FAQ: Treats for small pets

Banana is high in sugar and starch, so for a rabbit it is only a rare, very small treat, such as a thin slice. Dried banana chips are even sweeter and often fried in oil, so they are best avoided.

Yes, strawberry and raspberry leaves are a popular green for rabbits and guinea pigs, with less sugar than the berries. Pick them from unsprayed gardens and wash them.

Plain popcorn made without salt, butter or sugar is sometimes given to rats or hamsters as an occasional treat. Salted or sweetened shop popcorn is unsuitable, and herbivores should not have it at all.

Peanuts should only be given unsalted and heat-treated, as raw ones contain substances that interfere with digestion. They are very high in calories, so one or half a peanut now and then is enough.

Peanut butter is very sticky and high in calories, and it can get stuck in a small animal's mouth or cheek pouches. If you give it to a rat, use only a thin smear of an unsalted, sugar-free one; hamsters and herbivores are better off without it.

Despite the popular image, cheese is not a natural food for rodents: it is high in fat, salt and lactose. Rats are sometimes given a tiny crumb of a lower-fat cheese, but it is not suitable for herbivores at all.

Unsalted, unroasted pumpkin seeds suit hamsters, rats, mice and gerbils as an occasional treat. They are fatty, so give one or a few at a time, while herbivores do better with herbs.

For hamsters, mice, gerbils and rats a few dry oat flakes are a good, inexpensive treat. For rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas oats are too starchy, so give them very rarely or not at all.

Dried maize kernels are very starchy and hard, so they are not suitable for herbivorous species, and omnivores should have only a few. Corn leaves and husks are a safer chew for rabbits and guinea pigs.

Pea flakes are pressed dried peas often added to small-pet mixes. They are high in starch and protein, so they suit omnivores in moderation, but rabbits, chinchillas and degus should have them very rarely or not at all.

Yes, sprouted wheat, oats or flax and microgreens are a fresh, interesting treat for many small pets. Sprout them in a clean container, rinse daily and throw them away if mould or a bad smell appears.

Yes, cat grass or wheatgrass grown on a windowsill is a fresh treat for rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets. Let the animal graze only the greens and do not let it dig in the soil.

Hamsters are active in the evening and at night, so it is best to give a treat when they wake up on their own. Waking a hamster in the day for a treat is not advisable, as disturbed sleep causes stress and irritability.

Yes, hanging treats or hay balls encourage the animal to stretch and move. Just make sure metal hooks or chains cannot be chewed and that the animal cannot get tangled.

When introducing rabbits, a favourite treat or greens placed near both helps build positive associations and distracts from tension. Watch that food does not spark fights, and put out several piles.

Yes, as long as an adult explains how many and which treats are allowed and supervises. It helps to set out the day's treat portion in advance so the animal does not get too much and children learn to offer it on an open palm.

Write down which treats are allowed, how many per day and what must not be given. It is best to prepare treat portions for each day, as sitters often tend to spoil the animal too much.

No. Sweets, cakes and other desserts are high in sugar and fat and sometimes contain chocolate or xylitol, which are harmful to small animals. Even a small piece can upset digestion.

For rats and hamsters, a small amount of plain cooked rice or pasta without salt or sauce is fine as a treat. Do not give these to herbivorous rodents or rabbits, as they are too starchy.

For omnivorous rodents such as rats and hamsters, a small piece of plain cooked lean chicken is sometimes fine as a protein treat. Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus must not be given meat.