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Food, Water & Treats
Daily Food
Supreme Petfoods Science Selective Rat Food
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Water Bottles
Why do we recommend only glass bottles?
1 - Rats can't chew through glass bottles
2 - Glass bottles are easy to clean and sterilize
3 - Glass won't melt or become brittle
How many water bottles should I have?
You should have 1 water bottle for every 2 rats.
2 rats = at least 1 water bottle
3-4 rats = at least 2 water bottles
5-6 rats = at least 3 water bottles
7-8 rats = at least 4 water bottles
Can't I just get a larger water bottle so I only have to buy one?
We recommend having multiple water bottles. Rats don't like to take turns and often decide they are all thirsty at the same time. Having more water bottles will prevent any squabbles over who's turn it is to get a drink.
What size water bottle should I use?
We recommend that you have more than one water bottle if you have more than 2 rats so you will likely only need the 6 ounce water bottles. If you find that your water bottles need filled more than once every 24 hours, you may want to get a 12 ounce water bottle, but we encourage you to start out with the 6 ounce bottles.
Can't I get a larger water bottle so I don't have to refill it often?
We recommend that you clean each water bottle with a bottle brush and dish soap each time it is emptied so it does not accumulate bacteria. Using a smaller water bottle tends to encourage cleaning it more often, which is a good thing! Bacteria build up can make your rats sick, so please scrub out each water bottle with a bottle brush and dish soap each time you see the water bottle empty. You should also sterilize the water bottles once a month. You can sterilize your glass water bottles in your dishwasher (if you have a sterilize cycle) or by putting your water bottles in a pot of boiling water.
1 - Rats can't chew through glass bottles
2 - Glass bottles are easy to clean and sterilize
3 - Glass won't melt or become brittle
How many water bottles should I have?
You should have 1 water bottle for every 2 rats.
2 rats = at least 1 water bottle
3-4 rats = at least 2 water bottles
5-6 rats = at least 3 water bottles
7-8 rats = at least 4 water bottles
Can't I just get a larger water bottle so I only have to buy one?
We recommend having multiple water bottles. Rats don't like to take turns and often decide they are all thirsty at the same time. Having more water bottles will prevent any squabbles over who's turn it is to get a drink.
What size water bottle should I use?
We recommend that you have more than one water bottle if you have more than 2 rats so you will likely only need the 6 ounce water bottles. If you find that your water bottles need filled more than once every 24 hours, you may want to get a 12 ounce water bottle, but we encourage you to start out with the 6 ounce bottles.
Can't I get a larger water bottle so I don't have to refill it often?
We recommend that you clean each water bottle with a bottle brush and dish soap each time it is emptied so it does not accumulate bacteria. Using a smaller water bottle tends to encourage cleaning it more often, which is a good thing! Bacteria build up can make your rats sick, so please scrub out each water bottle with a bottle brush and dish soap each time you see the water bottle empty. You should also sterilize the water bottles once a month. You can sterilize your glass water bottles in your dishwasher (if you have a sterilize cycle) or by putting your water bottles in a pot of boiling water.
Healthy Treats
The store-bought treats look like fun, which ones should I get?
Store-bought treats are made to look like fun, but they aren't usually made to be healthy. We want your rats to live long, healthy lives and we encourage you to feed them healthy options. Rats can become unhealthy quickly so we ask that you avoid giving them sweetened and/or colored treats. Rats, like many animals, can not digest dairy products. Rats also can not digest alfalfa and timothy hay like rabbits and guinea pigs can. Please look at our healthy treat suggestions below.
What kinds in ingredients should I avoid when looking at foods and treats?
Store-bought treats are made to look like fun, but they aren't usually made to be healthy. We want your rats to live long, healthy lives and we encourage you to feed them healthy options. Rats can become unhealthy quickly so we ask that you avoid giving them sweetened and/or colored treats. Rats, like many animals, can not digest dairy products. Rats also can not digest alfalfa and timothy hay like rabbits and guinea pigs can. Please look at our healthy treat suggestions below.
What kinds in ingredients should I avoid when looking at foods and treats?
- Any type of sugar or sweetener (corn syrup, molasses, honey etc...)
- Any kind of dairy (milk, yogurt and cheese including dehydrated and powdered)
- Any type of grass or hay including alfalfa and timothy
- Artificial Coloring (often noted by a # examples: Red#40, Yellow#5, Yellow#6, Blue#1, etc...)
- Any Hydrogenated Ingredient
- Wood Shavings, Wood Powder, Wood Pulp of any type (yes, they put wood in some treats!)
- Treats designed for hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits and other animals
- Citrus fruits (Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon & Lime)
- Preservatives are best avoided whenever possible
- Ingredients you can not pronounce or identify should be avoided whenever possible
PureBites Salmon Freeze Dried Treats
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PureBites Shrimp Freeze-Dried Treats
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Brown's Tropical Carnival Natural Select Seeds Treat
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F.M. Brown'S Extreme Trail Mix Hamster, Gerbil, Rat And Mouse Treat
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Other fun and healthy treat ideas and recipes:
Rats don't care if their treats are store bought or home made. Here are some easy home made treat ideas to try with your rats.
Fishing for treats - Make them work for it!
Fishing for peas or berries is a great way to give your rats a treat and a fun activity all in one. You can use any dish that your rats can easily get in and out of. Put about one inch of water (room temperature is best) in the dish and add fresh or frozen peas or berries in the water. Your rats will quickly learn how to "fish" for their treats! It's best to start with the water level shallow and make it a bit deeper as your rats become pro fisher-rats!
Note: Berries may stain any fabric or carpet they come in contact with. |
Rat Treat Recipes
Peanut Butter, Oatmeal & Banana Cookies
Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Line cookie sheet w/parchment paper, or spray or coat pan with coconut oil.
Measure out the peanut butter/nut butter and empty into mixing bowl.
Peel the banana and add to the bowl.
Mix together until creamy mixture forms.
Measure the oats and put them in the bowl.
Mix well.
Add flour, 1/4 cup at a time until a tough dough forms.
Roll dough out into 1/2 inch nuggets.
Bake until lightly brown ( 7 min, 450 degrees).
Let cool.
Don't put them in the bags until they are completely cool and dry.
Note: If you put them away before they are dry, they will get soggy.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup Peanut Butter or Nut Butter (find one with no added salt or sugar)
- 1 Yellow Banana
- 1/4 cup Uncooked Organic Oats
- 1/2 to 1 cup Organic Whole Wheat Flour
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Line cookie sheet w/parchment paper, or spray or coat pan with coconut oil.
Measure out the peanut butter/nut butter and empty into mixing bowl.
Peel the banana and add to the bowl.
Mix together until creamy mixture forms.
Measure the oats and put them in the bowl.
Mix well.
Add flour, 1/4 cup at a time until a tough dough forms.
Roll dough out into 1/2 inch nuggets.
Bake until lightly brown ( 7 min, 450 degrees).
Let cool.
Don't put them in the bags until they are completely cool and dry.
Note: If you put them away before they are dry, they will get soggy.
Roasted Chickpeas
Ingredients
Soak some dried chickpeas overnight in water and then drain thoroughly.
Pat dry on a paper towel.
Roll in a small amount of coconut oil on a large baking tray.
Bake in a single layer in an oven on the lowest setting (175-200 degrees).
Rotate a couple of times during baking to encourage even cooking. They are done when they are dry.
Switch the oven off and allow to cool fully in the oven.
Store in an airtight container when completely cool.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of dried chickpeas
- 1 Tablespoon of coconut oil
Soak some dried chickpeas overnight in water and then drain thoroughly.
Pat dry on a paper towel.
Roll in a small amount of coconut oil on a large baking tray.
Bake in a single layer in an oven on the lowest setting (175-200 degrees).
Rotate a couple of times during baking to encourage even cooking. They are done when they are dry.
Switch the oven off and allow to cool fully in the oven.
Store in an airtight container when completely cool.
Dried Fruit Balls
Ingredients
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Cover cookie sheets with parchment paper or grease with coconut oil.
Mix all ingredients with a blender or food processor.
Make 1/2" balls and place on the cookie sheet. (The balls will not spread, so you can put them as close as you wish.)
Bake for 45 minutes.
Leave the balls in the oven until they cool completely. This will cause the balls to dry out and be crunchy.
Important Note: Give as occasionally as a treat. Corn meal and flour do not supply any nutrition so I would recommend giving each rat one fruit ball about once a week. Avoid giving fruit balls more often than once every 4 days.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Organic Whole Wheat Flour
- 3/4 cup Organic Yellow Cornmeal
- 2/3 cup Dried Mixed Fruit Bits (with no added sugar & no citrus fruits)
- 1 teaspoon Coconut Oil
- 1/2 cup 100% Fruit Juice (any non-citrus 100% fruit juice with no added ingredients)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Cover cookie sheets with parchment paper or grease with coconut oil.
Mix all ingredients with a blender or food processor.
Make 1/2" balls and place on the cookie sheet. (The balls will not spread, so you can put them as close as you wish.)
Bake for 45 minutes.
Leave the balls in the oven until they cool completely. This will cause the balls to dry out and be crunchy.
Important Note: Give as occasionally as a treat. Corn meal and flour do not supply any nutrition so I would recommend giving each rat one fruit ball about once a week. Avoid giving fruit balls more often than once every 4 days.
Ingredients to avoid in food and treats:
There are many ingredients that cause store bought treats (and foods) to be unhealthy or even potentially dangerous to rats.
What kinds in ingredients should I avoid when looking at foods and treats?
What kinds in ingredients should I avoid when looking at foods and treats?
- Any type of sugar or sweetener (corn syrup, molasses, honey etc...)
- Any kind of dairy (milk, yogurt and cheese including dehydrated and powdered)
- Any type of grass or hay including alfalfa and timothy
- Artificial Coloring (often noted by a # examples: Red#40, Yellow#5, Yellow#6, Blue#1, etc...)
- Any Hydrogenated Ingredient
- Wood Shavings, Wood Powder, Wood Pulp of any type (yes, they put wood in some treats!)
- Treats designed for hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits and other animals
- Citrus fruits (Orange, Mango, Pineapple, Lemon & Lime)
- Preservatives are best avoided whenever possible
- Ingredients you can not pronounce or identify should be avoided whenever possible
Store bought treats to avoid:
This list is not complete. New products are constantly being introduced for sale and we will not be able to list every single treat that should be avoided. Please read the ingredients on any treats that you are considering feeding your rats. If you have any questions, feel free to send us a message and we will be happy to help you.
What not to feed your rats:
Fruits to Avoid:
Apple seeds, peach, nectarine, cherry, plum and apricot stones/pits/seeds - These contain a small amount of cyanide which could be harmful to your rats. The eatable fruit flesh is fine to give rats.
Avacodo pits & skins - The pit, rind, skin, and leaves of the avocado are toxic. The eatable fruit flesh of the avocado can be given in small amounts, but avocado is very fatty so please feed sparingly.
Green bananas - Inhibit starch digestion.
Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemons & Limes (fruits and juices) - All contain d-limonene which can cause kidney cancer in male rats so we avoid giving it to females as well.
Canned and Pre-packaged Fruits: Fresh is best. Frozen is fine, but avoid canned and pre-packaged.
Vegetables to Avoid:
Green potato flesh, skin and eyes - Do not any part of a green potato to your rat.
Celery Tops - The stalk (the part we eat) can be fed in small quantities as celery has little nutritional value.
Onion - Can lead to anemia and an upset stomach.
Garlic - Garlic is recommenced as a natural rat repellent so we don't recommend you give it to pet rats.
Rhubarb - High levels of oxalates which bind up calcium
Raw Artichokes - Inhibit protein digestion. Cooked artichoke is fine in small amounts.
Raw Brussel Sprouts - Fine after cooking, though.
Raw Cabbage - Fine after cooking.
Raw Potato - Fine after cooking.
Raw Sweet Potato - Once again, fine after cooking
Canned and Pre-packaged Vegetables: Fresh is best. Frozen is fine, but avoid canned and pre-packaged, as these are likely to contain preservatives and leached chemicals from processing and storage.
Other Foods to Avoid:
Raw beans and/or dry beans - Once prepared and cooked, they are fine.
Raw Peanuts - Roasted Plain Peanuts are fine but avoid salted, honey roasted and any added ingredients.
Peanut Butter & Nut Butters - Nut butters are too thick and sticky and can cause your rat to choke. Peanut and Nut butters may be cooked in a recipe and given, as long as the final product is not thick and sticky.
Mashed Potatoes - Usually contain dairy and are typically thick and somewhat sticky and could cause choking.
Dairy - Avoid all dairy including milk, yogurt, butter and cheeses. Check store bought treats for any form of dairy including dried, powdered and dehydrated forms.
Cuddle Bones (for Birds) - The general consensus is that these have far too much calcium to be healthy for your rat, steer clear.
Licorice - Contains a suspected neurotoxin and sweetener, please don't give this to your rats.
Carbonated drinks - Rats can not burp, therefore they have a hard time getting rid of the carbonation. Please avoid giving rats anything that is carbonated. Your rats should only be given water to drink.
Raw bulk tofu - Packaged tofu is ok for eating
Raw hide - Difficult to digest and not at all healthy for dogs, please do not give this to your rat.
Wild insects - Wild insects can carry pathogens. You can feed your rats captive raised meal-worms and crickets purchased at your local per supply store, if you wish.
Treats or Foods for other Animals - If it is made for Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Gerbils, Birds or other animals it is likely not suitable for your rats. Read the ingredients and check them against our list of ingredients to avoid. If you aren't sure you can always send us a message to see what we think.
Spices & Spice Oils - salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, aniseed, poppyseeds etc...
Herbs like lemon balm and lemon mint (and their essential oils)
Essential Oils - Do not diffuse or use essential oils to treat rats in any way.
Meats - There is no need to give your rats meat. If you just can't resist, we encourage you to only give a tiny bit of cooked (not fried) chicken and give it very sparingly. Rats love a nice juicy cricket or meal-worm just as much as cooked chicken and the cricket or meal-worm is a much more natural diet for a rat. Your rat is not a human and should not be fed like one.
Human Cereal - Cereal contains a lot of sugar and other ingredients your rats shouldn't have. We highly recommend that you not feed your rats any cereal.
Human Snacks, Desserts & Candy - Please do not share your "goodies" with your pets. There are many ingredients in your "human treats" that your pets should not have, so please resist the urge to share a nibble with your rats. Your rat is not a human and should not be fed like one.
A Note About Canned, Pre-made, Heat n' Eat, & Single Serve Foods:
The fresher, the better for your rats. We don't recommend that you feed your rats pre-made food or foods that come from a can or plastic container. Foods that come ready to eat (or heat and eat) are highly processed and contain way too many ingredients that can be bad for your pets. Your rat is not a human and should not be fed like one. Additionally, when food is stored in a can or plastic container, chemicals (bisphenol A and a class of chemicals called phthalates) from the container leach into the food. Try to stick with fresh fruits and veggies. Frozen is ok too because frozen is less likely to contain preservatives or to leach chemicals from the bag it is stored in. If you use frozen foods, it is best to take the food out of the plastic it came in before thawing or cooking it so the food isn't leaching chemical from the plastic while thawing or cooking. Finally, don't heat or thaw food in plastic containers, use a glass container instead of plastic.
Foods to use caution with:
All of the following should be given sparingly. Some can be very dangerous to your rat if given too much. Personally, I would recommend just not giving your rat any of these (with the exception of dark chocolate, which is fine in very small amounts).
Bread - Bread can expand in a rat's throat, causing them to choke. If giving your rat bread, toast it first or give them very small amounts at a time. If giving bread, its best to give whole grain (not white bread) with as few ingredients and as little sweetener in it as possible. Avoid white bread and "Wonder" breads.
Corn - Dried corn can contain fungal contaminates which could lead to liver cancer. Fresh and frozen corn won't hurt but we don't recommend you give it often because corn has few nutrients.
Cooked Potatoes - While cooked potatoes aren't terrible for rats, people rarely eat them plain. Often, what is added to potatoes is not good for rats. If you want to share some cooked potatoes with your pets, it is best to sit some plain cooked potatoes to the side before adding ingredients or seasonings.
Dark Chocolate - May temporarily help with minor respiratory distress. Dark chocolate will not cure any respiratory issues, it will only lessen the symptoms temporarily. Too much can be problematic. Avoid milk and semi-sweet chocolate, instead look for dark chocolate with the highest percentage of cocoa or cacao. Milk and semi-sweet chocolate contain dairy, sweetener and too much fat.
"Whatever is on the dinner table" - The simpler, the better for your rats. That means that it is much healthier for them to have plain fruits or veggies with nothing added than the "finished products" that you serve humans. If you really can not resist sharing some of your meal, think ahead and put some plain components aside before you season, sauce or combine your components for the finished meal. Again, your rat is not a human and should not be fed like one.
Examples of how to share your dinner with your rats:
Spaghetti Dinner with Caesar Salad - Reserve some plain romaine lettuce (no dressing, cheese or croutons) and plain cooked pasta (before adding any sauce). Give your rats the plain pasta and plain lettuce. Don't give your rat more than 1 piece of pasta, it just isn't good for them.
Meatloaf with Herbed Red Potatoes and Mixed Veggies - During cooking, reserve some cooked red potatoes before seasoning them (this only works if you boiled the potatoes in water instead of cooking them in butter, margarine or oil). Reserve some raw or frozen mixed veggies before cooking. Give your rats plain raw or frozen veggies (you can thaw or give frozen but no need to cook) and some plain cooked potato.
Beef Stew - During preparation, reserve some raw (or frozen) veggies. Give your rats the plain reserved veggies.
Breakfast for Dinner (Scrambled eggs, Toast, Bacon and Pancakes) - If you usually add anything to your eggs during cooking, just cook one plain egg first (remember to not use any butter or spices in the pan. Use coconut oil if needed), Reserve a bit of plain toast and give your rats plain egg and plain toast.
Apple seeds, peach, nectarine, cherry, plum and apricot stones/pits/seeds - These contain a small amount of cyanide which could be harmful to your rats. The eatable fruit flesh is fine to give rats.
Avacodo pits & skins - The pit, rind, skin, and leaves of the avocado are toxic. The eatable fruit flesh of the avocado can be given in small amounts, but avocado is very fatty so please feed sparingly.
Green bananas - Inhibit starch digestion.
Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemons & Limes (fruits and juices) - All contain d-limonene which can cause kidney cancer in male rats so we avoid giving it to females as well.
Canned and Pre-packaged Fruits: Fresh is best. Frozen is fine, but avoid canned and pre-packaged.
Vegetables to Avoid:
Green potato flesh, skin and eyes - Do not any part of a green potato to your rat.
Celery Tops - The stalk (the part we eat) can be fed in small quantities as celery has little nutritional value.
Onion - Can lead to anemia and an upset stomach.
Garlic - Garlic is recommenced as a natural rat repellent so we don't recommend you give it to pet rats.
Rhubarb - High levels of oxalates which bind up calcium
Raw Artichokes - Inhibit protein digestion. Cooked artichoke is fine in small amounts.
Raw Brussel Sprouts - Fine after cooking, though.
Raw Cabbage - Fine after cooking.
Raw Potato - Fine after cooking.
Raw Sweet Potato - Once again, fine after cooking
Canned and Pre-packaged Vegetables: Fresh is best. Frozen is fine, but avoid canned and pre-packaged, as these are likely to contain preservatives and leached chemicals from processing and storage.
Other Foods to Avoid:
Raw beans and/or dry beans - Once prepared and cooked, they are fine.
Raw Peanuts - Roasted Plain Peanuts are fine but avoid salted, honey roasted and any added ingredients.
Peanut Butter & Nut Butters - Nut butters are too thick and sticky and can cause your rat to choke. Peanut and Nut butters may be cooked in a recipe and given, as long as the final product is not thick and sticky.
Mashed Potatoes - Usually contain dairy and are typically thick and somewhat sticky and could cause choking.
Dairy - Avoid all dairy including milk, yogurt, butter and cheeses. Check store bought treats for any form of dairy including dried, powdered and dehydrated forms.
Cuddle Bones (for Birds) - The general consensus is that these have far too much calcium to be healthy for your rat, steer clear.
Licorice - Contains a suspected neurotoxin and sweetener, please don't give this to your rats.
Carbonated drinks - Rats can not burp, therefore they have a hard time getting rid of the carbonation. Please avoid giving rats anything that is carbonated. Your rats should only be given water to drink.
Raw bulk tofu - Packaged tofu is ok for eating
Raw hide - Difficult to digest and not at all healthy for dogs, please do not give this to your rat.
Wild insects - Wild insects can carry pathogens. You can feed your rats captive raised meal-worms and crickets purchased at your local per supply store, if you wish.
Treats or Foods for other Animals - If it is made for Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Gerbils, Birds or other animals it is likely not suitable for your rats. Read the ingredients and check them against our list of ingredients to avoid. If you aren't sure you can always send us a message to see what we think.
Spices & Spice Oils - salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, aniseed, poppyseeds etc...
Herbs like lemon balm and lemon mint (and their essential oils)
Essential Oils - Do not diffuse or use essential oils to treat rats in any way.
Meats - There is no need to give your rats meat. If you just can't resist, we encourage you to only give a tiny bit of cooked (not fried) chicken and give it very sparingly. Rats love a nice juicy cricket or meal-worm just as much as cooked chicken and the cricket or meal-worm is a much more natural diet for a rat. Your rat is not a human and should not be fed like one.
Human Cereal - Cereal contains a lot of sugar and other ingredients your rats shouldn't have. We highly recommend that you not feed your rats any cereal.
Human Snacks, Desserts & Candy - Please do not share your "goodies" with your pets. There are many ingredients in your "human treats" that your pets should not have, so please resist the urge to share a nibble with your rats. Your rat is not a human and should not be fed like one.
A Note About Canned, Pre-made, Heat n' Eat, & Single Serve Foods:
The fresher, the better for your rats. We don't recommend that you feed your rats pre-made food or foods that come from a can or plastic container. Foods that come ready to eat (or heat and eat) are highly processed and contain way too many ingredients that can be bad for your pets. Your rat is not a human and should not be fed like one. Additionally, when food is stored in a can or plastic container, chemicals (bisphenol A and a class of chemicals called phthalates) from the container leach into the food. Try to stick with fresh fruits and veggies. Frozen is ok too because frozen is less likely to contain preservatives or to leach chemicals from the bag it is stored in. If you use frozen foods, it is best to take the food out of the plastic it came in before thawing or cooking it so the food isn't leaching chemical from the plastic while thawing or cooking. Finally, don't heat or thaw food in plastic containers, use a glass container instead of plastic.
Foods to use caution with:
All of the following should be given sparingly. Some can be very dangerous to your rat if given too much. Personally, I would recommend just not giving your rat any of these (with the exception of dark chocolate, which is fine in very small amounts).
Bread - Bread can expand in a rat's throat, causing them to choke. If giving your rat bread, toast it first or give them very small amounts at a time. If giving bread, its best to give whole grain (not white bread) with as few ingredients and as little sweetener in it as possible. Avoid white bread and "Wonder" breads.
Corn - Dried corn can contain fungal contaminates which could lead to liver cancer. Fresh and frozen corn won't hurt but we don't recommend you give it often because corn has few nutrients.
Cooked Potatoes - While cooked potatoes aren't terrible for rats, people rarely eat them plain. Often, what is added to potatoes is not good for rats. If you want to share some cooked potatoes with your pets, it is best to sit some plain cooked potatoes to the side before adding ingredients or seasonings.
Dark Chocolate - May temporarily help with minor respiratory distress. Dark chocolate will not cure any respiratory issues, it will only lessen the symptoms temporarily. Too much can be problematic. Avoid milk and semi-sweet chocolate, instead look for dark chocolate with the highest percentage of cocoa or cacao. Milk and semi-sweet chocolate contain dairy, sweetener and too much fat.
"Whatever is on the dinner table" - The simpler, the better for your rats. That means that it is much healthier for them to have plain fruits or veggies with nothing added than the "finished products" that you serve humans. If you really can not resist sharing some of your meal, think ahead and put some plain components aside before you season, sauce or combine your components for the finished meal. Again, your rat is not a human and should not be fed like one.
Examples of how to share your dinner with your rats:
Spaghetti Dinner with Caesar Salad - Reserve some plain romaine lettuce (no dressing, cheese or croutons) and plain cooked pasta (before adding any sauce). Give your rats the plain pasta and plain lettuce. Don't give your rat more than 1 piece of pasta, it just isn't good for them.
Meatloaf with Herbed Red Potatoes and Mixed Veggies - During cooking, reserve some cooked red potatoes before seasoning them (this only works if you boiled the potatoes in water instead of cooking them in butter, margarine or oil). Reserve some raw or frozen mixed veggies before cooking. Give your rats plain raw or frozen veggies (you can thaw or give frozen but no need to cook) and some plain cooked potato.
Beef Stew - During preparation, reserve some raw (or frozen) veggies. Give your rats the plain reserved veggies.
Breakfast for Dinner (Scrambled eggs, Toast, Bacon and Pancakes) - If you usually add anything to your eggs during cooking, just cook one plain egg first (remember to not use any butter or spices in the pan. Use coconut oil if needed), Reserve a bit of plain toast and give your rats plain egg and plain toast.
Toxic Plants
Avoid keeping these plants indoors as they are toxic to rats:
- Amaryllis
- Azalea
- Christmas Rose
- Chrysanthemum
- Crocus
- Cyclamen
- Dieffenbachia
- Geranium
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangea
- Ivy
- Lily of the Valley
- Mistletoe
- Narcissus
- Oleander
- Poinsettia
- Primrose
- Tomato (green only, not fruit)
- Solanaceae - Plants in the nightshade family have toxic leaves and stems, which contain the toxin solanine.