Best Rat Food – Best Food For Pet Rats (2021)

Just because rats aren’t the biggest animals, and don’t eat as much as other pets, that doesn’t mean that their diet isn’t important. In fact, choosing the best food for a rat is one of the most important things as a pet rat owner, and you should spend some time making sure you find the right model.

I’ve spent hours on research and testing to find the best possible rat food on the market, and in this article, I will present my top choices for different needs and price segments. As a previous rat-owner, I have tested many different brands and models during the years, so rest assured I know what I am talking about!

Best Overall Pet Rat Food: Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food

Oxbow Essentials is the winner in the overall category. I used this for many years myself, and good reviews and testimonials are easy to find all over the internet. The formula fulfills all your rat’s dietary needs, supplying the right macronutrients and plenty of vitamins and minerals. They’ve earned the right to call themselves the most popular pet rat food brand for a reason, and I do believe that this food is the best choice for most people. 

If you’ve researched rat food before, I’m sure you already know how important the ratio of protein, carbohydrates, and fat is. Just like us, humans shouldn’t get too much of our energy from any of the 3 macronutrients. The fact that Oxbow Essentials got the ratio right is one of its strongest benefits. 

In addition to the great blend of macronutrients, Oxbow Essentials includes necessary antioxidants and probiotics, that help maintain a healthy immune system. Many foods include this, but I’ve always trusted Oxbow to do a great job here.

The size and shape of the kibble prevent selective eating, something that has caused problems for me with other brands. This means that your rat won’t be able to pick out only the pieces that he or she finds tasty. Consequently, your rat will get to enjoy the benefits of all the ingredients in the bag. 

Further, the texture and hardness of the kibble pellets help keep the rat’s teeth in good shape. If the kibble is too soft, their teeth may grow too long, which can sometimes cause problems.

While I tried many different brands of food for my rats, Oxbow Essentials was the one they seemed to like the most. Already when I started transitioning from their old food to this one, it was quite apparent that they preferred this type over their old food. 

The only drawback for me is the price. It is slightly more expensive than other brands. I don’t think too much about this though, as I’d rather pay a few extra dollars for top-quality. It is up to you how much you are ready to spend on your pet rat, but I wouldn’t recommend saving on their food. A good brand will make your rats healthier and happier in the long run.

Runnerup For Best Overall Choice – Mazuri Rat & Mouse Food

Perhaps you’ve tried Oxbow’s Essentials and your rat didn’t like it? Or maybe you prefer Mazuri as you’ve bought their food for other pets before? Regardless, they make the best alternative for people who want something else. This was the first food I bought for my rats, before switching over to Oxbow. My small ones just didn’t seem to like the flavor of Mazuri food very much, which is why I looked for an alternative.

This doesn’t mean that your rat won’t like it though. Rat’s preferences vary widely, and you can just look at the reviews to find hundreds of customers who use this as the main food for their rats with success. There’s nothing wrong with the formula of this food, so I think it mostly comes down to what your rat likes, and perhaps the cost. 

This food is more expensive than Oxbow’s though, and seeing as they are of equal quality, I would try Oxbow first. 

One thing to consider, as well, is that Mazuri’s pellets are larger and cylinder-shaped. Just like Oxbow’s food, this is meant to promote dental health. I think my rat’s found it easier to eat the smaller Oxbow kibble, but your results may vary. 

Best Choice for Young Rats – Oxbow Essentials – Mouse & Young Rat Food

Again, Oxbow is on the top of my list. They’ve produced quality products for a long time, and my rats have always appreciated their high-quality products. 

This food is specifically made for young rats, with their special dietary needs. It is recommended that you feed your rats food specially made for young rats until they are 6 months old before you transition to regular blocks.

As with Oxbow Essentials, I liked the shape of the kibble. It makes it hard for rats to eat selectively, preventing them from selecting only the tastiest bits. This guarantees that they consume all of the nutrition that goes into the formula, instead of discarding the “healthier” bits.

Speaking of the formula, it is similar to Oxbow’s adult model, but with some alterations to fit younger rats. In practice, this means that it contains more protein and fat, but slightly less fiber. 

As we’ve covered already, Oxbow kibble promotes healthy teeth. It keeps the teeth from growing too long, or too sharp. This important for all rats, and perhaps even more for younger ones. 

The Organic Alternative – Oxbow Animal Health Garden Select

If you are looking for a more natural type of food for your rat, this is my top recommendation. It is made almost exclusively out of vegetables such as yellow pea, thyme, and tomatoes. Further, all of the ingredients are non-GMO, something many people appreciate. It contains no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives, making it the most organic food on the list.

While Oxbow’s Animal Health isn’t as organic as homemade food (just take a look at the ingredients list), it does come the closest. Another great benefit is that it can be fed to other animals as well. It is made specifically for rats, but I’ve heard of people giving it to hamsters and mice as well.

There’s a quite funny story behind how I got this food. The retailer I used to get my pet food from sent me one of these bags by mistake when I had ordered something else from Oxbow. At first, I was going to send it back, but I never got around to it and eventually decided to keep it. It turned out my rat liked these blocks a lot, and I continued to use it as an occasional supplement in addition to their regular food.

My testing criteria – How I chose the best food

While I went mostly on personal experience here, I did take many factors into consideration. When choosing a rat food, you’ll need to make sure it contains the correct nutrition, as well as some other important points. Below I will tell you more about what factors I considered.

1. Nutrition

Not all rat foods are created equal. Some contain appropriate ingredients, and some take shortcuts, compromising nutritional values to save on costs. This does make the food cheaper for the consumer, but I would never recommend saving on food. 

I’ve made sure that all the food brands I recommend in this guide are made with good ingredients that provide all of the necessary nutrients that rats need to stay in good shape. This means that the food needs to contain the appropriate macro and micronutrients, in suitable proportions. Aside from this, many food brands contain antioxidants and probiotics, providing further benefits.

Further, rats’ needs change during the different stages of their lives. Food that suits them when they are young should not be fed to adults. This has been accounted for in my review, and I present different alternatives for different rats.

2. Price

Quality is typically expensive and this goes for pet rat food as well. While some foods can be significantly cheaper than others, it does not mean that they are a better purchase. Rat ownership can be expensive, and we can save on many products, but I would not recommend compromising on quality food. This is likely the most important thing you’ll spend money on related to rat ownership, and it is very important to get it right.

More expensive and premium foods are made up of high-quality ingredients that will supply everything your rat needs from their diet. I often opted for my first choice, even though it was a few more dollars per bag.

3. Taste

Even if you buy the best rat food on the planet, more nutritionally rich than any of the alternatives, none of that will matter if your rat doesn’t like it. Rats have individual preferences for most things, including food, so just because you see positive reviews for a product, you will have to test it. I recommend getting a small bag, to begin with, to make sure your rat will eat it.

Just as some rats love lettuce, while others hate it, they have different tastes in kibble. All of the foods I recommend in this post are generally appreciated by customers for their taste. 

4. Bag Size

This goes hand in hand with price. The quantity of food in the bag you purchase will obviously affect how cost-effective it is. You wouldn’t want to overspend on something that isn’t worth it. I’ve taken this factor into consideration when reviewing these products.

Switching rat food? Keep this in mind

Whenever you plan to transition your rat from one food to another, remember to go slowly. You don’t want to switch out the old food for the new overnight. Instead, slowly introduce the new variant by mixing it in with their old food blocks. 

Most commonly, you’d go for something like a 75/25 split the first week, 50/50 the 2nd, and so on, each week switching 25% of the food to the new model. Going too fast can cause problems with digestion.

Also, if you get a new type of food and your rat isn’t very fond of it, don’t try to force it. I’d just accept that your rat doesn’t like it and revert to the old food, or go for something completely different. 

What other food items should you include in your rat’s diet?

Even if the food you buy for your rat is top-quality, it shouldn’t make up all of your pet rat’s diet. It is recommended that you add some extra foods to round off the diet, making it more nutritionally complete.

I’d recommend going for 75% kibble (store-bought food), 20% fruits and veggies, and 5% treats. This doesn’t have to be the ratio you go for, though. Different people find a mix that suits them and their rats. The most important thing is to mix it up so that the rat doesn’t eat only one type of food. That would get boring, and not very good from a nutritional point of view.

If you are not sure what to include in the diet, I will drop some tips down below. Try these out and see if it works!

Fruits and veggies to feed your pet rat

• Melons
• Carrots
• Parsley
• Celery
• Berries
• Peas
• Broccoli
• Green Cabbage
• Apples
• Cucumber
• Bananas

These are not the only fruits and veggies that you can feed your pet rat, but a good place to start. In reality, rats will eat most foods, with a few exceptions. If you are unsure, a quick search online will typically do the trick.

Best Treat for pet rats

When it comes to giving your rat some treats, it can be tough to know where to begin. Recommended treats include things like cooked pasta, rice, whole grains such as oatmeal or quinoa. Even cereal can be a good treat for pet rats. Just make sure it’s without added sugar. 

Conclusion

I hope you’ve found value in this review, as I did my best to describe each product as well as I could. As someone who’s owned rats myself, I know how difficult and confusing it can be to choose the right kind. I’ve only recommended products I’ve actually tried myself, so I can vouch for their quality.

Got any questions? Disagree? Please leave them down below!