Can Rats Eat Rabbit Food?

Making sure your pets are eating the right food is challenging, mainly because there are many different options out there. While rats can eat a wide array of different foods, there are some they cannot consume, and I’ll be taking a look at whether they can eat rabbit food. 

Rats cannot eat rabbit food. Rabbits have a diet more reliant on plant material, so the fibers and materials in this type of food are not healthy for rats. It would do more harm than good and wouldn’t provide the nutrition needed to maintain your rat’s healthy diet. 

You’re probably still wondering about feeding your rat rabbit food. I know I still had questions, so that’s why I dug deeper into it. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn more.

Why You Should Not Feed Your Rat Rabbit Food

Like any animal, rats require a specific composition of food to maintain a healthy diet. If they’re not given the right foods, they could be prone to becoming obese and malnourished. Yes, that’s a thing, and it primarily stems from them being given fatty foods that their bodies cannot process well, meaning they don’t get the vitamin benefits they need. 

Here are some foods you can feed your rats:

• Small amounts of rat pellets or cubes (with a protein content of 16% or more and fat content of between 4-5%)

– Bananas (Not Green) – Berries – Bok Choy – Cabbage (not red) – Carrot

– Celery – Citrus Fruits – Endive – Fresh Corn (small amounts) – Melons

– Parsley – Pears – Peas – Strawberries – Watermelon

I like to treat my pets with different foods, but if you plan on treating your rats, you can give them minimal amounts of the following:

• Biscuits
• Breads 
• Breakfast cereals
• Cereals 
• Cooked pasta 
• Cooked rice 
• Grains 
• Pomegranates
• Popcorn (unsalted)
• Seeds 
• Sweets

As I said above, small portions are always better. Many foods swell up inside pets, especially dried foods, meaning that these should always be in smaller doses than fruits. 

Now that you know what type of food is good to feed your rat, here are some reputable brands that sell it:

• eCotrition
• Kaytee
• Mazuri
• Nesom
• Oxbow 
• Rascally Rat
• Sunseed
• Supreme Tiny Friends Farm
• Ware Manufacturing
• Witte Molen

How to Introduce New Food to Your Rat’s Diet

We’ve already established that rabbit food is simply not suitable for your precious pet rat, and we’ve found foods and brands that are suitable. Now, we have some tips for introducing new foods to your pet rat’s diet. It’s not uncommon for small animals to have stomach upset if the change is drastic. 

Here are some tips for introducing new food to your pet rat’s diet:

• Always provide plenty of clean and fresh water: Your rat should always have plenty of fresh water, but if the new food is dry, it can make your pet thirstier than usual. 
• Make changes to the food gradually: If your rat already has food, but you’re changing it, the rule of thumb is to swap out some of the existing food for some of the new stuff to allow your pet rat to get accustomed to the new composition. 
• Only use fresh ingredients: If you’re making the composition yourself, you need to make sure the ingredients are fresh and clean, mainly if they are vegetables or fruits. Run them under a cold tap and make sure there is no dirt on them. 
• Make sure to check on your pet rat when changing food: This one is crucial. As with any small animal, make sure to keep a closer eye on how they’re acting after a change in diet. You always want to be on top of any issues that may arise. 
• Make sure your pet rat is not picking and choosing parts to eat: As with any food, the composition is to provide a healthy and balanced diet for your pet rat. If they are skipping certain bits of the food, it might be a good idea to look at different brands with different compositions to make up the diet. 

Foods You Should Not Feed Your Pet Rat

While many foods are healthy and safe for your pet rat, there are some foods you should simply avoid. Many animals can digest certain foods others cannot, so it’s always best to be in the know about what your little one should avoid. 

Here are some foods to stay well away from:

– Apple – Avocado – Blue cheese – Brussel sprouts – Caffeinated drinks – Carbonated drinks – Chocolate – Dried fruits – Dry beans

– Dry peanuts – Green banana – Green potato skin – Hamster food – Licorice – Mango  – Peanut butter – Poppy seeds – Rabbit food

– Raw artichokes – Raw sweet potato – Red cabbage – Rhubarb – Seaweed – Spinach – Tofu – Uncooked beans – Wild insects

A Disclaimer About Sticky Foods

Rats are small, and they should only really be ingesting dry foods, but some owners give their animals more substantial portions. Some people even provide baby food, but you need to be cautious and consider whether your little one will be safe eating it. 

Some of these foods are thick, with parts in them that are simply too big for your pet’s small digestive system, leading to the genuine possibility of choking. If you plan on giving your little one something like baby food, or a homemade concoction with ingredients they are allowed, just be sure to pay attention while it’s eating, and even for some time after. 

Pick the Right Food for Your Pet Rat

Feeding your pet is tricky because, much like us, there are things they like and don’t like, but we do know they cannot eat rabbit food. The easiest way to find the best composition for your rat is to check the ingredients to make sure none of them are bad for it. 

If you are prepared to watch your little bundle of joy after giving them something new, you can experiment with new foods, but just be sure they are healthy ingredients that have been washed. 

There are plenty of reputable brands out there that will take the difficulty out of finding a suitable composition. As long as you make sure the food is safe for a rat, it should take the pressure out of finding the right ingredients.