FAQ: Treats for small pets

Hide pieces of treat in hay, cardboard boxes, tubes or at different levels of the cage so the animal has to search for them. That way treats become not just food but physical and mental activity too.

These are toys filled with treats or hay that the animal has to work to get out: balls with holes, puzzle boxes, hay bags. They reduce boredom, but take that treat amount off the daily ration.

Stuff a toilet roll tube with hay, tuck in a few pieces of treat and fold the ends over. An unprinted cardboard box or a paper bag without glue or print also works.

Yes, offering a treat by hand is one of the best ways to get a small pet used to people. Start by placing the treat next to your hand, then on your palm, and do not try to grab the animal until it comes to you.

Training needs tiny pieces the animal eats quickly: a single seed, a herb leaf or a crumb of treat. That way you can repeat an exercise many times without overfeeding.

Rats are clever and learn quickly, so with tiny treats and a clicker they can be taught to come when called, spin or step into a carrier. Keep sessions short and end on a success.

Often the animal simply cannot tell where the treat ends and your fingers begin, or your hand smells of food. Offer the treat on an open palm or hold it by a longer end, and wash your hands beforehand.

Keep them in a tightly closed pack or container in a cool, dry, dark place. Moisture encourages mould, while light and air break down vitamins and fats faster.

Most dry treats are best used within a few weeks of opening, even if the best-before date is still far off. If the smell or colour changes or mould appears, throw the treat away.

A spoiled treat may smell of rancid fat or damp, have white or greenish mould spots, clump together or be infested with moths. Do not give such a treat to your pet.

Grain and seed treats sometimes contain pantry moth eggs, which hatch in a warm spot. Keep treats in airtight containers, and throw away infested ones and clean the cupboard.

Dry treats usually do not need freezing, but some owners briefly freeze grain mixes to kill any moth eggs. Let the treat warm up and dry before giving it.

Remove fresh vegetables, fruit or egg from the cage within a few hours, or at least by that evening, especially in warm weather. Check hamster hoards, as fresh food stashed there spoils quickly.

Yes, the simplest homemade treats are dried herbs, vegetable slices or fruit-tree twigs. Avoid recipes with flour, sugar, honey or salt, and make sure new treats fit your species' diet.

Dry washed herbs or thinly sliced vegetables in a well-ventilated, shaded spot or in a dehydrator at a low temperature until completely dry. Store them airtight so they do not absorb moisture.

If treats are given generously, the animal soon learns to wait for tastier food. Stop treats for a few days, or give them only after the hay and food are eaten; if the appetite does not return, see a vet.

Small pets pick the tastiest, usually fatty or sweet bits and leave the rest. This unbalances the diet, so give only as much as the animal eats and do not top up the bowl until the portion is finished.

Small pets are often wary of new smells. Put the new treat next to a favourite one and offer it several times over a few days; if the animal still refuses it, do not push, as treats are not essential.

Give treats in several spots at once or to each animal separately by hand, so the dominant one does not eat everything. This reduces squabbles and makes it easier to track how much each one gets.

Favourite food is a valuable resource, so even friendly animals may jostle over it. Several treat spots and enough space usually help; if fights cause wounds, separate the animals and talk to a vet.