Treats for pet rats
We don't stock a product labelled specifically 'rat treats' — most small-animal treat ranges are written for rabbits and guinea pigs. The good news is that plenty of what is on the small-animal shelf works just as well for a pet rat, and a rat's diet is flexible enough that a foraging mix or a nugget-style treat given occasionally is a perfectly reasonable way to add variety.
What actually works as a rat treat
Rats are omnivores and, compared with rabbits, will happily eat a wider range of foods, which is exactly why a dedicated 'rat treats' product is rarer than a rabbit one — the fit-for-purpose options are already spread across the small-animal shelf rather than badged for one species. Forage mixes built for small animals generally, dried vegetable pieces and small nugget-style treats all suit a rat used a few times a week rather than daily.
A rat's staple diet should still come from a proper rat or rat-and-mouse food rather than treats, the same way it would for any small pet. Treats are there to add enrichment and variety on top of that, not to replace it.
What to avoid
Sugary human snacks and anything sticky are worth skipping, since a rat's small size means sugar and additives go further than they would in a larger animal, and sticky foods are a genuine choking risk for an animal that eats with its front paws rather than swallowing whole.
Treats aimed specifically at rabbits sometimes carry a lot of fibre in the form of hay-based pellets, which is fine occasionally but is not really what a rat's digestive system is built around the way it is for a rabbit. A general small-animal mix or a nugget-style treat is the closer fit.
What we stock
For the everyday diet, we carry dedicated rat and mouse foods including Science Selective Rat & Mouse Food and Mr Johnson's Advance Rat & Mouse Food, both formulated as a complete diet rather than a treat. For variety on top of that, our small-animal shelf includes forage mixes and tasty-mix style products originally aimed at the wider small-pet range, which rats take to just as readily.
If you keep rats alongside rabbits or guinea pigs, it is worth checking a treat's intended species on the pack before assuming it suits all three — some are formulated with a specific animal's digestion in mind, even when the ingredients look similar across the shelf.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Adjustable Tortoise Harness and Lead
An adjustable harness and lead set sized for tortoises and turtles, for safe garden adventures.
£7.99
Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats
Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.
From£12.99
Four Flags Quick Ferret Muzzle — Grooming & Handling Aid
A temporary, reliable muzzle designed specifically for ferrets — useful for grooming, medicating, and routine handling.
£14.99
Dried Catnip & Cat Grass Leaf Treats
A tub of dried catnip and cat grass leaves to sprinkle over toys, scratchers and bedding.
From£8.99
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with salmon, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Creamy Adult Cat & Kitten Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Creamy lickable salmon treats for cats and kittens, in a 40g pack with taurine
£1.59
Common questions
- What human food can I give my pet rat as a treat?
- Small amounts of plain cooked vegetable or a piece of fruit are generally fine as an occasional extra, but keep portions small and avoid anything sugary, salty or processed. A rat's main diet should come from a proper rat food rather than table scraps.
- Can rats eat rabbit treats?
- Many will happily eat them, but rabbit treats are formulated around a rabbit's fibre-heavy digestion rather than a rat's more varied one. A general small-animal mix or a rat-specific food is a closer match for a rat's actual diet.
- How often should I treat my pet rat?
- A few times a week is plenty for most rats. Their staple diet should still come from a complete rat or rat-and-mouse food, with treats used to add variety and enrichment rather than as a regular part of every meal.
- Do rats need something to forage for?
- Yes, foraging is a natural behaviour for rats and scattering a small amount of a forage mix in their bedding gives them something to work for rather than eating everything from a bowl in one go. It is one of the better uses for a treat-style mix beyond simply feeding it by hand.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.