Can rats eat onions?

Better not: rats shouldn’t eat onions. The RSPCA lists onion among harmful foods to avoid, and its NextGen site says to avoid it too. RSPCA Australia counts garlic and onion as potentially harmful. The Swiss animal welfare society (STS) lists wild garlic, onions and garlic as poisonous or dangerous. The Zurich animal welfare society (Zürcher Tierschutz) puts onions in its “never” column and calls the whole onion family, which includes leeks, unsuitable.

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.