FAQ: Treats for small pets

Rats can have small pieces of vegetables, cooked grains, unsalted nuts, boiled egg, lean cooked meat or treats made specifically for rats. They put on weight easily, so treats are better used for training than handed out by the handful.

Rats can eat many plain human foods, such as cooked pasta, rice or vegetables, as long as there is no salt, spice or sauce. Do not use sweets, crisps or fatty or salty leftovers as treats.

Rats should not be given chocolate, raw beans, raw or green potatoes, onions, avocado, alcohol, fizzy drinks or very salty or sugary food. Rats cannot vomit, which makes them especially vulnerable to harmful foods.

Yes, unsalted nuts not roasted in oil are a favourite rat treat, but they are very high in calories. One small nut or part of one as a training reward is plenty.

Rats love them, but the drops are high in sugar and fat, so they are only an occasional treat. A dab of plain unsweetened yogurt is sometimes given to rats, but vegetable or protein treats are a better choice.

Subtract treats from the daily food amount, choose small pieces and use them for training or foraging games. Weigh your rat regularly and cut back on treats if its weight is going up.

Mice can have small amounts of seeds, millet, oat flakes, dried vegetables, herbs and the occasional mealworm. Because mice are so small, a treat portion should be just a few grains.

Essentially yes: gerbils can have seeds, millet sprays, dried vegetables, herbs and mealworms. Sunflower seeds and nuts are fatty, so give them sparingly, and avoid sweets.

Millet sprays are dried millet heads that hamsters, mice, gerbils and rats love. They make a natural treat the animal picks apart itself, but herbivorous species should get very little grain.

Sunflower seeds suit hamsters, mice, gerbils and rats as an occasional treat, as they are very fatty. They are not suitable for rabbits, guinea pigs or chinchillas, and degus should have just the odd one as a reward.

For omnivorous rodents – hamsters, mice, gerbils and rats – dried insects are a natural protein treat. They are not suitable for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas or degus, which are herbivores.

For omnivorous rodents such as hamsters and rats, a small piece of hard-boiled egg without salt is a good protein treat. Herbivores – rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus – should not be given egg.

Hamsters, mice and rats are omnivores that digest grain, seeds and protein well, while rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus are herbivores whose gut is adapted to fibre. So always check which species a treat is made for.

Not always. All-purpose treats often contain grain, seeds or sugar that do not suit herbivores or species prone to diabetes. Read the ingredients and compare them with your animal's dietary needs.

No. Dog and cat treats are made for carnivores' needs and are high in protein, fat and salt, sometimes with seasoning too. They can harm a small pet, so choose treats made for its species.

Often yes: both do well on herbs, flowers, hay cubes and vegetables. The difference is that vitamin C matters for guinea pigs but is not needed in rabbit treats, and rabbit mineral supplements do not always suit guinea pigs.

Partly: both do well on dried herbs, flowers and hay cubes, and both are sensitive to sugar. Degus tolerate sweetness even less, though, so even rose hips or dried fruit meant for chinchillas are not suitable for degus.

Plantain, dandelion, nettle, chamomile, calendula, parsley, dill and peppermint are commonly given to rodents and rabbits. Choose herbs with no additives and introduce new ones gradually.

Dried chamomile, calendula, rose, cornflower or hibiscus flowers add variety and encourage the animal to forage. They are low in calories, so even chinchillas and degus can have them in moderation.

Yes, dried carrot, beetroot, bell pepper, parsnip or broccoli are popular treats. Drying concentrates the sugar, so the portion should be smaller than with fresh vegetables.