Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
Yes, rats can eat rice. Plain cooked rice, ideally brown, is a safe grain treat. Give about a level teaspoon per rat, once or twice a week, inside their normal daily food. The RSPCA counts grains as a small extra within the daily allowance, so rice is a treat, not a staple. Avoid fried rice, egg-fried rice, seasoned packet rice and rice with sauces.
| Safe? | Yes, plain |
|---|---|
| How much | About a level teaspoon (5 ml) of cooked rice per rat |
| How often | Once or twice a week |
| Best served | Plain, cooked, cooled; brown over white |
| Watch out for | Salt, oil, onion and garlic in seasoned rice; leftovers going off |
Is rice safe for rats?
Yes. Rats are omnivores that eat seeds and grains in the wild, and plain rice has nothing harmful in it. VCA lists pasta and whole grain crackers as acceptable rodent treats, and plain rice belongs with them: a starchy extra to give in small amounts. The reason for the limit is that rice is mostly starch: it fills a rat up without the protein, vitamins and minerals in complete nuggets.
How much rice can a rat eat?
About a level teaspoon of cooked rice per rat, once or twice a week. That is a small pinch of grains, roughly 5 g (0.2 oz). Count it as part of the day's food. Rats gain weight easily, as PDSA warns, so starchy treats add up quickly.
Cooked or uncooked rice?
We would serve it cooked. Uncooked grains are hard, dry and slow to chew, and none of the care guides we read recommend feeding rice raw. Cooking makes it soft and easier to digest. Let it cool to room temperature before serving.
Brown, white and other kinds of rice
| Type | OK? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brown rice, cooked | Best choice | More fibre than white |
| White rice, cooked | Yes | Fine as a plain treat |
| Wild rice, basmati, jasmine | Yes, plain | Same rules as above |
| Puffed rice, plain rice cakes | Occasionally | Unsalted and unflavoured only |
| Fried rice, egg-fried, pilau, risotto | No | Oil, salt, onion and garlic |
| Rice pudding, sweet rice snacks | No | Sugar and dairy |
Cooked rice goes off quickly in a warm room. Take away anything uneaten within a few hours, and check hidey-holes, as rats stash food. Never offer rice that has been left out overnight.
Better ways to use rice
Mix a teaspoon of cooked rice with cooked peas or a little egg for a warm-weather treat bowl. Other grain treats include plain popcorn, a corner of bread or a flake of Weetabix. See our safe food list for rats, the rat diet guide and our pet rat care hub.
Questions owners ask
Can rats eat uncooked rice?
We would not offer it. Raw rice grains are hard and dry and none of the care guides we read recommend feeding rice raw. A grain or two picked up will do no harm, but cooked, cooled, plain rice is the better treat.
Is brown or white rice better for rats?
Brown rice has more fibre and keeps more of the grain, so it is the better pick. White rice is also safe. Either way, serve it plain, cooked and cooled, about a teaspoon per rat once or twice a week.
Can rats eat fried rice?
No. Fried and egg-fried rice are cooked in oil and usually contain salt, soy sauce, onion or garlic. Onion and garlic are on the RSPCA Australia list of foods rats should avoid.
Can rats eat rice cakes?
Plain, unsalted rice cakes are fine now and then: a piece the size of your thumbnail per rat. Avoid flavoured, salted, chocolate or yoghurt-coated rice cakes.