Can rats eat broccoli?

Yes. Broccoli is one of the best vegetables for pet rats — rich in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Offer one small floret two or three times a week, raw or steamed without salt.

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Serving

1 small floret (2–3× weekly)

How to prepare

Raw or steamed without salt

Benefits

Rich in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Large amounts can cause gas.

The details

Large amounts can give rats gas, so keep it to a floret rather than a pile, and wash it well first. The PDSA recommends small amounts of fresh vegetables every day alongside rat nuggets, so broccoli works well rotated with other safe vegetables such as peas, carrot and cucumber.

How treats fit into a rat's diet

Most of what a rat eats each day should be a complete rat pellet or nugget, weighed out from the pack guidelines. Fresh fruit, vegetables and treats come out of that daily allowance, not on top of it: the RSPCA warns that extra sugar and fat lead to obesity and health problems, and rats gain weight easily. Remove any fresh food that hasn't been eaten within a few hours.