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Yes, rats can eat kiwi. RSPCA Australia names kiwi as an example of a fruit treat for rats, and Chewy's vets and Unusual Pet Vets list it too. Give a peeled piece about the size of your rat's ear, a few times a week. The tiny black seeds are fine to eat. Kiwi is sweet and a little sharp, so keep portions small.
| Safe? | Yes, as a treat |
|---|---|
| How much | A piece about the size of your rat's ear, around a thin slice |
| How often | Two or three times a week |
| Best served | Ripe, peeled, sliced |
| Watch out for | Dried kiwi with added sugar, kiwi juice, unripe hard fruit |
Is kiwi good for rats?
Yes, as an occasional treat. Kiwi is juicy, full of flavour and easy to nibble. RSPCA Australia suggests fruit treats such as apples, berries and kiwi, given infrequently and in small amounts: no more than 10% of a rat's daily calories should come from treats. Unusual Pet Vets puts kiwi in its group of fruits to feed in moderation.
Kiwi is famous for vitamin C, but rats make their own, so they don't need it the way guinea pigs do. The thing to watch is sugar, as with any fruit.
How much kiwi can a rat eat?
A piece about the size of your rat's ear, which Burgess gives as the right fruit portion for a rat. For a standard green kiwi, a thin slice cut into two or three pieces will cover a pair of rats. Offer it two or three times a week at most, and keep vegetables as the main fresh food. Chewy's vets suggest a few small bites of fruit a few times a week in total.
Can rats eat kiwi skin and seeds?
| Part or form | OK? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ripe flesh | Yes | The part to offer |
| Small black seeds | Yes | Tiny and eaten with the flesh |
| Fuzzy skin | Better peeled | Tough and hairy; none of our sources covers it |
| Golden kiwi | Yes | Sweeter, so keep the piece small |
| Dried kiwi | No | Concentrated sugar, often with more added |
| Juice, smoothies, sweets | No | Sugar without the chewing |
How to prepare kiwi for rats
- Choose a ripe kiwi. It should give slightly when pressed. Hard, unripe kiwi is sour and often left.
- Peel it. Cut off both ends and slice the skin away, or scoop out the flesh with a spoon.
- Slice thinly. One ear-sized piece per rat.
- Clear up. Remove leftover fruit within a few hours so it doesn't go off in the cage.
Kiwi is a sharp, juicy fruit and can sting any small cut in a rat's mouth. If your rat backs off after a first bite, offer a sweeter fruit instead.
Is kiwi a citrus fruit?
No. Kiwi is a berry from a vine, not a citrus fruit, so the RSPCA's advice to avoid citrus doesn't cover it. That said, any sharp fruit can loosen droppings if overfed, so stick to small pieces.
What to offer instead
Rotate kiwi with strawberries, blueberries or raspberries. If you are wondering about citrus, see our page on oranges. The safe food list for rats, our rat diet guide and the pet rat care hub cover the rest.
Questions rat owners ask
Can rats eat kiwi every day?
It is better not to. Kiwi is fruit, so it is sugary, and too much can cause loose droppings and weight gain. Two or three small pieces a week, mixed with other fruit and plenty of vegetables, is the safer rhythm.
Can baby rats eat kiwi?
Once young rats are weaned and eating solid food well, a very small peeled piece is fine. Introduce it on its own and check their droppings stay firm before offering it again.
Can rats eat golden kiwi?
Yes. Golden kiwi is prepared the same way as green kiwi: ripe, peeled and in a small piece. It is sweeter and less sharp, so many rats prefer it, but keep the portion just as small.