Hamsters can be fun to watch at mealtime because they will eat practically anything you offer. So if you’re the type that likes to share some of your favorite foods with your pet, you’re in luck. However, though hamsters are voracious eaters, it doesn’t mean they can have whatever’s in your fridge.
Dwarf hamsters can eat meat. Contrary to popular belief, they are omnivores, not herbivores, and can eat meat and plant-based foods. Therefore, feeding hamsters tiny portions of light meats, such as chicken and some seafood, is safe. Be sure to cook it before giving it to your pet.
While hamsters will gladly eat almost any food you put in their cage, you should be careful about the types of meat you feed your tiny pet. Not all types of meat are safe for them, and how you cook it matters too. Read on to learn more about safely giving your hamster some meat.
Which Meats Are Safe For Dwarf Hamsters?
Meat is a great source of protein, which is something that hamsters need a lot of daily. But before you slice a small piece of your dinner and offer it to your hamster, note that not all types of meat are safe for hamsters to consume.
Hamsters have sensitive tummies, which means some foods are harder to digest, including meat, as some types are easier to process than others. When giving your hamster any type of meat, cook it thoroughly to eliminate any bacteria and chemicals that could upset it or cause it to be ill.
Let’s look at some meats that your hamster will love.
Some Types Of Seafood
Seafood, such as fish, shrimp, and even crab meat, is safe for hamsters. They’re light, easy to digest, and very tasty too.
Though it’s safe to feed your hamster dried seafood, you might opt for something fresh, such as freshly caught tuna or codfish, especially if you’re unsure how the fish was dried and what ingredients were added.
Most dried seafood has a lot of salt, which acts as a preservative and seasoning, which can harm your hamster’s health. Too much sodium may not only make your hamster sick, but it can even cause a fatal outcome.
This is also why you should avoid salt licks and mineral chews.
Giving your hamster a well-balanced diet with sufficient sodium is enough to supply them with the electrolytes they need for good health. If you want to give your pet some seafood, you can either bake or steam it to remove bacteria from the meat.
Don’t add any seasoning or fry seafood in oil. Breaded seafood, like fish sticks, is also off the menu, as the breading can upset their tummies. And commercially prepared breaded fish often contains spices and preservatives that your hamster shouldn’t have.
Note: Hamsters have a very sensitive sense of smell, so they might not appreciate seafood. To us, fresh seafood may have a faint stink, but that smell can be too much for a hamster. So if your hamster turns up its snout and ignores your fishy treat, don’t take it personally, as it could just be the smell.
White Meat Like Chicken and Turkey
Other white meats safe for your hamster include chicken and turkey, which are healthy, lean meats that your hamster will go crazy over. Plus, they’re very easy to prepare, as you can bake or boil the meat to cook it thoroughly.
But you don’t want to offer breaded chicken because, as with breaded seafood, commercially prepared breaded chicken contains seasonings and preservatives that are unhealthy for your hamster.
If you don’t have any chicken left in the fridge but want to make your hamster’s food a bit more interesting than the regular pellet mix, you can also use wet dog food. Like hamsters, too much salt is unsafe for dogs, so dog food is usually formulated with very little sodium.
Don’t get carried away with the serving size, as you want to keep the meal at 1 tbsp (15 grams). Hamsters are very hearty eaters and are usually unable to know when to stop when it comes to food. They tend to keep eating and hoarding as long as there’s food left in sight.
Insects
Since hamsters are omnivores, meaning they can and will eat meat, you might wonder why we rarely see hamsters having a meaty meal. That’s because, in the wild, they usually get their meat fix from little crawlies, like insects and worms.
While that might seem a bit nasty to us, hamsters love them.
Being small prey animals, hamsters prefer to be safely hidden in tree holes, tight tunnels or burrows, and spaces between large tree roots, the same places where worms and other insects live. Insects are a rich protein source, making them a great meal for hamsters that need a protein-rich diet.
Besides, insects are way cheaper than other animal protein sources.
However, if you’re squeamish and can’t handle prepping mealworms for your hamster’s dinner, you might want to switch back to the usual hamster pellet mix with tiny bits of chicken breast.
Which Meats Are NOT Safe for Dwarf Hamsters?
While dwarf hamsters can some types of meat, others aren’t good for it. Some are a huge no-no, while others may be given to your hamster in small quantities or only on rare occasions.
These meats include the following:
- Red meats: These include pork, beef, and lamb. You may get away with giving your hamster some lamb or beef if it’s lean, but you shouldn’t give it regularly.
- Deli or smoked meats: Meats cooked or prepared with any seasonings are a no-no.
- Canned meat: These typically contain lots of seasonings and preservatives that harm your pet.
Conclusion
Hamsters love to eat meat as much as vegetables and fruits. In fact, making mealtimes more interesting by switching up their regular pellet mix with a small portion of meat is good for their health and will surely boost their appetite.