Can rats eat hamster food?

Better not: rats shouldn’t eat hamster food. The RSPCA says to always feed food designed specifically for rats rather than pellets for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters or other herbivores. These won’t give rats the nutrients they need. RSPCA Australia also recommends food designed specifically for rats rather than pellets for rabbits, guinea pigs or other animals. Woodgreen, on the other hand, uses a rabbit mix as the base of its homemade rat food, and the Royal Veterinary College mentions half a tablespoon of rat or hamster mix as a treat, so we err on the side of caution.

Good to know: We rate dog and cat food “Only a little” instead, because Germany’s Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare (TVT), Blue Cross and Woodgreen mention dog food as a protein source, while only the Royal Veterinary College mentions hamster mix as a treat. As the main food, RSPCA Australia recommends food designed specifically for rats over either.