diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/regalrat.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/regalrat.dm
index ee5fd6c1bb6..09e781cd168 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/regalrat.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/regalrat.dm
@@ -79,29 +79,36 @@
 			. += "<span class='notice'>This is your king. Long live his majesty!</span>"
 		else
 			. += "<span class='warning'>This is a false king! Strike him down!</span>"
-	else if(istype(user,/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/regalrat))
+	else if(user != src && istype(user,/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/regalrat))
 		. += "<span class='warning'>Who is this foolish false king? This will not stand!</span>"
 
 /mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/regalrat/AttackingTarget()
 	. = ..()
-	if(health >= maxHealth)
-		to_chat(src, "<span class='warning'>You feel fine, no need to eat anything!</span>")
-		return
 	if(istype(target, /obj/item/food/cheesewedge))
-		to_chat(src, "<span class='green'>You eat [src], restoring some health.</span>")
-		heal_bodypart_damage(MINOR_HEAL)
+		cheese_heal(target, MINOR_HEAL, "<span class='green'>You eat [target], restoring some health.</span>")
+
+	else if(istype(target, /obj/item/food/cheesewheel))
+		cheese_heal(target, MEDIUM_HEAL, "<span class='green'>You eat [target], restoring some health.</span>")
+
+	else if(istype(target, /obj/item/food/royalcheese))
+		cheese_heal(target, MAJOR_HEAL, "<span class='green'>You eat [target], revitalizing your royal resolve completely.</span>")
+
+/**
+ * Conditionally "eat" cheese object and heal, if injured.
+ *
+ * A private proc for sending a message to the mob's chat about them
+ * eating some sort of cheese, then healing them, then deleting the cheese.
+ * The "eating" is only conditional on the mob being injured in the first
+ * place.
+ */
+/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/regalrat/proc/cheese_heal(obj/item/target, amount, message)
+	if(health < maxHealth)
+		to_chat(src, message)
+		heal_bodypart_damage(amount)
 		qdel(target)
-		return
-	if(istype(target, /obj/item/food/cheesewheel))
-		to_chat(src, "<span class='green'>You eat [src], restoring some health.</span>")
-		heal_bodypart_damage(MEDIUM_HEAL)
-		qdel(target)
-		return
-	if(istype(target, /obj/item/food/royalcheese))
-		to_chat(src, "<span class='green'>You eat [src], revitalizing your royal resolve completely.</span>")
-		heal_bodypart_damage(MAJOR_HEAL)
-		qdel(target)
-		return
+	else
+		to_chat(src, "<span class='warning'>You feel fine, no need to eat anything!</span>")
+
 
 /mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/regalrat/controlled
 	name = "regal rat"