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| Safe? | Yes |
| How much | A few leaves, or one thin slice of stalk |
| How often | Leaves most days; stalk once or twice a week |
| Best served | Raw, washed, strings removed |
| Watch out for | Long strings, too much water, salted dips |
Is celery good for rats?
Celery is safe for rats but not very nourishing. A medium stalk of about 40 g (1.4 oz) is around 38 g of water and under 6 calories, with small amounts of potassium, calcium and vitamin A, according to USDA figures quoted by the vet-reviewed Vet Desk. It does not offer much vitamin C either, but rats make their own, so they do not need it from food.
Woodgreen, the UK animal charity, lists celery among its suggested fresh treats, and Supreme Petfoods puts it in its "sometimes" group for rats. Unusual Pet Vets goes further for the leaves, which it counts as an everyday vegetable.
How much celery can a rat have?
For stalk, one thin slice per rat, about the size of your rat's ear, once or twice a week. The Vet Desk suggests keeping it to about once a week. For leaves, a small sprig of three or four leaves can join the fresh veg bowl most days. Fresh food is part of the daily allowance, not extra on top.
How to prepare celery for rats
- Wash it well. Rinse stalks and leaves under the tap to remove soil and spray residue.
- Destring the stalk. Run a peeler down the outside, or snap it and pull the strings off.
- Slice thinly. Cut across the stalk into thin slices so no long fibres are left.
- Clear leftovers. Remove uneaten celery within a few hours, before it goes off in the cage.
Leaves, stalks, cooked and dips
- Leaves: the best part, most days in small amounts.
- Stalk: safe, destringed and thinly sliced, once or twice a week.
- Cooked: plain and cooled is fine; never from soups or stews cooked with onion or garlic.
- Celery with dips, cream cheese or salt: no.
What to offer instead
For a juicy veg with more goodness, try cucumber in small slices, or a leafy green such as kale. Carrot is a crunchier option, and lettuce is another water-heavy one to keep small. The full list is in what can rats eat, the daily balance is in our rat diet guide, and everything else is in our pet rat care hub.
Celery questions
Can rats eat celery leaves?
Yes, and they are the most useful part. Unusual Pet Vets lists celery leaves among its everyday vegetables for rats. The leafy tops have more flavour and less water than the stalk. Wash them and offer a small sprig, a few leaves per rat, as part of the day's fresh food.
Do I need to remove the strings from celery?
Yes, for stalks. The long fibrous strings can be hard for a rat to chew through and may catch in the throat. Run a vegetable peeler down the outside of the stalk, or snap a piece and pull the strings away, then cut it into thin slices across the stalk.
Can rats eat cooked celery?
Plain boiled or steamed celery, cooled, is fine. It is softer, which suits older rats with worn teeth. Do not give celery from soups, stews or stir fries, because these are usually cooked with onion, garlic and salt, which are not safe for rats.
Can celery give rats diarrhoea?
It can if they eat a lot. Celery is about 95% water, and too much water-heavy veg at once can loosen droppings. Keep it to a thin slice and see how your rats get on. If droppings stay soft for more than a day, stop the fresh veg and call a vet.