Can rats eat cheese? And, if so, can you give rats cheese as a treat? Rats will eat almost everything you give them, and, although they will eat cheese if it's given to them, they don't quite see it as a treat. In fact, cheese is seen as just another food by most rats. Although rats can eat cheese in small amounts, it's not always the healthiest food to give to your rodent buddy. Feeding them too much cheese can lead to tummy problems. Feeding them any old cheese without knowing the difference between safe and not-so-safe cheese is also a challenge. While some cheese is fine in moderation, others can be extremely toxic – especially blue cheese, due to the mold that grows on this cheese.
There's nothing wrong with offering your rat a tiny bit of safe cheese (see our list below) now and then. Rather than using cheese as a treat, look for treats that are safe and healthy for your rat. Treats should be just that – a treat to be enjoyed as a reward. Healthy treats such as apple and peaches (seeds and pit removed), plain cooked chicken, grapes, or hard-boiled egg whites. Once you have a better idea of the things your rat enjoys the most, you'll have a better idea of what is seen as a treat and what is seen as just another part of dinner.
Learn more about giving cheese to rats in this guide, which covers some tips on choosing safe cheese along with other useful info.
I grew up in the late 80’s, early 90’s, and one of my favorite memories was waking up on Saturday morning to watch the latest and greatest Tiny Toon Adventures. Anyone remember Ruby and Roderick Rat? They were fancy. Like so many portrayals of rats on tv, I saw them a lot with big ol’ hunks of cheese. Eating their cheese. Protecting their cheese. Basically just loving everything about cheese. Cheese overload.
In moderation, rats can have certain types of cheese as a treat. But not in quantities like Ruby and Roderick consumed, please.
It’s actually not true that rats as a species are lactose intolerant. Myth busters, anyone? However, individual rats can be… much like us as humans. Your best bet, if you’re going to treat your rat to a snack of cheese, is to observe after consumption. Diarrhea and loose stools are the most common signs of lactose intolerance. And if you see this happen after eating, consider removing from their diet completely. I know… sorry, rats. Very depressing. We all love cheese, too.
WHAT TYPES OF CHEESE ARE SAFE?
If your rat raves about cheese, and you want to give him a little extra reward, stick to hard or semi-hard cheeses that go through a washing process to remove excess whey. Less whey makes the cheese lower in lactose and fat. Interesting, right?
Some good examples: Colby, Cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Emmental, Red Leicester, Gruyere, Appenzeller. (You’d think I’m a cheese expert. I really, really do like cheese, I must admit. I also like wine to go with my cheese. In moderation, of course… most of the time.)
WHAT TYPES OF CHEESE ARE A NO-NO?
There are cheeses that we really need to stay away from as rat owners. You can still eat them, of course, but no sneaking scraps to your pal. Certain ingredients and the processes specific cheese undergo during maturation can be harmful to a rat.
Remember, also, to stay away from soft cheese; it’s too chewy for rats. Rats don’t have molars to help break down their food before swallowing it, so if a food is too gloopy and sticky, they can easily choke. And choking could be life-threatening because they have no natural gag-reflex. So it’s best to steer clear of the soft stuff.
Say no to these cheeses: Queso, Ricotta, Gorgonzola, Cottage Cheese, Brie, Feta, Mozzarella, Mascarpone, Cream Cheese, Blue Cheese (really bad because of the mold). But these are just some examples. Of course there are others that we should avoid.
Always research a specific cheese (or any type of food if you haven’t already) before offering as a treat. Rats will eat basically anything, so it’s our responsibility to know what’s safe and what is not.
So, next time you’re at the store, skip the gorgonzola and go for the gouda.
