Hamsters eat a large variety of foods in their diet, but they require some protein in their regular diet. However, it’s tricky to know what foods they’re allowed to eat, including cheese. Is this food safe for them?
Hamsters can eat cheese if it’s given to them in small quantities. Cheese is processed food that’s high in both fat and salt, both of which are unhealthy for hamsters. You should only feed your hamster a small amount, such as one cube of cheese, weekly.
In this article, I’ll look at why hamsters can eat cheese, and the types of cheese different types of hamsters can eat. I’ll also look at how much cheese you can safely give your hamsters. Stick around and learn all you can about this topic.
Can Hamsters Eat Mozzarella Cheese?
Hamsters can eat mozzarella cheese. This is a good type of cheese for your hamster because it’s one of the healthiest cheeses to consume. It’s also low in fat and salt.
As compared to other types of cheese, mozzarella is lower in calories and sodium. But, ideally, you should choose part-skim mozzarella, a healthier option, as it contains less sodium than a harder mozzarella variety.
Mozzarella contains nutrients that aren’t just healthy for humans but can also benefit hamsters.
The nutrients found in mozzarella include:
- Zinc: Mozzarella contains this mineral, which is good for hamsters in small amounts because it helps their bodies to break down protein so that they can use it.
- Protein: Mozzarella cheese is an excellent protein source, as it helps hamsters’ tissues to grow and get repaired when damaged. You can safely feed your hamster a protein snack once a week.
- Potassium: Mozzarella contains potassium, a nutrient known for its positive effects on blood pressure. Hamsters also benefit from having this nutrient in their diet as it stabilizes blood pressure.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Mozzarella Cheese?
Dwarf hamsters can eat mozzarella cheese because it has a soft, pleasant texture that hamsters find appealing. Since it’s soft, mozzarella is also easy for you to cut into small pieces, which is important to do because you don’t want to feed your hamster too much of it.
Some hamster owners assume that they can’t feed their dwarf hamsters what they feed larger hamsters because they’re smaller. Although dwarf hamsters should be fed food that’s been formulated for dwarf hamsters, all types of hamsters need to be fed once a day.
Your dwarf hamster can be fed some cheese, but this should take the form of a small cube, about once a week or two. Any more than this, and you could cause your hamster to gain weight and get sick.
Can I Feed My Hamster Mozzarella Cheese?
You can feed your hamster mozzarella cheese, but bear in mind that this will be considered a snack, and you should limit your hamster’s snacks to no more than 10% of their daily diet.
When feeding your hamster mozzarella cheese, make sure you follow these tips so that you prioritize your hamster’s health:
- Break up the cheese into small pieces. You should do this so that the cheese is easy for your hamster to chew and eat without choking.
- Never give your hamster cheese-flavored foods. These foods are processed, usually high in calories and fat, and are, therefore, not allowed in your hamster’s diet.
- Remove the cheese from your hamster’s cage after 24 hours. If your hamster hasn’t eaten its cheese, remove it from its cage. If you don’t, the cheese will rot and attract bacteria, making your hamster’s environment unhygienic.
- Make sure your hamster isn’t storing cheese in its cheeks. Your hamster’s cheek pouches can become filled with food that gets stuck in them, causing painful sores and abscesses. Over time, cheese can cause dental health conditions, so ensure that your hamster has fresh water to drink so it can wash out its mouth after eating cheese.
How Much Mozzarella Can a Hamster Eat?
Your hamster can eat two pea-sized pieces of mozzarella cheese every week. Even though mozzarella is healthier than some other types of cheese, you still need to feed it to your hamster in moderation.
Since cheese, in general, contains fat, you want to avoid giving too much of it to your hamster. This is because a hamster’s diet should consist of between 4% and 5% fat, not more.
Besides being bad for your hamster’s health, too much fat in your hamster’s diet can cause your hamster to put on weight, leading to health problems.
Mozzarella also contains a bit of sodium, although it contains less than other types of cheese. For example, a serving of fresh mozzarella contains 138 mg of sodium, while processed cheese can contain double that amount, so always check the sodium content of cheese before giving it to your hamster.
Hamsters shouldn’t eat foods that contain sodium. This is unhealthy for them, and in large quantities, it can cause kidney damage. This is why hamsters don’t need salt licks because they get enough salt from their food.
What Kind of Cheese Do Hamsters Like?
Hamsters like various types of cheese, such as mozzarella and ricotta cheese, but not all hamsters are alike. Although some hamsters like cheese, others don’t like it at all. You might have to experiment with different types of cheese to find one your hamster likes.
Although your hamster might eat a variety of cheeses, you shouldn’t feed them all to your pet. You can feed your hamster mozzarella cheese, as well as other types of cheese, such as:
- Cottage cheese: This is another healthy cheese you can feed your hamster. It’s low in calories, and salt with a crumbly texture that will make it easy for you to give cottage cheese in small quantities to your hamster. Make sure you choose a low-fat variety.
- Ricotta cheese: This cheese is low in fat and salt and contains more calcium and vitamins than cottage cheese.
You should avoid giving your hamster cheese that is high in fat and sodium, such as:
- Parmesan
- Cheddar
- Blue cheese
Blue cheese is especially dangerous to give your pet hamster because it contains mold that can make it sick.
It’s not just moldy cheese that you should avoid feeding your hamster. Any moldy food should be thrown out, and don’t ever feed it to your hamster. Throw out any damp food in your hamster’s cage before it grows mold to prevent risking your pet’s health.
When giving your hamster cheese for the first time, you should check it for any mold and signs that it doesn’t agree with your hamster.
When fed dairy, your hamster could experience symptoms such as:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
If this occurs, avoid giving your hamster any cheese or dairy in the future.
Final Thoughts
If you have a pet hamster, you might wonder if you can supplement its diet with delicious treats and snacks, such as cheese. You can feed your hamster cheese, but you must follow some important tips to keep it healthy.
These include the following:
- Never give your hamster more than two pea-sized pieces of cheese every week.
- Feed your hamster small pieces of cheese so that they don’t choke.
- Avoid high-fat, high-salt cheese that is unhealthy for small pets.