If you are about to buy a rat as a pet you may be wondering what do rats eat? Fact is, they like eating all the same things as people do. This is why they often live in and around the same places that we do, so that they can catch the metaphorical and literal crumbs from our tables. They particularly like fresh fruit and vegetables and food high in protein such as nuts, meat, grains and cheese.

If you have pet rats the best thing that you can do is to feed them a good whole food from a reputable pet shop. This will have all the nutrients that that they need to keep healthy. They are often based on wheat husk and animal oils as well as containing vitamins and minerals. The fibre will help to stop the rats becoming constipated. If you give them a proprietary food it is important to also give them pieces of fruit and vegetables as well as they will enjoy this.

You will need to give them something hard to eat and chew on to keep their teeth short. Nut and seed sticks are ideal.

Rats will eat just about anything but if you stick to these tips they will be happy and healthy.

Dr Toby Bateson for Hammer Technologies Ltd