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
Type a food into the checker to see whether pet rats can eat it: every day, sometimes as a treat, or never. Each answer links to a full page with how much to give and why. Rats should eat a complete rat food first, with small amounts of fresh food taken out of the daily allowance. Never give onion, citrus, walnuts, rhubarb, grapes, raisins or chocolate.
How the food checker works
Start typing and the checker suggests foods we have written a full answer for. Pick one and you see the verdict (every day, sometimes or never), a one-line answer with a portion size, and a link to the full page. The animal is set to rats; switch it to check the same food for another small pet.
If a food is not on the list, that does not mean it is safe. Leave it out and ask a vet who treats rats before you offer it. If your rat has already eaten something worrying, take away what is left, note roughly how much is gone and ring your vet.
What rats should eat
The RSPCA says rats need a complete pellet made for rats as their main food. Pellets for rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters don't give rats the nutrients they need. Rats are omnivores, so small amounts of vegetables, fruit, cooked egg, grains and seeds can go alongside, counted as part of the daily allowance rather than added on top. Sugary and fatty foods, dairy included, are occasional treats or training rewards only. Feed morning and evening, take away uneaten fresh food, and keep fresh water available all the time, ideally from more than one bottle. PDSA and Burgess both say rats gain weight easily, so weigh out the daily food using the guide on the packet. Burgess suggests a piece of fruit about the size of a rat's ear as a portion.
Quick answers
| Food | Answer |
|---|---|
| Onion | Never. The RSPCA lists onion among foods harmful to rats. |
| Citrus fruit (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit) | Never. The RSPCA lists citrus fruits among harmful foods. |
| Walnuts | Never. The RSPCA lists walnuts among harmful foods. |
| Rhubarb | Never. The RSPCA lists rhubarb among harmful foods. |
| Grapes | Never. The RSPCA lists grapes among harmful foods. |
| Raisins | Never. The RSPCA lists raisins among harmful foods. |
| Chocolate | Never. The RSPCA lists chocolate among harmful foods. |
| Cooked egg | Sometimes. A small amount can go alongside rat food, within the daily allowance. |
| Dairy | Sometimes, rarely. The RSPCA says high-fat foods such as dairy are occasional treats or training rewards only. |
| Peanuts | Sometimes. A few, now and then, as part of the daily allowance: they are high in fat. |
| Sunflower seeds | Sometimes. Occasionally, within the daily allowance: high-fat foods are not for every meal. |
Every rat food we have checked
Yes, every day
Sometimes, as a treat
- Almonds
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Bread
- Butternut squash
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cat food
- Celery
- Cheese
- Cherries
- Cucumber
- Eggs
- Kiwi
- Lettuce
- Mealworms
- Mushrooms
- Peaches
- Peanut butter
- Peanuts
- Pears
- Peppers
- Plums
- Popcorn
- Raspberries
- Rice
- Salmon
- Seeds
- Spinach
- Squash
- Strawberries
- Sunflower seeds
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
- Weetabix
- Yoghurt
No, never
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Dark chocolate
- Grapes
- Guinea pig food
- Hamster food
- Mango
- Marshmallows
- Oranges
- Rabbit food
- Raisins
Common questions
What foods are toxic to rats?
The RSPCA lists onion, citrus fruits, walnuts, rhubarb, grapes, raisins and chocolate as foods to keep away from rats. Burgess adds garlic, avocado and blue cheese. If your rat eats any of these, take away what is left, note how much is gone and ring your vet straight away.
What can rats eat every day?
A complete rat pellet and fresh water every day, plus small portions of fresh vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, pak choi (bok choy), peas, green beans and courgette (zucchini). Take fresh food out of the daily allowance rather than adding it on top, and remove leftovers before they spoil.
What fruit can rats eat?
As small, occasional treats: apple without the pips, pear, banana, strawberry, blueberries, melon, peach, kiwi and cherries with the stone removed. Fruit is sugary, so keep pieces tiny. Never give citrus fruit, grapes or raisins, and always take out stones and pips.
Can rats eat guinea pig or hamster food?
Not as their main food. The RSPCA says pellets made for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters or other animals don't give rats the nutrients they need. A stolen nibble is not an emergency, but feed a complete food made for rats every day.
What if the food I want is not in the checker?
Leave it out until you know. A food missing from our list is not a sign that it is safe. Ask a vet who treats rats, and check whether it is a mix that includes onion, garlic, citrus, grapes, chocolate or lots of sugar or salt, which rule it out straight away.
How much fresh food should a rat have?
Small amounts, counted as part of the day's food. The RSPCA says fresh foods supplement a complete rat food rather than replacing it, and portions should keep rats at a healthy weight. Each of our food pages gives a portion size, often a piece about the size of your rat's ear.
