as treats only. Alfalfa is not even digested by rats very well.

In addition, a lot of store-bought mixes have perservatives in them that could be harmful to your rats, such as Ethoxyquin.

Some store-bought mixes that may be acceptable are Oxbow's Regal Rat, Supreme's Reggie Rat, and ZuPreem's AvianMaintenance Diets.

Homemade Mixes

You can also make your own mix at home. A lot of people do this, and there are many recipes for homemade mixes on the internet. The majority are dry mixes, composed of things like rolled oats, puffed wheat cereal, and dry pasta.

Often, lab blocks or dog food will either be a component of the dry mix or be supplemented by the dry mix.

Dog Food

Sometimes high quality dog food is used as the staple or as an ingredient in a dry mix. Two of the most popular brands are Nutro's Natural Choice Lite and Natura's Innova Senior.

Natura has an interesting comparison tool you can use to compare food and treats for both cats and dogs. Keep in mind that the tool is made by Innova and may be biased.

Foods to be Fed With Caution

• peanut butter (choking hazard--feed only small amounts at a time, and always with supervision)
• cream cheese (choking hazard--feed only small amounts at a time, and always with supervision)
• carbonated beverages

Foods to be Fed in Moderation

• chocolate
• avocado (fattening)
• foods high in nitrates (such as beets, celery, eggplant, lettuce, cucumber, radishes, spinach, collards and turnip greens)
• junk food

Foods Not to Feed

• raw dry beans or peanuts
• raw sweet potato
• green bananas
• green potato skin and eyes
• wild insects
• raw bulk tofu
• orange juice (harmful to males only--oranges are OK but rinse them off after you peel them)
• raw red cabbage
• moldy foods

Foods With Additional Healing Properties

• Antibiotic
  • bananas
  • plums
  • prunes
  • garlic
  • tea
  • courgettes
  • raspberries
  • eggplant
  • onion
  • mustard
• Antiviral
  • cranberries
  • strawberries
  • plums
  • prunes
  • onion
• Arthritis
  • fish oils
  • garlic
  • dates
  • ginger
  • clove
• Cancer (preventative)
  • broccoli
  • red grapes
• Strokes (preventative)
  • celery
  • prunes
  • parsley
  • oranges (for males, peel the oranges well and rinse them off, and avoid orange juice)
• Breathing
  • chocolate (high quality, in small amounts)

 

© 2005-2008 RatZilla - All Rights Reserved