Top 7 food for rats: rating, types, reviews, tips for choosing
Dry food for rats is the basis of the diet of these decorative animals. A bowl with him must be present in the cage around the clock, especially in the case of young animals. A balanced diet is the basis for a long and healthy life for your pet, but choosing the right option from the huge variety of products on the market can be difficult.
Novice rat owners often wonder which mixture is best. Why are some of them several times more expensive than others? Does it make sense to overpay? Can I use food for hamsters, ferrets or degus? Unfortunately, pet shop sellers are rarely trained to provide expert advice. In order to help young rat breeders, I have compiled a top food for rats, which includes the best products in different price categories.
Rating of the top 7 food for rats
In this rating, I have included mixtures belonging to various price categories, which will allow people of all income levels to choose the right food. Regardless of the cost, all the products included in the top are of high quality and completely safe for rats.
Vitakraft Premium Menu Vital
Complete feed of German production, which includes a large number of various cereals, as well as dried fruits and nuts, vitamins and trace elements that improve the condition of rat hair. The main advantage of the mixture is the use by the manufacturer of a special complex of ingredients, due to which the waste products of rats become less odorous, which will allow them to be removed from the cage a little less often. Most animals eat this food well without leaving anything in the trough.
| Class | Premium |
| Type of | Combined |
| Composition | cereals 72.4%, fruits 10%, nuts 8%, plant products, minerals, vegetables, milk and dairy products, oils and fats, inulin, seeds, yucca extract |
| Special properties | Reduces the smell of rat waste products. |
Pros:
- High quality;
- The presence in the composition of dairy products, vitamins and minerals;
- Contains a complex of elements that reduce the unpleasant odor emanating from the cell.
Minuses:
- The manufacturer does not add meat products to the feed.
The rats really liked this food (and they are spoiled by me). Good composition, even distribution of ingredients (the Germans mix well before packaging), the ingredients themselves are mainly specially selected mixed feeds of various types, which is very correct. No oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, popcorn and even more peas. The zip on the package is a convenient solution, you do not need to pour it anywhere.
Even the best dry food must be supplemented with pieces of vegetables and fruits: apples, squash, pumpkin, and so on. Remember that garlic, onions, cabbage and citrus fruits are contraindicated in rats.
Little one rats
Quite good food related to the economy segment. It is based on cereals such as wheat, barley, oats. The mixture is additionally enriched with dried banana chips and red corn to reduce the risk of tumors in the rat. Combined feed, natural grains are combined in it with fruit and herbal granules. It can be used both as a base and for diluting more expensive mixtures.
| Class | Economy |
| Type of | Combined |
| Composition | wheat, rolled barley, oatmeal, puffed wheat, multi-grain granules, corn flakes, oats, red corn (5.85%), barley, rolled peas, sweet rolled lupine, puffed corn, extruded corn, buckwheat, rolled beans, carob (carob), sunflower seeds, dried banana (2.5%), fructooligosaccharides (0.6%), yucca extract (0.01%).Analysis: proteins - 12.2%, fats - 4.1%, fiber - 4.3%, ash - 7%, calcium - 0.9%, phosphorus - 0.6%. |
| Special properties | No |
Pros:
- Low cost;
- Quite good composition;
- Good "eatability".
Minuses:
- Hulls and other debris accumulate at the bottom of the bag.
When there are a lot of rats, it is more convenient to take a large bag. In terms of composition - plus or minus the same as in premium brands. It all depends on the tastes of the pets. One girl likes to bite the oats in half. Minor factions are ignored. So what's the point in taking expensive feed? I take this feed as a base. There are, of course, additives.
Do not forget that in addition to the cereal mixture, the rat needs juicy food and protein food.
Beaphar Care + Rat
One of the best super premium rat food, it is balanced, contains grains, vegetables and seeds, enriched with animal protein, plant extracts, a complex of vitamins and minerals. Echinacea and green tea stimulate the immune system of rats, protecting them from disease. The food is granular, so the pet will not choose the pieces it likes, and will intensively grind its teeth during the meal.
The food will help rats recover from the disease, it is suitable for pregnant females. However, to animals suffering from kidney problems, it must be given with caution - they can damage the protein.
| Class | Super premium |
| Type of | granulated |
| Composition | cereals, vegetables, seeds, minerals, plant products (yucca shidigera 0.10%, echinacea 0.03%, green tea extract 0.01% FOS 0.01%), meat and animal products (poultry 1.5 %), yeast (MOS 0.19%), algae (spirulina 0.01%) |
| Special properties | Helps to grind teeth, supports immunity |
Pros:
- Highest quality;
- Balanced composition;
- Helps to grind teeth and maintains immunity;
- Contains poultry meat, eliminates the need for separate protein supplements;
- Perfectly eaten.
Minuses:
- High price;
- Not suitable for rats with kidney problems.
This is the best food for rats. The composition is completely balanced. I add only fresh fruits and vegetables to the food (of course, only those that rats can eat). The smell seems strange to humans, but the smell is natural and the rats really like the food. In addition to the standard components, there are a lot of useful things in this feed. In addition, this food is ideal for weakened sick animals and helps them to recover.
never switch a rat to a new diet abruptly. Mix it with the old, gradually reducing the amount of the latter, and the transition will go smoothly and stress-free for the animal.
Fiory Superpremium Ratty
Combined feed of Italian production, containing natural grain, flour granules with the addition of alfalfa, dried vegetables. The manufacturer has additionally enriched the composition of the mixture with chelated minerals that strengthen the immune system, omega acids that make the coat silky and thick, and inulin, which improves digestion. Thanks to yucca extract, the waste products of rats fed on Fiory Superpremium Ratty become much less odorous.
| Class | Premium |
| Type of | Combined |
| Composition | Granules from flour and alfalfa, wheat, rye, whole oats, barley, buckwheat, corn in flakes, beets, corn in grains, vegetable granules with honey and yucca extract, cereal rings, peas, white sunflowers, carrots, peanuts |
| Special properties | Maintaining immunity, reducing odor |
Pros:
- Good composition;
- Strengthens the immunity of animals;
- Makes rat urine less odorous.
Minuses:
- Does not contain animal protein.
Good food. I judge by my rat, but she is still fussy, not every food at all fits ... This one eats, it means she tastes good)
Vitapol Karma
Excellent complete food of Polish production, the affordable price of which allows us to refer it to the economy segment. At the same time, the composition of the product is not inferior to more expensive mixtures - the manufacturer uses wheat and other cereals, seeds, dried vegetables, herbs such as dandelion and mint, and even adds meat granules.
Vitapol Karma is balanced, contains an optimal amount of protein and fat. Most rats eat this mixture well without leaving individual pellets in the bowl.
| Class | Economy |
| Type of | combined |
| Composition | wheat, barley, buckwheat, cereal grains and cereal products, post-extraction sunflower grains, alfalfa flour, pressed peas, pressed beans, striped sunflowers, black sunflowers, pumpkin seeds, pressed corn, carrots, beet flour, oats, potatoes, oats flakes, meat pellets, raisins, parsley, dandelion, mint, grass flour, feed yeast, flaxseed, wheat flour, rice flour, beet pulp flavored with molasses, carrot flour, carotene. Total content of substances: Crude protein (min) - 15.0%, crude fat (min) - 4.2%, crude fiber (max) - 9.6%, crude ash (max) - 3.8%. |
| Special properties | No |
Pros:
- Low price;
- Good composition;
- The presence of animal proteins in the feed.
Minuses:
- Not found.
One of those types of food that my rats appreciated. They are fussy, therefore, not every food can be appreciated. Here I liked that the feed is relatively inexpensive and the feed content is varied. All these green pods, rats, of course, do not eat, but in general, a huge amount of what they like prevails. Of course, all this is individual and for an amateur, however, you can buy it once in order to evaluate how the food went to the rats.
Waka High Quality
Combined universal food for mice and rats. Contains a large amount of herbal granules, wheat and other cereals, fortified granulated feed, dried fruits and seeds. The manufacturer declares that it does not use colorants or flavor enhancers. The presence of a probiotic in the feed improves the digestion of the rat, its general condition and enhances the immune system.
| Class | Economy |
| Type of | combined |
| Composition | herbal granules (cereals, clover, vetch, alfalfa), granulated feed (wheat bran, flaxseed, bone meal, iodized salt, brewer's and bread yeast, vitamin complex), wheat, oats, barley, pumpkin seeds, legume seeds, seeds sunflower, cereal, dried fruit vegetables, probiotic. |
| Special properties | Stimulates the immune system |
Pros:
- Inexpensive;
- Natural composition;
- Probiotics for the rat.
Minuses:
- Not all rats like herbal pellets.
Many different seeds, not only sunflower, but also pumpkin. Various dried fruits and vegetables, cereals, even flax seeds) And of course vitamins and herbs for rodents. Inexpensive. The little rat is madly in love with this food.
Happy Jungle 5 in 1 Daily Menu
Affordable, but fairly high-quality feed, containing both a large set of cereals and grain granules. The mixture looks quite attractive, most rats eat it with pleasure. In addition to grain, the food contains dried pineapple pieces and banana chips, which are a source of vitamins and microelements for rats, just an excellent treat.
| Class | Economy |
| Type of | combined |
| Composition | wheat, grain granules, barley, oats, red millet, white sorghum, black seeds, buckwheat, crushed corn, pea flakes, flax, air wheat, extruded granules, air barley, dried pineapple, roasted peanuts, banana chips, carob, |
| Special properties | Maintaining immunity |
Pros:
- Inexpensive;
- Eats well;
- Not greasy;
- Has a natural composition.
Minuses:
- Does not contain animal protein.
Judging by how eagerly the rats eat, it's a perfectly formulated food. Outwardly, it looks impressively beautiful in the feeder: I associate it with a beautifully prepared Mexican mixture =) In general, the food for such a price impressed both the rats and me. The bowl is 95 to 97 percent empty. Same result as ONE Karma. I mix them.
Versele-laga nature rat
Premium complete feed made in belgium.Has a balanced composition including grains, seeds, nuts, dried fruits and vegetables. Rich in plant proteins, minerals and vitamins. The manufacturer adds components to the mixture that help improve digestion and strengthen the immunity of rats, and yucca extract will help to avoid an unpleasant odor from the cage with pets.
| Class | Premium |
| Type of | Combined |
| Composition | cereals, vegetable derivatives, vegetable protein extracts, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, oils and fats, minerals, yeast, fructo-oligosaccharides, calendula, seaweed, calendula extract, yucca extract, herbs, grape seed extract. Ingredients: crude proteins 17.5%, crude fats 9%, crude fiber 7%, crude ash 5%, calcium 0.60%, phosphorus 0.45%, lysine 0.81%, vitamin A 12.000 IU / kg, vitamin D3 1.500 IU / kg, vitamin E 30 mg / kg. |
| Special properties | Maintaining immunity, combating unpleasant odors. |
Pros:
- Rich composition;
- Large packaging;
- Zip bag keeping the mixture dry and flavorful;
- The presence in the composition of calendula extract, which improves immunity, yucca extract, which makes the pet's urine less odorous.
Minuses:
- Quite a large amount of fat, it is recommended to carefully dose the feed, especially if the pet is prone to obesity;
- Does not contain meat.
Excellent food. The composition contains sweets, vegetables, herbs. The analysis is fully prescribed, which helps with feeding problem rats. The herbal granules are porous, well eaten by rats. It takes 15 grams per day for one, but I feed mine with fresh food, so they eat less of it. There have never been any complaints about the quality. The package closes tightly, the food remains the same fragrant. Yes, not cheap, but worth it.
comparison table
I have collected the main characteristics of all the feeds included in the rating in a single comparison table. With its help, the reader will be able to quickly and more conveniently determine which product he should buy.
| Model | Class | Type of | Composition | Special properties |
| Vitakraft Premium Menu Vital | Premium | Combined | cereals 72.4%, fruits 10%, nuts 8%, plant products, minerals, vegetables, milk and dairy products, oils and fats, inulin, seeds, yucca extract | Reduces the odor of rat life-activity products. |
| Little one rats | Economy | Combined | wheat, rolled barley, oatmeal, puffed wheat, multi-grain granules, corn flakes, oats, red corn (5.85%), barley, rolled peas, sweet rolled lupine, puffed corn, extruded corn, buckwheat, rolled beans, carob (carob), sunflower seeds, dried banana (2.5%), fructooligosaccharides (0.6%), yucca extract (0.01%). Analysis: proteins - 12.2%, fats - 4.1%, fiber - 4.3%, ash - 7%, calcium - 0.9%, phosphorus - 0.6%. | No |
| Beaphar Care + Rat | Super premium | Granular | cereals, vegetables, seeds, minerals, plant products (yucca shidigera 0.10%, echinacea 0.03%, green tea extract 0.01% FOS 0.01%), meat and animal products (poultry 1.5 %), yeast (MOS 0.19%), algae (spirulina 0.01%) | Helps to grind teeth, supports immunity |
| Fiory Superpremium Ratty | Premium | Combined | Granules from flour and alfalfa, wheat, rye, whole oats, barley, buckwheat, corn in flakes, beets, corn in grains, vegetable granules with honey and yucca extract, cereal rings, peas, white sunflowers, carrots, peanuts | Maintaining immunity, reducing odor |
| Vitapol full-feed | Economy | Combined | wheat, barley, buckwheat porridge, cereal grains and cereal products, post-extraction sunflower grains, alfalfa flour, pressed peas, pressed beans, striped sunflower, black sunflower, pumpkin seeds, pressed corn, carrots, beet flour, oats, potatoes, oats flakes, meat pellets, raisins, parsley, dandelion, mint, grass flour, feed yeast, flaxseed, wheat flour, rice flour, beet pulp flavored with molasses, carrot flour, carotene | No |
| Waka High Quality | Economy | Combined | herbal granules (cereals, clover, vetch, alfalfa), granulated feed (wheat bran, flaxseed, bone meal, iodized salt, brewer's and bread yeast, vitamin complex), wheat, oats, barley, pumpkin seeds, legume seeds, seeds sunflower, cereal, dried fruit vegetables, probiotic. | Stimulates the immune system |
| Happy Jungle 5 in 1 Daily Menu | Economy | Combined | wheat, grain granules, barley, oats, red millet, white sorghum, black seeds, buckwheat, crushed corn, pea flakes, flax, air wheat, extruded granules, air barley, dried pineapple, roasted peanuts, banana chips, carob, | Maintaining immunity |
| Versele-laga nature rat | Premium | Combined | cereals, vegetable derivatives, vegetable protein extracts, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, oils and fats, minerals, yeast, fructo-oligosaccharides, calendula, seaweed, calendula extract, yucca extract, herbs, grape seed extract. Ingredients: crude proteins 17.5%, crude fats 9%, crude fiber 7%, crude ash 5%, calcium 0.60%, phosphorus 0.45%, lysine 0.81%, vitamin A 12.000 IU / kg, vitamin D3 1.500 IU / kg, vitamin E 30 mg / kg. | Maintaining immunity, combating unpleasant odors. |
Rat food can be divided into 3 categories:
- Super premium;
- Premium;
- Economy.
Super-premium food is a balanced composition, which contains all the trace elements and vitamins necessary for a rat. They are developed under the supervision of professional veterinarians and fully meet the physiological needs of the rat organism. These feeds are based on high quality wheat grain. In addition, the super-premium class compares favorably with the presence of animal proteins in the composition. Most often, manufacturers use lean poultry meat.
Premium class - good value for money. The percentage of wheat grain is less here - to reduce the cost of the product, it is diluted with oats, barley and other cheaper cereals. Animal protein in such feeds is rare; it is usually replaced with a vegetable analogue. It should be borne in mind that some premium products may contain too much fat, so it is important to carefully study the composition, and, if necessary, dilute the mixture with grains.
The main advantage of Economy Class is its low price. At the same time, these feeds are often insufficiently balanced, and do not contain all the nutrients necessary for the animal. Because of this, experienced breeders usually use economy class products to dilute a more expensive or overly fat mixture.
Combined or granular
Most feeds are combination feeds - a variety of grains and pellets are mixed in them. In the case of granulated feed, all components are crushed into a total mass, from which granules are formed.
There is no unequivocal conclusion about which type of feed is better, however, granular mixtures are better eatable, since in the case of them, the rat will not be able to pick and choose from the bowl only those pieces that it likes.
How to choose good rat food
Before you buy food, be sure to study its composition. It should contain 25% protein, about 45% carbohydrates, and no more than 8 percent fat. Unlike most mammals, rats do not have a gallbladder, so too fatty food can severely harm them, or even kill them. Check with your veterinarian if possible, especially if old rats or young rats need food.
The quality of the feed can also be assessed visually. If it is dusty or has an unpleasant odor, this is an alarm signal. It should be free of debris, mold, bugs, and foreign inclusions. In a good product, the grain is large, without stains or damage. It is good if the bag is equipped with a zip-fastener - this will help keep the food fresh for longer, protect it from moisture and pests.
Remember that the rat is a living creature, and that each animal has its own character and preferences. Some of them do not eat herbal pellets, or refuse to feed simply because they are not used to it. Be sure to check with the breeder or seller at the pet store what mixture you fed the animals, and gradually transfer it to the new diet.
