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Baby food for rats


Can My Pet Rat Have Baby Food? [Avoid These Foods] – Pet Sort-Out

Proper nutrition is the basis of all healthy lives. The statement goes true even for your pet rat. Providing your pet rat with healthy, nutritious food is important for them to build a strong immune system to fight diseases in the future. 

But in that context, if the question is whether your pet rat can have baby food or not then scientifically the answer will be, NO! your pet rats can not have baby foods all the time. Baby foods do not contain enough nutrition to support your pet rats’ healthy living. Moreover, the high content of salt, sugar, and refined nutrition is not good for the fragile body metabolism of rats.

In this article below, we will have an in-depth discussion on why human baby food is not appropriate for your rat baby. Also, we will learn about food habits, balanced diets, and safe food choices that you can offer your pet. 

Is Baby Food Ideal For Pet Rats? 

You can treat your little rat baby with store-bought baby food occasionally. Rats love anything sweet to nibble on. However, this does not necessarily mean baby food is safe for their health!

It is our responsibility as pet parents to make sure of their healthy eating habits. If you want to treat your fur baby with some store-bought human baby food, I suggest picking up some organic yummies from the rack.

Many pet rat owners across the globe have chosen baby food for rats as small treats and not as a mainstream source of nutrition. Many foods that are totally healthy and delicious for us humans are proven toxic for rats.

Blue cheese, green potato, chocolates, and raw beans are some human foods that should be strictly avoided for pet rats.

An orphaned or rejected rat baby can, however, be given cow milk or baby milk formulas during the initial stages.

Feeding a rat is simple if you know what nutritious food to offer. However, the answer behind the ideal-ness of baby food for rats lies behind a little bit of complex human and rat anatomy.  

There are reports that not all human food is safe, healthy, and nutritious to help rats build a strong immune system. Home-cooked food with rich protein content helps rats seek the inner strength to fight common diseases like tumors, liver, lung dysfunction, and other respiratory diseases. 

Settling for baby foods and wrong nutrition can even cost your pet babies their lives. I suggest having a thorough understanding of the medical aspect of why baby food is not suitable for your beloved fur babies.

Why Baby Food Is Not Ideal For Pet Rats?

Rats have a lot of physical and anatomical similarities with human babies. The digestive system in rats is similar to humans. It starts from the mouth and is very crucial for proper digestion for food and healthy being. 

The digestive system helps transform food into valuable nutrients for our bodies. The digestive tract in rats is lined with small digestive glands that secrete juices contributing to the easy digestion of food. Humans and rats match all these levels of digestion. However, this does not make human baby food ideal for rat consumption.

Also, human beings and rats are both omnivorous animals, consuming all fruits, vegetables, and flesh. These make some pet parents consider that rats are qualified to have human baby food. This is exactly when rat parents push their beloved fur babies towards health hazards unintentionally!

Though there are a few similarities between humans and rats, only an in-depth study of rat anatomy will paint a completely different picture. Understand that all organs in animal bodies are designed to perform different actions to support the food digestion process. 

The gallbladder in humans helps in the easy breaking down of fatty foods. Rats on the other hand have no gallbladder included in their digestive system. Rats are small rodents who do not usually consume large quantities of fatty foods as a part of their daily diet.  

Thus, eating enriched fat full fruits, dairy, meat or human baby foods can lead to excess fat accumulation in the rat body. Uncontrolled eating in rats thus makes them obese early in life, sprouting other deadly diseases as well.

The large intestines in rats are rather more enlarged as compared to humans. Also known as the cecum, the large intestine in rats is designed to ferment grains, cereals, and seeds that are a predominant part of a healthy rat diet. The elongated large intestine is designed to soak in useful nutrients from the insoluble fibers easily.

As responsible pet rat parents, we have to understand that the physical and dietary needs of both humans and rats are different. Though rats will and are able to nibble or eat any food you offer them, the same can be toxic for their body and overall health. [Source: Hindawi Clinical Journal]

However, there are several human foods that you can easily offer your pet rats in healthy and limited quantities. Read on to know more about the same!

What Human Baby Food Can You Feed Your Pet Rats For Ample Nutrition?

Understanding the healthy food habits of our pets can help us identify foods that can be offered to them. It has become easy to select one brand of readymade food, with a rising number of pet care stores all around the globe. 

These rat foods are highly laden with sugar, salt, and other refined nutrients that can be unhealthy if continued in the long run. Also, our beloved pet rat babies always have a plethora of flavors and nutritions readily available. 

This excessive food supply and unconscious eating patterns are deadly as it may affect their digestive system. Many reports have shown that pet rats get obese as soon as twelve months. Thus, it is utterly crucial to develop healthy and homemade food habits from a young age.

Below listed are the regular human food that is absolutely safe and healthy for your pet rat babies:

 Source:Examples
FruitsApple, apricots, avocados, bananas, pear, watermelon, grapes, kiwi, blackberries, blueberries, corn, cucumber, papaya, butternut squash, tomato, plums, strawberries, pomegranates (If your pet rat rejects any fruit, do not force-feed them).  
VegetablesKale, celery, mint, basil, cooked green beans, boiled sweet corn, cauliflower, potatoes (strictly avoid green potatoes), broccoli, collard greens, carrots, beetroot, spinach, sweet peas, zucchini, pumpkin, spinach.  
TreatsStore-bought baby food (occasionally), unsalted plain popcorn, whole wheat pasta, semolina, dry oats.
MeatShredded boiled chicken, small pieces of cooked meat, beef, pork, cooked fish.
DairyMilk, Yogurt, butter, cheese like cheddar, elby, gouda, gruyere (Please avoid any other cheese for your pet rats).
NutsCashew nuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts, peanuts, pine nuts, macadamia nuts. 
Whole-grain foodsBread, cooked rice, whole grain boiled pasta, whole grain crackers, biscuits.

Fruits, veggies, and meat act as important food sources for pet rats to help them build a strong immunity system. However, it is important to keep in mind that all the food you offer to rats must be chopped into small cubes for easy consumption.

Unsafe Human Food For Your Pet Rats

Our beloved fur babies love to eat and nibble on food. Give them vegetable peels and frozen treats on hot sunny days and watch them enjoying small organic treats. However, these little curious explorers can consume human foods that are toxic for rat health.

The list below covers all food that you should strictly avoid for your pet furry babies. 

  • Chocolate, 
  • Raw sweet potato
  • Raw corn
  • Raw beans
  • Cabbage
  • Poppy seeds
  • Onions
  • Cabbage and Brussel sprouts.
  • Lemon (any citrus fruit)
  • Carbonated drinks, liquor.
  • Avocado skin( better to offer only peeled fruits and vegetables)
  • Blue cheese, cottage cheese, gorgonzola, ricotta, mozzarella, stilton, brie, feta (Soft, strong cheeses are to be avoided).
  • Wild insects and raw meat.
  • Avoid any junk food, caffeinated drinks that you are consuming.

Any of the above-mentioned foods can be very toxic for your pet baby. We advise you to be careful and keep a close eye on any human baby food that you offer to your pet rat.

An Omnivorous Balanced Diet For Pet Rats

Rats are nocturnal rodents and no wonder they make great pets. Drawing a basic picture of wild rats, it is clear that they feed on a wide palate of food and flavors. Ranging from vegetables, seeds, grains, and animal proteins occasionally. These eating habits make them omnivorous in nature.

The wild rat diet works as a basic graph of our fancy pet rat diets. However, it is important to change all foods into healthier versions to avoid common rat diseases like early obesity, tumors, and respiratory infections. Controlling the calorie intake and stimulating activities also become crucial parts of healthy pet rat growth. [Source: Pet Care Veterinary Hospital]

In the points below I have drawn a detailed outline of a balanced pet rat diet. This also includes food habits many human babies may adopt. I encourage having a detailed read to understand rat specific dietary needs and how you as a responsible pet parent can help them attain the same. 

  •   The Foundation of Pet Rat Diet:

Fortified foods contribute to setting up a strong base of the pet rat diet. Specifically, these fortified foods are readily available foods that add up extra much-needed nutrients to our fur babies. 

You may pick this basic source of nutrition from the shelves of most pet food stores. However, this is where your work as a responsible rat parent begins! Keep a close eye on the guaranteed amounts of macro and micronutrients that fortified foods provide.

Start with checking the macronutrients like proteins, fats, vitamins, and fiber content mentioned on the back label. Many pet rat parents only check the first few nutrients and leave the rest. Certainly, here is where you are neglecting your rat baby’s health.

It is important to have a thorough read on the listed nutrients and their percentage in the food pack. Understanding the nutritional value of store-bought fortified food for pet rats will help you feed them a healthy palate of nutrition in the long run. I recommend reading all the nutrients carefully to ensure balanced nutrition for our furry babies. 

  •  The Fiber Factor:

As I mentioned earlier, rats are considered omnivorous in nature, most pet parents consider protein and fats to be the main source of nutrients. Fiber nutrients are often neglected in the process. However, fiber brings its own set of health contributions when consumed.

There are two main types of fiber that are an important nutrition source for pet rats. Soluble and insoluble fibers. 

Soluble Fibers: To begin with, soluble fibers come from food like oats, flaxseeds, carrots, beetroot, barley grain, etc. No doubt that your pet rat will love these foods when offered. Experiments and pet parents who tried giving these fibrous foods to their pet babies have reported better excretion quality, improved colon health, and cholesterol reduction. 

Soluble fibers when consumed in appropriate quantities create a thick gel in the stomach. This gel formation of food creates a fuller appetite feeling and saves rats from overeating. 

Insoluble Fibers: Insoluble fibers come from food sources like hay, wheatgrass, bran, cereal husk. The insoluble fibers do not absorb water and pass through the rat intestine almost unchanged. However, insoluble fiber sources help rodent pets with improved gut health, insulin production, and balance excess weight gain. 

It is important for pet parents to understand the importance of both fibrous nutrients. A mix of these two can be of great help to pet rats. Thus, selecting the right fortified food will help fulfill all nutritional requirements of our omnivorous pet friends.

  •  Food supplements:

As omnivorous species, rats have a tendency to nibble on all possible food sources. This includes rich proteins and fats. If the intake of these rich sources is not controlled, obesity is inevitable. 

Vegetables, fruits, and homemade diets should thus be a predominant source of nutrition for your pet babies. The table below will help you understand the quantity and major food sources for your rats.

Nutrition:Quantity:Food Source:
Fats2-3 times a week only (half teaspoon).Unsalted nuts and seeds like pumpkin seeds, pecans, pistachios, avocado, cashew nuts.
Proteins2-3 times a week only (one tablespoon).Mealworms, hard-boiled eggs, cooked shredded chicken, cooked beans, cooked meat.
Fruits 2-3 times a week only (less than one tablespoon).Apples, Bananas, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, grapes. (all fruits are mentioned in the previous table)
GrainsEveryday.1-2 TablespoonCooked rice, bread, and wholewheat pasta.
VeggieEveryday.1-2 TablespoonPotatoes, celery, kale, tomato, cauliflower, pumpkin, etc,(all fruits are mentioned in the previous table)

Proper care when accompanied by healthy food intake will help keep your pet rats at the best of their health. Choose better as pet parents and your fur babies will thank you!

Nourishment makes a strong contributing factor to all animals be it human babies or rats. Though there are many similarities between a rat with a human baby, the dietary needs are different in both. 

A human baby can not make up for all the necessary nutritional requirements for a healthy pet rat. It is thus important to select the right, healthy and nutritious homemade food for our little fur babies

Can I Feed My Rat Baby Food? What Kind Is Safe?

Rats are opportunistic omnivores, which means they eat both meat and plants. They will eat practically anything if offered or if they are curious enough, and that includes baby food.

Baby food is an excellent and safe occasional treat for your pet rat. Not only that, it’s a wonderful reward for pet rat training. Just be careful with the amount of sugar and salt in the baby food.

With that said, not all baby foods are suitable. 

Let’s find out what baby food you should add to your grocery list and when to serve them. 

Healthy And Balanced Pet Rat Diet (With Baby Food)

Before discussing the types of baby food to feed your rats, let’s discuss your pet’s nutritional requirements first.

Although rats can survive on almost anything, you can’t just feed them pet food and hope for the best. 

Like other animals, rats need a specific diet for optimum nutrition and health or may develop nutrient imbalance and diet-related diseases.

For instance, too much protein can cause skin allergies and spots. Eating foods high in sugar and fat can lead to obesity. 

Nutritionally-balanced rat pellets or kibbles with more than 14% protein are the recommended diet for rats. Growing pups (under 4 months) and pregnant rats may require at least 24% protein. 

Components of a healthy balanced diet for rats: 

70%Nutritionally complete, age-specific commercial rat pellet or lab blockOxbow, Mazuri, Envigo Teklad 
20%Mix of veggies and fruitsPeas, carrots, cucumbers, potatoes, broccoli,  tomatoes, bananas, watermelon, grapes, cherries, strawberries, plum
5%Treatsbaby food, yogurt drops, dry oats, whole wheat pasta, whole nuts, vegetable sticks, cooked meat, dried fruits

High-quality pellets or lab blocks must contain:

  • 75-80% carbs
  • 14-16% protein
  • 4-6% fat

Suggested daily dietary intake using commercial rat food:

  • 15 g of food/rat for growing rats and adults
  • 15-20 g of food/rat during pregnancy
  • 20-40 g of food/rat during lactation

Some pet rats can become picky eaters, so it’s essential to introduce them to various food when they are younger. It’s also safe to feed your rat human food in moderation. 

What Baby Foods Do Rats Like And Can Eat?

Most rats love baby food, and it’s safe to give them as treats. These treats can help you bond faster with your pets and are also helpful during training.

Baby foods such as Gerber puffs or rice crispies can be used as treats. Commercial baby foods are formulated for infants, so they are safe for the delicate digestive system of rats.

Introducing baby food to your pet rat involves a bit of trial and error. Experiment with different varieties to see what your rats prefer.

Many pet owners have had success with fruity baby food, such as apple sauce, bananas, and blueberry. You can also try meat baby food made of chicken, turkey, and ham.

Baby food purees come in pouches, jars, or plastic tubs and are categorized into three different stages:

Stage 1: Finely pureed. 

These are purees with a single ingredient. The consistency of the puree is thin and smooth, making it easy to swallow.

You can start introducing single-ingredient baby food to your rat so it would be easier to identify any potential allergies to food.

Examples from popular brands

  • Beech-Nut Naturals Stage 1
  • Plum Organics Stage 1
  • Gerber Organic 1st Foods
  • Happy Baby Organics Clearly Crafted Stage 1

Stage 2: Thicker consistency

This baby food contains a combination of food that are mashed or strained. Most rats enjoy stage 2 baby food made of bananas, apples, and squash. 

Examples from popular brands

  • Parent’s Choice Baby Food
  • Beech-Nut Naturals Stage 2
  • Beech-Nut Harvest Dinners Stage 2
  • Earth’s Best Corn and Butternut Squash
  • Cerebelly Organic Stage 2

Stage 3: Contain food chunks

These combination purees have more texture and contain small chunks of food. Expose your rat to several varieties of baby food to make them more accepting of new food as they age.  

Examples from popular brands

  • Gerber 3rd Foods Mealtime for Baby
  • Beech-Nut Naturals Stage 3
  • Earth’s Best Chunky Orchard Fruit
  • Beech-Nut Naturals Superblends Stage 3

How Much Baby Food Should I Feed My Pet Rat?


Watch this video on YouTube

Baby food should be given to healthy adult rats at least 2 to 3 times a week.

You can provide more to sick and aged rats, but it shouldn’t be your primary source of nutrients. 

Rats will pick sweet treats and high-fat food over their essential mix, so make sure they have eaten their daily base diet before you give them treats. Baby food can be healthy, but too much is not.

Excessive consumption of sugary treats can lead to dental caries and obesity.

Studies revealed that obese rats have a shorter life span and poor breeding capacity. Tumor growth is also more common in obese rats.

Can I Feed My Rat Baby Food Every Day?

Baby food is not a suitable alternative to food specially made for rats. Giving your rats baby food every day may cause your rat to reject their healthy kibbles.

While high-quality, natural baby foods are available today, many are ultra-processed and contain added or free sugars.

A 2021 study found that almost 40% of baby food products in European countries contain at least one sugar-contributing ingredient.

More than 1/3 of the products with “no added sugars” claim on their labels contain free sugars or fruit and veggie purees. 

Processed fruits are considered healthier than added/free sugars, but the process of pureeing releases sugar that may have the same effects as other sugar forms. 

Baby Food for Older Rats

As rats grow older, they may develop dental problems and have trouble eating blocks and seeds.

They may also have weaker back legs and difficulty standing up or holding their food. Some may lack appetite and lose a lot of weight. 

You can feed older rats soft food, such as baby food, to help them gain weight. Alternatively, you can add baby food to a ready-made or homemade wet meal.

  • Canned food for senior dogs and cats
  • Feast egg food (bird feed)
  • Soakable mixtures or porridge

The ready-made soakable mix may contain flaked rice, flaked buckwheat, vegetable flakes, and bulghur wheat, among others.

This nutritionally balanced food can replace the rat’s regular dry mix. You may add Nutrical to the wet meal to give your rats a calorie boost. 

Another way to feed your elderly rat is to grind their pellets and add baby food, soy milk, or cooked oats. An elderly rat’s diet should contain less protein at around 12%.

Baby Food for Sick Rats

As sick rats may lack the strength to eat solid food, you may offer soft sugary foods to tempt their appetite. You may need to syringe feed your rat if it’s not drinking or eating on its own. 

Sick rats may have any baby food as long as it is low in sugar, salt, and preservatives. Too much baby food can cause diarrhea in sick rats. 

If you are looking for a particular ingredient (carrot or pumpkin), that ingredient should be on top of the list. When choosing organic baby food, make sure they are USDA certified. 

If your pet rat is obese, senior, and has an underlying medical condition, consult your veterinarian to determine your pet’s specific daily dietary requirements.

Baby Foods to Avoid

When choosing baby food in the market, read the labels closely.

Check for the ingredients list and ensure the product is not high in sugar and salt.

Avoid baby food with many additives, such as artificial colors, nitrates and nitrites, and other preservatives.

Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury may contaminate baby food products.

Heavy metals are naturally found in the soil and water. As plants grow, they absorb these metals and make their way into our food. 

The FDA (check the information here) has been working hard to remove products that do not meet the standards for baby food safety.

If you see certain brands that were recalled for contamination, remember that not all products from the same brand are contaminated.

Check the brands’ websites for the list of products that have been recalled. 

FAQ

How many pellets should a rat have?

Many pet owners believe that rats should have free access to pellets, while some vets recommend feeding pellets twice a day.

It depends on your pet’s feeding behavior. Some rats tend to overeat when they are bored, while others stop when they are full.

About 2 to 3 blocks per rat, supplemented by veggies and fruits, are enough for your pet’s daily needs. 

To know more about food quantities, check out our article on How Much Food To Feed Your Pet Rats!

Can rats eat baby cereal?

Rats can tolerate cheerios, puffed rice, rice crispies, and other baby cereals.

When feeding store-bought food to your rats, choose foods with no artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners.

Baby foods are considered supplemental foods or treats and should only be fed occasionally.

Can rats eat yogurt?

Yes, rats love yogurts! Low-fat, low-sugar yogurts with live cultures benefit rats when eaten occasionally.

Yogurt drops can also be used as a training aid. You can make yogurt drops using a dehydrator.

Our Can I Feed My Rat Yogurt article gives many recommendations, along with how to make your yogurt drops. Be sure to check it out!

How to feed a decorative rat: a balanced diet

As you know, rats are omnivorous animals. Therefore, many feed their rats from their table, not knowing or not thinking that our animal food is often too spicy, salty, sweet, fatty, or even not suitable at all for purely physiological reasons and can lead to big health problems. or even death. In addition, it is impossible to make a sufficiently balanced diet from “our food” that would meet all the needs of the animal. This does not mean that rats in general, under no circumstances, can not select a piece from their plate. Can. But the main diet of the rat should be strikingly different from yours, your food should be given to the rat only occasionally, in the form of a pleasant exception. And most importantly: food should not be salty, spicy, sweet, fatty, fried, smoked. You can see general information about allowed and prohibited foods on the page "Feeding rats: do's and don'ts".

The rat diet for most rat breeders is as follows: the basis is food or a grain mixture and in the form of complementary foods - animal protein, vegetables / fruits, sour milk, treats, etc.

The basis is food should be a special rat food from different manufacturers, which can be bought at the pet store, or homemade grain mixtures. Of course, industrial feeds are more convenient to use, you don’t need to compose them, look for some ingredients, but it often happens that for some reason they don’t suit you (you don’t like the composition or the “price-quality” ratio, etc. .) or rats (they don’t want to eat, allergies have appeared, etc.), and then you have to switch to grain mixture. The disadvantage of grain mixtures is, first of all, that it can be quite difficult to find the right grain or other ingredients, and grain on the market “does not inspire confidence” and may turn out to be, for example, treated with chemicals. Some rat breeders mix industrial feed and grain mixture, while the grain "dilutes" the usually rather high-calorie feed, and the feed ingredients make the contents of the bowl more attractive to the rat, introducing some variety into ordinary grain. You can read more about feeds from different manufacturers here, and here you can see recipes for grain mixtures from experienced rat breeders.

Rats should always have a food bowl. In rats prone to fullness, a variant of "dosed nutrition" is possible, i.e. the bowl is filled once a day, based on the fact that the average daily intake of an adult rat is a tablespoon of food. Rat cubs cannot be limited in food until six months old!

Vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs

Vegetables and herbs contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals. In addition, these products have a low calorie content, which has a beneficial effect on the “figure” of rats. But most fruits and berries contain a large amount of sugars, so they should be much less in the rat's diet than vegetables and greens. This is especially true for rats prone to obesity. Please note that the vegetable type of complementary food is only an addition, and not the main part of the rat's diet. The predominance of succulent feed can lead to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and a general deterioration in both the well-being and health of the animal.

Vegetables, fruits, herbs, berries should be given every day or every other day. There is no unambiguous “daily rate”, because. for each animal, this norm will be individual. Of course, it is difficult to determine individual needs in a flock, but one can start from the general reaction of the flock to a certain amount of vegetables / fruits in the diet. So, for example, if one of the members of the flock (or even several) has diarrhea or softened stools, then the amount of juicy plant foods should be reduced. On average, 10-15 grams of vegetables / fruits per rat per day is the amount after which there should definitely be no problems.

Complementary proteins - meat, eggs, fish, seafood

Rats should have a sufficient amount of both vegetable and animal products in their diet. Rats are not vegetarians, they need animal proteins both for growth and development, and for immunity and maintenance of the body. Animal protein sources for rats include boiled meat, fish and seafood, chicken or quail eggs, meat baby food, premium/super premium dog or cat food.

Animal protein is given to rats about 1-2 times a week. For rat pups up to six months, the amount of animal protein can be increased several times compared to adult animals and given several times a week. Important: the younger the rat, the more animal protein its body needs for normal development.

Fermented milk products - yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir

The benefits of fermented milk products such as cottage cheese, yogurt or kefir are well known: they are an ideal source of calcium, and also contain lacto- and bifidobacteria that are beneficial for the intestines. In addition, rats eat them with great pleasure. The only "contraindication" to the introduction of sour milk into the diet of rats is individual lactose intolerance, which occurs quite often in rats, and is expressed in intestinal upset, up to severe diarrhea (therefore, when introducing a new product into the diet of rats, it is always worth checking the reaction of her body to it by feeding a small amount to start). But even in this case, there is a way out: a sufficient amount of lactose-free fermented milk products is now being produced. It is best to give rats sour milk with a low fat content (but not fat-free! 1.5-5%) and without additives.

As for fermented milk products, the opinions of experienced rat breeders differ: some believe that rats do not need them; others give them to rats occasionally (several times a month), such are the majority; still others believe that fermented milk products will definitely not be worse and give them to rats several times a week. At the same time, in the end, there is no difference in either health or life expectancy of rats receiving different amounts of sour milk. Therefore, each owner has the right to choose the most convenient option for themselves, based on their beliefs or personal preferences (and the preferences of their rats).

Treats

Treats are an essential part of feeding their rats for most rat breeders. And there is nothing wrong with that. Only here the main thing is not to harm the animal, so alcohol, sweets, chips, sausage and other harmful products in the rat diet have absolutely nothing to do! You can pamper a rat with a nut, a cracker, a piece of unsweetened cookies, boiled pasta, a piece of sweet fruit and other tasty and not harmful products. And some rat breeders themselves prepare various delicacies for rats, and willingly share their recipes with the rest, which you can see in this thread.

Rats should only be given treats occasionally, as a reward or just for fun. The main thing is that this should not happen according to the principle: “passed by the cage - gave the rat a treat”, but, rather, as an exception: a small piece of something tasty, for example, once a day.

Other

Many rat breeders go beyond the above list and indulge their rats, for example, with baby food, or even real dishes. Whether a rat needs it is a moot point, but if the food is not harmful, then why not? For example, baby food contains a lot of vitamins and minerals, and besides, rats like it, you just need to know the measure, i.e. give it to animals quite rarely (1-2 times a week) and choose “natural” varieties without spices, for example, with meat, vegetables, fruits, bypassing all kinds of “pasta in sauce” and so on. No less controversial is the question of the benefits and harms of feeding rats with cereals. They cannot harm, but they supply the body with additional easily digestible carbohydrates, which the rat body certainly does not need. If you want to spoil the rats with porridge, but do not want to harm the pets, then make it a rule not to boil the cereal, but only slightly boil or steam it in boiling water (and, of course, do not add any spices!). Rats will like it just as much, but there will be clearly more benefits. With a certain amount of desire and if there is time, you can cook a real dish for rats. You can read how to do this quickly and usefully in this forum thread.

Such products should not be the basis of the rat's diet and should not be present in the diet of obese rats!

Written by Katharina From

What treats can you give a rat, how to make it yourself

Rats, like any other pets, need to receive a balanced diet for normal development and good health. However, rodent owners sometimes want to pamper their pet, give it something tasty. It is worth noting that the preferences of pussies differ markedly from ours. Therefore, it is important to know which treats your rat will both enjoy and benefit from at the same time.

Contents

Peculiarities of feeding treats

When feeding a pet with any food, including treats, certain rules must be observed. Otherwise, even seemingly useful products can harm the health of the animal. When treating a rat with delicacies, it is recommended to take into account the following features:

  • Treats should not be given to the pet too often. Various sweets are allowed to rodents only in limited quantities; they are not suitable for daily feeding. In addition, rats are highly addicted to food, and feeding too much "forbidden fruits" can lead to the rejection of a daily balanced diet.
  • Do not give a rat a treat that is strictly prohibited, such as candy, lemonade, or canned cucumbers. Even in small quantities, such dishes will cause irreparable harm to the health of the rodent.
  • When preparing treats on your own, follow the rules for combining products. For example, you can not give a rat a dish containing different types of protein (vegetable, meat, fish, egg). And vice versa - there are many successful combinations, such as fruits and dairy products.

It is also worth remembering that treats, like other food, must be fresh. Delicacies should be free of rot, fungus, and signs of damage.

What treats can be given from the diet

You don't have to run to the nearest pet store to treat your pet. Most of the favorite treats of rats can be found in the usual human diet. Among the favorite dishes of rodents:

  • Food of animal origin - lean meat, fish, squid, shrimp, meatballs . Meat dishes must be served boiled. When cooking, it is forbidden to use salt and any seasonings. It is recommended that protein treats be given to rats once a week.
  • Food of plant origin - vegetables, berries and fruits grown in your own garden, you can offer rodents 3-5 g daily. Purchased foods can be stuffed with nitrates and other harmful substances, so such treats are allowed to be given to the rat every 4-5 days. Favorite juicy food: apple, banana, peach, raspberry, strawberry.
  • Baby food puree . Any options are suitable: meat, fruit, vegetable. “Ready-made” dishes are also allowed, such as beef with vegetables or hake with vegetable stew. The norm is once every 7-10 days. When feeding rodents with baby puree, the storage regime should be observed - an opened jar can be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than 24 hours.
  • Seeds and nuts . Such delicacies are very high in calories, so it is allowed to treat them to rats no more than 2 times a week. At the same time, nuts and seeds should be given to rodents in an unprocessed form - not fried, not salty, not sweet, and preferably unpeeled. The norm for one feeding is 1 nut or 5-6 seeds.
  • Flour dishes: biscuits, homemade croutons, crackers . Such treats should contain a small amount of salt and sugar and be slightly dried. Under these conditions, you can offer the rat bread treats of 1 cm² every 3-4 days.
  • Bitter chocolate with 75-80% cocoa beans. It is allowed to give it daily, only subject to one condition - the size of the piece should be no more than 5 by 5 mm.
  • Dairy products . This category includes kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, homemade yogurt, yogurt. The main condition is that the dish should have a low fat content, in the range of 1-5%. Once every 2 weeks, you can pamper the rat with sour cream, but in minimal quantities - 2-3 grams.

In order for the listed treats to bring only benefit to the rat, it is necessary to strictly fit into the allowed frequency of feeding. It is also necessary to observe the reaction of rodents to the introduction of new delicacies.

If after eating the treat the animal's health worsened (lethargy, aggression appeared, gastrointestinal upset is observed), then it is better to refuse feeding the pet with a new treat.

Store bought treats

Store bought treats are much less of a problem. Because specialized products consist of ingredients that are completely safe for rats. The packaging also contains all the necessary information - how to store, under what conditions, how much to give to the rat and at what interval. The following store-bought treats are the most popular among rat owners:

  1. Crispy sticks Little One with puffed rice, peanuts and walnuts. The composition also contains wheat, oats, millet, corn. The delicacy is enriched with a vitamin and mineral complex.
  2. Multicolored Vegetable and Alfalfa Balls from JR Farm. What the delicacy is made of, the color will tell. Red balls are from beets, orange ones are from carrots, green ones are from alfalfa, yellow ones are from corn.
  3. Mealworm ONTO. Rich in protein and fats. Only 1 piece is enough to pamper your pet. Rich in vitamin B12, necessary for normal blood formation. Strengthens the health of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, and also improves immunity.
  4. Apple tree branches "Kuban". They have a pleasant taste and aroma. Designed for regular grinding of growing teeth. Similar treats for rats (branches of currant, viburnum, willow, birch) are offered by other manufacturers.
  5. Fruit crackers Vitakraft. At the base is a wooden stick, there is also a clip for installation inside the cage. Baked sticks consist of a mixture of cereals, apple and apricot. Contain minerals and vitamins A, D3. Free from artificial colors and flavors. Fill your pet with energy and improve mood.
  6. Drops for rodents SANAL. They contain honey and milk, so rat owners are afraid to buy them for their pets. And completely in vain - all ingredients undergo multi-stage cleaning, in which allergens are completely destroyed. Also in the composition - extracts of fruits and vegetables, vitamins B, C, and minerals (copper, potassium, zinc, manganese).

Many store-bought treats are sold with a general label "for rodents". Therefore, before buying, it is better to make sure that the treat is suitable for rats. The necessary information can be clarified with the seller or on the back of the package.

This is not a complete list of store-bought treats. If you wish, you can find other equally tasty and healthy delicacies for decorative rats in pet stores.

How to make your own treats

Pampering your pet doesn't have to rely on specialized store mixes. You can cook no less tasty and healthy delicacies yourself, from improvised products. Here are some recipes:

  1. Porridge with additives . For cooking, you need to boil any porridge on water without the use of salt and sugar. After that - add some tasty treats: seafood, dried fruits, vegetables. It is also allowed to introduce a couple of drops of vegetable oil into the dish, preferably olive or linseed.
  2. Fruit Grain Stick . To prepare, you will need to add a mixture of baby purees from any fruit (for example, from an apple and a pear) to a small bowl. Then - pour a little grain, peeled chopped nuts and seeds, until a thick consistency is obtained. Then - form sticks from the resulting "dough" and send to dry in the oven at a temperature of 75-80ᵒС.
  3. Fermented milk formula . Not subject to long-term storage. Therefore, you need to prepare one at a time. The method of preparation is simple - first you need to pour ryazhenka, yogurt or varenets into a small bowl. Then - add a little low-fat cottage cheese, until a pasty consistency is obtained. It is also allowed to use sour cream as a basis, but not more than 1 time per month.
  4. Vegetable biscuits . At the heart of the dish are vegetables (carrots, zucchini, pumpkin), chopped on a fine grater, pre-squeezed. Next, you will need to add a little grain to the vegetable mixture. After that, mix everything thoroughly and pour over the egg. From the resulting mass, it is necessary to form cakes or balls and send them to dry in an oven at a temperature of 50ᵒС for at least 12 hours.

Some rats have allergic reactions to egg white. Therefore, it is better for rodents prone to allergies not to offer treats that include eggs.

Even though it takes a lot more effort and energy to make rat treats on your own, when cooking at home, the owner of the rat can be sure that the ingredients are natural. And accordingly, that the pet will not get poisoned and will not earn stomach problems.

What not to give to a rat

Despite numerous recommendations, most rat breeders sooner or later try to feed the rodent something forbidden. Do not do this, because the body is very susceptible to harmful substances. An incorrectly calculated dosage can even lead to death. Here is a list of the main foods that should not be given to a rat: