Can Hamsters Eat Cereal?

Hamsters are small-sized and furry omnivores, they eat any and everything. However, that does not automatically mean that everything they consume is beneficial to their health. Therefore, providing your hamster with food that keeps them safe and also happy, is the key to a healthy and happy fur pet.

Can Hamsters Eat Cereal?

The simple answer is yes! Since cereals are a member of the grain family and are mostly gotten from rice, millets, maize, sorghum, barley, and wheat. They are amazing to feed hamsters. 

If you have decided to feed your hamster cereals, it is important to ensure that the cereal option is sugar-free, has no additives, and of course, is been served by you. Also, it is important to serve your hamsters only dry cereals.

Suitable Type of Cereals Hamsters Can Eat?

Not all cereals are suitable for hamsters’ consumption, and of course, do not serve to them soaked with milk and water as humans would prefer. This is because they do not respond well to dairy as humans do. 

Some suitable and safe options of cereals for hamsters include– Weetabix, Rice Krispies, Shreddies, Cheerios, All-Bra, Cornflakes, and Chex. These brands are the most suitable for hamsters. This is because the brands mentioned, do not contain added sugar and other coloring additives that could be very dangerous for hamsters.

Do Hamsters Like Cereal?

Just like humans, hamsters can e very picky. Therefore, hamsters may enjoy cereals more than others. Also, hamsters are known to enjoy food that provides them with texture and flavor.

Therefore, some hamsters enjoy cereals while others just store them away in their cheek pouches and never actually get back to eating them. Also, hamsters’ tastebuds differ, as a result, while some might enjoy the texture and flavor that cereals provide, some do not.

Is It Safe To Feed Cereals To Hamsters?

As much as cereals provide hamsters with flavor and texture, excessive consumption can be dangerous for hamsters. According to Julie Hamilton a longtime hamster parent, cereals provide a wide range of balanced diets. Also, cereals contain some nutrients that are amazing sources for hamsters. 

Some of the nutrients that cereals contain include– Vitamins A, B, and E, Fats, Proteins, Fiber, Lipids, and carbohydrates. However, cereals are high in salt and sugar, therefore, excessive feeding is advised against.

Also, excess sugar can cause diabetes, and when hamsters are given cholesterol-rich diets, they can develop hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Another issue is that cereals do not provide the natural based ingredients that hamsters will naturally get from foraging.

How Much Cereal Is Safe For Hamsters?

Even though cereals are amazing sources of a wide-ranged balanced diet, excessive feeding is strongly advised against. Feeding your hamster cereals in the right quantity is important in other for you to protect their health. Therefore, as a hamster parent, not regulating the quantity of cereal you serve can be very dangerous to their health and can cause serious problems. 

However, feeding cereals to hamsters, vary according to their breed as well.

How Much Cereal Should I Feed My Dwarf Hamster?

Dwarf hamsters are smaller in size than regular hamsters, therefore, the number of cereals they should consume should be smaller when compared to other breeds. As a result, for dwarf hamsters, feeding them cereals in tiny bits every other week is preferred. 

How Much Cereal Should I Feed My Syrian Hamster?

Syrian hamsters are a bit bigger than Dwarf hamsters. However, it is advised to feed them little crumbs of cereal every week as well. Also, make that you do not give your Syrian hamster more than a thumb size of cereal, because these furry animals are small in size.

How Much Cereal Should I Feed My Robo Hamster?

Robo hamsters are more prone to diabetes than their cousins, therefore, it is advised that you do not overfeed them. However, if you still wish to feed your Robo hamster cereal, you must give it to them every fortnight, but in tiny crumbs.

Final Thought

Cereals are a great way to diversify your hamster’s diet, however, excess feeding is very dangerous and very much advised against. Therefore, feeding hamsters cereals should be done in tiny quantities every week, to prevent diabetes and other health issues.