What Do Rats Like To Eat?

Understanding what rats like to eat can help you prevent them from making themselves at home in your space. While they’re known for nibbling on just about anything, certain foods and household items are particularly appealing to them. Here are some of the main foods that rats like to eat:

• Garbage and Compost – Food scraps, peels, and leftovers in garbage or compost piles attract rats looking for an easy meal.
• Fruits and Vegetables – Fresh or decaying fruits like apples and berries, along with vegetables, are highly appealing.
• Grains and Seeds – Bread, cereals, rice, oats, and nuts are favorite staples.
• Meat and Protein Sources – Rats are omnivores, so they’re drawn to meat scraps, fish, eggs, and other protein-rich foods.
• Unsealed Food Packaging – Open bags of flour, pasta, snacks, or other pantry items are easy targets.

What Insects Do Rats Eat?

Rats are opportunistic feeders, and insects can make up a part of their diet, especially when other food sources are scarce. Here are some insects that rats commonly eat:

In general, rats aren’t picky and will eat many types of insects if they find them easily. This varied diet allows them to adapt to different environments and food availability.r

What Attracts Rats?

Rats are drawn to homes for a variety of reasons beyond food. Rats seek out cozy, sheltered spaces, especially as temperatures drop. Attics, basements, and walls provide warmth and protection from the elements. Here are some of the things that can attract rats to your home in particular:

• Water Sources – Rats need water daily, so leaking pipes, pet water bowls, birdbaths, or even condensation around your home can attract them.
• Clutter and Hiding Spots – Piles of cardboard, paper, or fabric, as well as cluttered storage spaces, create ideal nesting areas.
• Unsealed Entry Points – Rats can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps, so holes around windows, doors, vents, or even cracks in the foundation can become entryways.
• Dense Vegetation and Overgrown Landscaping – Thick shrubs, bushes, or piles of leaves close to the house offer both cover and a pathway for rats to enter.
• Accessible Drain Pipes and Gutters – Rats can use pipes and gutters as pathways into your home, especially if these areas are damaged or unsecured.

Addressing these factors can help make your home less attractive to rats and reduce the risk of an infestation. You can also look into professional rodent control measures for extra security.

Can Pet Food or Bird Feed Attract Rats?

Yes, pet food and bird feed can attract rats because they both provide a convenient, calorie-rich food source. Rats will readily feed on pet food left out overnight or stored in accessible places, like garages or outdoor patios. Bird feeders are also highly attractive to rats, as the seeds and grains are easily accessible and often spill onto the ground, creating a consistent food supply. Additionally, any stored bags of pet food or bird seed that are not tightly sealed can quickly draw in rats. 

What Smells Attract Rats to Your Home?

Rats have a keen sense of smell and are attracted to certain odors that signal food, water, or shelter. Some of the most common smells that attract rats to your home include:

• Strong-smelling foods, such as bread, cheese, meat, and sugary treats, are particularly enticing to rats.
• The smell of decomposing food, especially from trash cans or compost piles.
• Both dry and wet pet food have a strong scent that rats find appealing.
• The smell of standing water or leaks around plumbing, drains, or basements can lure them in.
• The scent of rat urine or feces can also attract other rats.

Keep Rats Away With Big M Pest Control

If you're in the Coastal Bend area in Texas and struggling with rats, Big M Pest Control is here to help! With decades of experience serving the area, we understand the unique challenges that come with keeping pests away in this region. Our expert team uses effective, eco-friendly solutions tailored to your home or business, ensuring that rats and other pests stay out for good. Give us a call today if you're in Ingleside, Corpus Christi, McAllen, or other nearby areas.