Recipe: Homemade Rat Mix

I get a lot of requests for this recipe. It's the mix I feed my own rats and fosters. I like that I can be certain everything in my rats' mix is human grade and that I can tweak it for each individual as needed. I prefer to feed a mix instead of plain lab block since it allows my rats to pick and choose what they need from an assortment of healthy foods. Since a rat's nutritional needs vary through different life stages, they can adjust what they need as their bodies mandate, something studies have shown rats do quite well when given the option to do so. I've noticed, for example, that older rats will tend to choose foods lower in fat and protein than younger rats do, leaving behind more nuts and seeds than their more youthful counterparts.

This isn't to say there aren't good commercial block diets, though I recommend steering clear of laboratory diets. These are formulated not for the health and longevity of the rat, who will likely be put to death before his or her first year is up, but as a diet that will not interfere with the experiment at hand by being completely without variety. Also, being an organization that exists to promote the welfare and rights of rodents, we prefer to avoid supporting laboratory suppliers, since the companies that produce these lab diets also often produce rats and other animals for laboratory use. We understand that animal testing may not be able to disappear overnight (though I, personally, wish product testing would), but we also feel that we should spend our dollars in the most positive way possible instead of funding the mass breeding and sale of animals. Hence, our foster homes that do choose a pelleted diet choose Oxbow Regal Rat, a block formulated for pet rats, rather than a lab diet such as Harlan Teklad. For a commercially prepared mix, when it's not possible or convenient to mix our own, we like Reggie Rat or Vitakraft (though the latter has more colorants than we consider ideal.)

Paxil and Ether’s Yummystuff for Happy Rats

2 cups Wysong Vegan Dog Food or other lower protein dog food
(around 20% protein max.)

¼ cup nuts or seeds (sunflower seeds, almonds, pumpkin seeds) for boys
½ cup of the above for girls
avoid peanuts…may cause coat problems

1c wheat puffs cereal
1c rice puffs cereal
1 c enriched cereal (cheerios, for example)
Just make sure it contains copper, important for brain function.

1c enriched pasta

Mix it all together in a plastic bag and serve.

Every other day or so they get fresh veggies, fruit, and/or ½ jar baby food (mixed veggies, sweet potato, green beans, or some kind of fruit and grain mixture like apples and oats) You can make it yourself if you want out of leftovers and stuff if you have a food processor. It seems to freeze and thaw well. In the summer I let them have a little bit frozen like “ice cream”

Soy yogurt and/or soy milk in an extra water bottle helps prevent tumors. Just don’t overdo since it’s high in protein. Enriched rice milk is a good treat, too.

Paxil and Ether also get a teensy bit of ferretvite as a treat from time to time.

(Paxil and Ether passed on a few years ago and are greatly missed. My current girls, Kitty, Spider, and Fuz enjoy the recipe that was created for their predecessors to this day. :))