What do hamsters eat? An omnivore that sorts and hoards its food

In the wild, hamsters eat greenery, seeds, fruit and a little animal food such as insects. According to the MSD Veterinary Manual, a pelleted food containing 15 to 20% protein meets their needs, and extra vitamins are usually unnecessary.

The PDSA and the MSD Manual advise against muesli-style mixes: the hamster picks out its favourite pieces, often the sugariest, and leaves the rest. Its diet becomes unbalanced, which encourages weight gain and dental problems.

Hamster pellets

The everyday staple. Scatter them on the cage floor or put them in a heavy, shallow bowl: according to the MSD Manual, a hamster’s broad muzzle often stops it eating from a hopper-style feeder.

Hay

The PDSA recommends offering it: high in fibre, it keeps the hamster busy and gives it something to chew.

Vegetables and herbs

A little every day, well washed: carrot, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chicory, pepper, cucumber, watercress, courgette, parsley, basil or coriander, according to the PDSA. Introduce each new vegetable gradually.

Fruit

In small amounts only: apple, pear, peach, melon.

Protein

Now and then: a piece of hard-boiled egg or a few mealworms. According to the MSD Manual, a lack of protein can make a hamster lose its fur.

According to the MSD Manual, treats should make up no more than 10% of the diet. Avoid sudden changes of diet: they upset the digestion, the RSPCA reminds owners.

• Grapes and rhubarb: the RSPCA lists them as poisonous to rodents.
• Citrus fruit (orange, lemon, grapefruit): the PDSA advises against it.
• Sugary mixes and treats: they encourage obesity and overgrown teeth.
• Wet or mushy food, unless your vet recommends it, for example for a dental problem: it goes mouldy quickly. If it is prescribed, remove leftovers at least twice a day.

Hamsters carry food in their cheek pouches, large pockets that reach back behind the shoulders, then hide it in their nest. According to the MSD Manual, full pouches can double the width of the head: don’t mistake them for a lump. Hamsters also eat some of their own droppings, which is normal.

• Check the hoard when you clean the cage: remove vegetables, fruit and fresh food that are going off.
• Scattering or hiding some of the pellets around the cage keeps your hamster busy and lets it forage, according to the RSPCA.

You often read that dwarf hamsters are particularly prone to diabetes. The veterinary manuals we consulted do not say so; the Dutch pet information centre LICG simply notes that diabetes occurs in hamsters. One thing is certain: sugar already encourages obesity and dental problems.

For a dwarf hamster as for a Syrian, keep fruit and sugary treats to very small portions, and rely mainly on pellets and vegetables.

Fresh, clean water must be available at all times, ideally from a bottle with a metal spout. The RSPCA advises checking every day that the bottle isn’t leaking or blocked: hamsters can’t suck hard, especially when young, old or ill.

When the whole family looks after the hamster, treats soon add up. In MyArk, everyone in the household logs meals and extras in a shared care log: you can all see what has already been given, and a hamster that is eating less is spotted sooner.

• Meals, vegetables and treats logged by everyone in the household
• A shared reminder to change the water and check the bottle
• Weigh-ins on a chart in the weight tracker
• Feeding instructions on the pet sitter sheet