Feeding Rats and Mice

Mice and rats eat grains, oats, seeds, bran, bread, vegetables, fruit, left overs, cat food, dog biscuits, rabbit and guinea pig meal ~ all right they eat just about anything! This makes them the cheapest and easiest pet to feed.

Ironically you should never feed cheese to mice or rats. They shouldn't have any diary products as they can be lactose intolerant. This will cause them to get stomach upsets which can make a small animal very ill.

You should never feed them raw meat either but they do like cooked chicken and chops which they can pick up and eat with their paws. Feeding a mouse or rat raw meat may cause the spread of disease and may encourage them to bite you more. To avoid being bitten by your pet mouse or rat put an antibacterial sanitizer on your hands before handling them. The distinctive smell will be enough to keep your pet from biting you.

You can give your pet mouse or rat leftovers but it is best to give them a top quality seed and grain mix which is specially designed with the right balance of nuts and seeds. Nibble blocks are also available that are concentrated and they make less mess in the cage. Rats love sunflower seeds but they are full of fatty oils and will make your rat fat! Like all animals, being over weight is bad for their joints and will lead to diseases of the heart and liver.

The better the quality, the less you will have to feed your pet and the less wastage there will be too.

Too many watery fruits will cause an awful mess in their cages and may cause diarrhea. However, mice and rats need a varied and interesting diet but don't over do it. Give them the scraps from your dinner plate as long as it is healthy food and in small amounts.

Bread is another good source of vitamins and minerals. I give my mice and rats the crusts of wholegrain or rye loaves. It is full of nutrients and the rats and mice enjoy the challenge of handling the large pieces of bread. They drag them around the cage and into tunnels.

Dog biscuits are full of extra protein and should be given to female rats and mice when they are having their young. There is no need for expensive supplements. Cooked meat will also supply extra protein and you can just take some from your dinner plate without having to go to any trouble.

Junk food is just as bad for your mouse and rat as it is for you. So don't give them any! Chocolate, fries, potato chips, lollies, caffeine will cause your pet mouse or rat serious health problems.

Both rats and mice love to gnaw on wood. There are prepared treats you can buy from your local pet store for a few dollars. If you have access to fruit trees these can be just as good. The wood of the tree will contain the taste of the fruit. So apple tree branches will have an apple taste. Cut some off and give them to your rats and mice to gnaw on. This will give provide them with valuable stimulation and also relive the need to chew on their cage!

Salt licks are as important as wood gnaws in my opinion. They provide essential minerals and nutrients that your rat or mouse will need especially in hot weather. They are like a sports drink for your pet, replacing vital minerals when your pet has become dehydrated from over heating.