We all want to spoil our pets whilst keeping them happy and healthy. The below list is of approved safe foods that your hamster can happily eat as extra alongside there well-balanced hamster mix.
Safe List of 33 Hamster Treats
- Cottage Cheese
- Boiled Eggs
- Scrambled Eggs
- Cooked Poultry
- Beef (excluding fatty parts)
- Muesli
- Nuts (excluding almonds)
- Rice
- Apples
- Peaches
- Plums
- Lychees
- Raspberries
- Seedless Grapes
- Lettuce (certain varieties only)
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Cranberries
- Blackberries
- Raisins
- Turnip
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Cauliflower
- Watercress
- Zucchini
- Asparagus
- Sweet corn (fresh only)
- Whole grain bread (without butter or jam)
- Peanut Butter
When treating your hamster to human foods, remember never to give them uncocked meat and remove any fatty parts from the meat. Likewise, never give them pips or stones from any fruits. You must always remove them first before lettings your hamster have a nibble.
Best Practises When Treating Your Hamster
| The Do’s | The Don’ts |
| Do cook the meat through | Don’t add any cooking oils |
| Remove the fatty parts of the meat | Don’t add butter or sauces |
| Always let the food cool down before serving | Don’t add any seasoning, like salt, pepper, onion or garlic |
| Always provide a well-balanced hamster mix as their primary food source | Don’t overfeed your hamster. Their tummies are only small |
| Watch out for any allergic reactions in your hamster | Never leave food to rot in the hamster cage |
The Amount
We all know that hamsters are tiny creatures, and so are their tummies! So when you come to provide them with an added extra treat, please keep in mind that their tummies are only small. The amount to feed your hamster would be no larger than the tip of your finger. It may not seem much, but to a hamster, this is more than sufficient.
How Often
For standard size hamsters, you should treat your hamster to no more than two items from the list above per day. For a smaller sized hamster, no more than one and slightly lesser portion size than the tip of your finger.
Allergic Reactions
Hamsters can have allergic reactions to new foods and their environments. It would be best to keep a watchful eye on them whilst they try out the new foods.
Allergy Symptoms
- Difficulty in Breathing (Wheezing)
- Dry skin around the Eyes, Nose and Ears
- Diarrhoea
- Itchiness
- Lethargic
- Loss of Appetite
- Red Feet
- Runny Nose
- Sneezing
- Swollen Feet
- Watery Eyes
Even though hamsters are omnivores, hamsters seem to prefer the fruit and veg a lot more than the meat.
What does omnivore mean?
A hamster is what we call an omnivore, meaning that it will eat both plants and animals.
When best to give a treat to a hamster?
Hamsters are nocturnal, and since they should be sleeping during the day, leave the treating until sunset. Your hamster will appreciate it more when they are awake and happy.
13 Unsafe Food Items For Hamsters
- Almonds
- Rhubarb
- Raw Potatoes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Raw Kidney Beans
- Citrus Fruits
- Canned Foods
- Apple Seeds
- Aubergine
- Watermelon
- Strong Cheeses
- Chocolate
