Can rats eat cabbage?

Better not: rats shouldn’t eat cabbage. The University of Minnesota says rats should never be fed cabbage. The Zurich animal welfare society (Zürcher Tierschutz) puts cabbage in its “never” column and considers all kinds of cabbage unsuitable. The Swiss animal welfare society (STS) lists raw cabbage as poisonous or dangerous. RSPCA Australia, on the other hand, lists kale, bok choy and other Asian greens among daily vegetables, Woodgreen names kale as a treat, and the PDSA’s chart of safe fruit and veg for rats includes cabbage (but not red cabbage), so we err on the side of caution.

Good to know: Rats can’t vomit, so the RSPCA warns that even a small amount of something harmful can kill them. If you’re worried your rat has come into contact with anything harmful, the RSPCA says to contact your vet immediately.