Rat and mouse food
Rats and mice are often fed as an afterthought compared with rabbits or guinea pigs, but they need a properly balanced diet just the same — a complete food formulated for their size and needs, not a scaled-down version of something else in the cupboard.
What we stock
We carry Science Selective Rat & Mouse Food, a complete diet formulated specifically for the species rather than a generic small-animal mix, alongside Burgess's Hamster, Gerbil & Mouse food for households keeping a mix of small rodents. Both are designed to be fed as the main part of the diet rather than as a treat or topper.
A complete food like these covers the day-to-day nutritional needs of rats and mice without needing much else added, though fresh water should always be available separately.
How to choose and feed it
A dedicated rat and mouse food is generally the better choice over a mixed small-animal food if rats or mice are the only rodents you keep, since it's formulated more precisely for their needs rather than covering several species at once. If you keep a mix of small rodents, a broader small-animal food can work, but check it's genuinely suitable for all the species involved.
Feed according to the guidance on the pack rather than free-feeding indefinitely, since rats and mice can overeat given the chance, and keep an eye on your pet's weight and condition over time rather than only when something looks obviously wrong.
Common questions
- Can rats and mice eat the same food?
- Broadly yes, and several complete foods are formulated to suit both, but rats and mice do have some differences in dietary needs, so a food specifically labelled for both species is a safer bet than assuming any small-animal food will do.
- Do rats and mice need fresh vegetables alongside their complete food?
- A small amount of fresh veg can be a welcome addition for some owners to offer, but a genuinely complete food shouldn't need it to meet basic nutritional needs. If you do offer extras, keep them occasional rather than a large part of the diet.
- How do I know if I'm feeding too much?
- Follow the feeding guidance on the pack as a starting point, and keep an eye on your pet's weight and body condition over time. A rat or mouse that's gaining weight steadily on a free-fed diet is usually being given more than it needs.
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.