Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / November 2006

I could not find anything RAT specific, but I did find a site that said that
SQUIRRELS can
...
One can feed an adult squirrel a variety of things. For my outdoor squirrels
I always have a bowl of dry food available with unsalted all natural peanuts
and unsalted all natural sunflower seeds. I buy the big 5 lb. bags of
peanuts and sunflower seeds made for wildlife at Target. The bird aisle in
pet stores also sells them a lot cheaper than the grocery store. They also
like walnuts, hazel nuts, almonds, pecans and other nuts, shelled and
unshelled; just remember, always unsalted. They don't like safflower seeds.
One can feed seeds and nuts as dessert only for the indoor squirrels after
they're eaten their veggies and fruits. Indoors squirrels don't get as much
exercise as outdoor squirrels so they can get fat. Some eat raw corn on the
cob. One can just slice a 3/4" piece off for her. Some people are against
giving corn. One can give her grapes, cherries, bits of apples, melon,
tomato pieces and avocado pieces. Peel the grapes for baby squirrels and see
the baby squirrel diet. Some also like all natural no salt no sugar peanut
butter. I've heard some like to eat dried corn, butternut squash, lettuce,
broccoli, nut balls, suet, endive, turnip greens, cucumber, okra, green bell
pepper, pears, green bean, sugar pea, sweet potatoes, Zupreem primate chow,
pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, acorns, pine cones, spinach, mustard greens,
carrots, raw soy beans, plums, banana, kiwi, mango, strawberries, strawberry
tops, buck eyes, blueberries, blackberries, raisins, pineapple, fig, dates,
peach, nectarines, apricots, whole wheat cheerios and all natural corn puff
cereal. Some feed their squirrels rodent blocks and food made for mice or
rats which is sold in pet stores (see photo above, Kaytee forti-diet mouse
and rat food). They also like sun dried watermelon, cantaloupe, squash and
pumpkin seeds. They also like wild gourds, fresh rosemary, fresh lavender,
green pine cones, rose petal clippings. Every squirrel is different so
experiment with the recommended foods and see what your squirrel prefers.
Just try to give them a variety of things so they can get all their vitamins
and minerals. One can feed her twice a day at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during
a squirrel's normal feeding hours. One can give her one small animal bowl
full of food. One can put one grape cut in half, one whole cherry,
applesauce with her vitamins mixed in, a piece of raw corn on the cob...Some
people take the cherry pits out, some peel the grapes, everyone has
different ideas on feeding. Just don't put a peach, plum or apricot pit in
there. Don't throw in an entire piece of fruit or whole ear of corn either.

http://www.mary.cc/squirrels/unreleasable.htm

Lynn kitty

Okay, after years of having no holiday tree... I'm getting a small (18"
or so) Rosemary tree.. for inside.  I've got 4 rats... they get out
time, but I watch them... but sometimes... well ..... they do slip out
of sight.  (Kant, Rousseau and the babies... Kierkegaard and Nietsche
sp??)

I know that Poinsettias are poisonous to animals... and there are other
houseplants that are bad for animals..

So?  What about Rosemary & rats.  I tried googling an answer.. but
didn't find anything definite.

Julie