Mouse & Rat Food & Hay

Choosing the Best Rat Food

Discover a healthy and delicious meal option for your small pet with the selection of rat and mouse food available at Petco. Despite their affection for scraps, your furry friend also needs healthy and balanced rat food to thrive. Having daily nutritious meals is a key ingredient to a happy, healthy life for your cuddly critter. Here, we’ll review the types of food best suited for your small pet

What do rats eat?

Rats are known for their voracious appetites, so a high-quality food option is recommended. The most common type of packaged rat food you will find are lab–blocks. These are nutrient-dense cubes crafted to be a complete nutritional diet for your furry friend. Make sure to check the packaging to ensure the block is the best rat food for your pet. Here is a breakdown of each food type:

• Lab blocks:Lab blocks are among the most popular choices of meals for pet rats and mice. This is because they generally have a high concentration of nutrients and antioxidants, which help to support their digestive health. Most nutritional experts recommend lab blocks for younger rats who are still growing, as the high fiber count works to ensure proper weight gain. As your pet rat begins to mature, you can start adding more hay and vegetables to their daily diet.
• Fruits, vegetables & more: Another meal option that helps provide the essential roughage and vitamins your rat needs are fruits and vegetables. These can be added to your pet’s meals as early as 3 months of age. Your pet rat also enjoys small amounts of whole grain pasta and bread, brown rice, mealworms, seeds, nuts, and yes, even cheese. While it may be tempting to stick with seed mixes for their meals, your pet will likely pick and choose which items they prefer and discard the rest, so a more balanced meal is recommended. It’s important to monitor which veggies your pet is eating and switching out any that have been discarded within 24 hours.
• Hardwood shavings
• Pellets (wood or paper)

When shopping for your pet rat supplies, make sure to browse Petco’s wide range of the best rat and mouse food as well as the tasty treats. Pet parents who are members of Petco’s Repeat Delivery program can have their rat’s food delivered right to their door with free shipping and enjoy extra savings.