Review of the best rat food (budget and premium options)

To keep a tailed pet, a comfortable cage and a cozy house are not enough. One of the main tasks of the owner is to take care of the correct and balanced diet of the animal. Food for rats should not only be tasty and nutritious, but also contain all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the animal.

Rat food classification

Depending on the price, quality and constituent components, industrial rat feed can be conditionally divided into super premium, premium and economy class.

Economy class

As you might guess from the name, the economy class includes low-grade and inexpensive feeds that are made from ingredients of dubious quality. The basis of such nutrition is grass sticks and grains (rice, barley, oats), it contains almost no minerals and vitamins needed by rats, so experts do not recommend it as a daily food for rodents.

Among the economy class feeds are:

• manufacturer Biosphere: Baka, Baka Lux and Baka High Quality;
• manufacturer Zoomir: Rat, Festive dinner and Animals;
• producer Zakrom: Feed mixture for rats;
• manufacturer Biotech: Pet;
• manufacturer Vitapol: Karma.

Premium class

Ready-made premium food is chosen by most rat owners, as such food is quite high quality and relatively inexpensive. The main component of the premium feed is cereals (wheat, millet, oats, rye), and pieces of vegetables and fruits are added as additional ingredients. Such food does not contain animal proteins necessary for the body of tailed rodents, therefore it is advisable to supplement the diet of animals with fermented milk products, pieces of boiled meat and eggs.

Premium foods include:

• Emotion Beauty, Menu Vital from the manufacturer Vitakraft;
• JR Farm Rat Classik, JR Farm Ratten-Schmaus, JR Wellness-Food, manufactured by JR Farm;
• Rat Nature, Rat Komplete from the manufacturer Versele-Laga;
• Funny Premium, manufactured by Benelux Corporation;
• Little One by Mealberry.

Super Premium Class

This is a complete food for ornamental rats, which includes whole grains of wheat, flax and sunflower seeds, pieces of meat and dried vegetables. It also contains vitamins, minerals and beneficial supplements such as echinacea and aloe extracts and dried alfalfa. Of the super premium feeds, Care + Rat Food and Xstra Vital, which are manufactured by Beaphar, can be noted.

Grain and granular feed: which is better?

Ready-made food for domestic rodents is of two types – grain and granular. How do they differ and which one is better suited as food for tailed pets?

Grain food contains whole grains of cereals and dried slices of vegetables and fruits. Ready meals in granules are made from the same grain mixture and vegetables, which, after grinding, are pressed into crispy fragrant granules. Therefore, the composition of both types of feed is almost the same and there are no significant differences between them, except for the form of release.

Many owners prefer pelleted food for the simple reason that some rats choose only their favorite grains and seeds and outright refuse vegetable pieces. And the cunning animals eat the granules without a trace, thus getting all the necessary vitamins and microelements from food.

Important: to decide which type of food is best for a small pet, you should offer a treat in the form of grains to a small pet, and after a while pour granulated food into his plate. Let the rodent choose what he likes best, tasty juicy grains or fragrant granules.

Description and overview of rat food

Before you buy a package of food for your little pet, you should carefully study the composition of the finished food and the presence of additional elements in it that are necessary for the health of the rodent.

• Xstra Vital (Extra vital), produced by the Dutch company Beaphar, is one of the best feeds for tailed rodents. It contains whole grains of selected wheat, turkey meat, soybean oil and echinacea extract. Vitamins and minerals (calcium, copper, phosphorus, vitamin A) are also added to this food. Aloe and echinacea extracts have a beneficial effect on the immunity of animals, and the additional Dental component strengthens the teeth of animals;
• another food from the brand Beaphar Care+ Rat Food (caret plus) received recognition from experienced rat owners due to its complete and balanced composition and high vitamin content. It is made from wheat grains, corn, vegetable and meat pieces and supplemented with vegetable protein extracts, minerals, yeast and algae;
• popular among rat lovers inexpensive and fairly high-quality food Little One (little van) produced by the German company Mealberry, contains grains of wheat, buckwheat, corn, oats and barley. As additional components, molasses, carob, dried banana slices, fiber and mineral supplements can be noted;
• aft Emotion Beauty (emotion beauty), produced by the German brand Vitakraft, contains quality cereals, vegetable fats and oils, dried fruit and vegetable slices, herbal granules and mineral supplements. Thanks to the Aloe concentrate and a special Omega-6 complex, such nutrition has a positive effect on the condition of the teeth, coat and skin of rodents;
• As part of prepared food for rats Fanny Premium from the Belgian manufacturer Benelux there are cereal flakes, cereals, alfalfa granules, cumin seeds, dried vegetables and fruits and nuts. All components of such food are natural and nutritious, it does not contain dyes and flavors;
• feed Krysunya and Zveryushka from the Ukrainian trademark Zoomir are made mainly from second-rate cereals, seeds of meadow grasses and herbal granules. There are no fats in this diet and it can be used exclusively as an additive to more fatty feeds.

Important: Many owners believe that all pet food is the same, but this is not true. Experts do not recommend feeding tailed pets with food intended for rabbits, hamsters or chinchillas, since completely different vitamins and minerals are added to the food of these animals, which do not bring any benefit to rats.

Top 8 Most Popular Rat Foods

In veterinary pharmacies and pet stores, rodent food packages are presented in a wide range, and sometimes it can be difficult for owners to navigate and choose the right food for their pet. To make a choice, you can consult with a veterinarian or simply study the list of the most popular foods recommended by the owners of tailed pets.

Rating of the best food for rats, according to owner reviews

Each animal has its own preferences and there is no certainty that a rat will like the food that most of its compatriots eat with pleasure. Therefore, the owner should take into account the taste preferences of his little pet and choose food for him that will not only be useful to him, but will also appeal to the fastidious and capricious animal.