Quick answer
Rats feed on omnivore (highly opportunistic), adjusting seasonally based on local habitat and prey or plant availability.
Diet overview
Rats are mammals that rely on omnivore (highly opportunistic). The brown rat, also called the Norway rat, is a large, highly intelligent rodent that lives alongside people across most of the world. It has coarse brown-grey fur, a blunt snout, and a long scaly tail, and it thrives in sewers, cities, farms, and waterways.
Feeding behaviour
Foraging strategy varies by season. Rats may hunt, graze, filter-feed, or scavenge depending on ecology.
Role in the food web
As mammals, they interact with predators, prey, and competitors across their range.
Human-related feeding risks
Never feed wild rats — it habituates animals to people and can spread disease.
Sources
FAQs
What do rats eat?
Omnivore (highly opportunistic).
Are rats carnivores or herbivores?
Their diet is best described as: omnivore (highly opportunistic).
Do rats change diet seasonally?
Yes — many species shift food sources as seasons and prey abundance change.
Can I feed wild rats?
No — feeding wild animals is unsafe and often illegal.