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Yes, rats can eat beans, but only cooked. Rat Guide lists cooked black, pinto and kidney beans as a treat of one or two bite-sized pieces, and puts raw dry beans on its never-feed list. PDSA and Burgess name beans among occasional treats. Baked beans and chilli are not suitable: they are salty, sugary or spiced.
| Safe? | Cooked yes, raw dry no |
|---|---|
| How much | One or two bite-sized pieces per rat |
| How often | A few times a week |
| Best served | Plain cooked or tinned in water, rinsed |
| Watch out for | Raw dry beans; baked beans; chilli and refried beans |
Cooked beans vs raw dry beans
This difference is the whole answer.
| Form | OK? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked kidney, black or pinto beans | Yes, as a treat | Rat Guide: one or two bite-sized amounts |
| Tinned beans in water, rinsed | Yes, as a treat | Already cooked; check there is no added salt or sugar |
| Raw dry beans | Never | Rat Guide lists raw dry beans as never to feed |
| Baked beans | No | Sugary, salty sauce; Rat Guide lists high-sugar and high-sodium foods as unhealthy |
| Chilli, refried beans, bean salads with dressing | No | Onion, garlic, spice, oil and salt |
| Fresh green beans | Separate food | See can rats eat green beans |
Never feed dry beans straight from the packet, and keep bags of dried beans out of reach. If your rat has eaten raw dry beans, ring your vet straight away, telling them what kind and roughly how many.
How many beans can a rat have?
Rat Guide puts cooked beans in its treat group: only one or two bite-sized pieces. Unusual Pet Vets lists boiled legumes in its moderation group. PDSA calls beans an occasional treat. So, one or two cooked beans per rat, a few times a week.
How to prepare beans
- Use tinned or fully cooked beans. Tinned beans in plain water are the easiest; home-cooked beans must be soaked and boiled until completely soft.
- Rinse them. Wash off the tin liquid.
- Cut big beans in half. Bite-sized pieces.
- Remove leftovers. Take away anything uneaten after a few hours.
Who should go easy?
Overweight rats, and older males, for whom Rat Guide suggests a lower-protein diet of about 11 to 14%. Rats with sensitive stomachs should try one bean first.
Keep a tin of plain beans in the fridge once opened, in a lidded box, and you have a protein treat ready for two or three days.
Other protein treats
Rotate beans with lentils, chickpeas and peas. See our safe food list for rats, the rat diet guide and the pet rat care hub.
Questions owners ask
Can rats eat baked beans?
No. Baked beans come in a sugary, salty sauce, and Rat Guide lists foods high in sugar and sodium as unhealthy for rats. Give plain cooked beans instead.
Can rats eat raw kidney beans?
No. Rat Guide lists raw dry beans as never to feed. Only give kidney beans that are fully cooked, such as rinsed tinned beans.
Can rats eat tinned beans?
Yes, if they are in plain water with no added salt or sugar. Rinse them and give one or two per rat.
Can rats eat black beans?
Yes, cooked. Rat Guide lists cooked black, pinto and kidney beans as treats in one or two bite-sized amounts.