Can rats eat oranges and other citrus fruit?

No. The RSPCA and PDSA both advise against citrus fruit for all rats — oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit and the like.

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Serving

Never

How to prepare

Do not feed

Benefits

None — rats make their own vitamin C and don't need it from fruit.

The details

Citrus peel oil and juice contain d-limonene, which has caused kidney damage in male rats in laboratory studies. Rats don't need citrus for vitamin C either: unlike people, they make their own.

What to do if your rat ate it

Call a vet straight away — ideally one who treats exotic pets — and don't wait for symptoms. Rats can't vomit, and the RSPCA warns that even a small amount of something harmful can kill them. Tell the vet what your rat ate, roughly how much and when, and bring the packaging if there is one. Don't try home remedies or human medicines: the RSPCA warns these are very dangerous to rats.