Humans love to snack on cheese and add cheese to many dishes. Aside from being tasty and satisfying, cheese is also an excellent source of calcium, protein, and fat. Cheese also has high levels of zinc and riboflavin, along with vitamins A and B12. Yes, cheese offers plenty of health benefits, but this doesn’t automatically mean that you should add cheese to your hamsters’ diet.
Hamsters can actually eat cheese but in moderation, which is about 1-2 pea-size pieces of cheese. As long as you limit the amount of cheese you feed, your hamsters can enjoy the following health benefits:
Protein
Your hamsters’ diets should contain at least 15% protein. Pregnant hamsters even need more protein to support the growth and development of the pups in their bodies.
Cheese is a great source of protein that supports the growth of your hamsters. Protein also supports every part of your hamster’s body, namely their heart, eyesight, skin, and fur.
Vitamin B12
Cheese contains vitamin B12 that helps keep your hamster’s blood and nerve cells healthy. Vitamin B12 also creates protective tissues that coat the nerves of the brain, giving your hamsters maximum control over their physiological functions.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays a crucial role in the overall health of your hamsters. Vitamin A supports healthy eyes and skin, formation of structure in growing animals, and boosts immune function.
Ensure that your hamsters are getting vitamin A by giving them cheese. Cheese contains healthy levels of vitamin A that can keep your hamsters healthy and ensure optimal body functions even as they age.
Calcium
Cheese also has calcium, a mineral necessary for the growth and overall health of your hamsters. Calcium improves the quality of your hamsters’ furs and strengthens their bones and teeth. Calcium also keeps your hamsters’ hearts strong and ensures healthy nervous systems.
Iron
Another mineral your hamsters can get from cheese is iron. Your hamsters need iron to perform important functions, namely carrying oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, so their cells can create energy.
Manganese
Your hamsters’ diets should contain manganese—fortunately, cheese is packed with this mineral. Manganese is responsible for metabolizing carbohydrates and protein and producing energy. This mineral also helps maintain the bone and cartilage of your hamsters.
Potassium
Cheese also contains potassium—an electrolyte that’s vital to the overall health of your hamsters. Potassium supports the electrical charges in the muscles, nerves, and heart. When your hamsters are potassium deficient, they can experience many symptoms, namely vomiting, muscle pain, lack of appetite, and even paralysis of muscles.
What Are The Risks Of Overfeeding Your Hamsters With Too Many Cheese?
The key to feeding your hamsters with cheese is moderation. You need to make sure that they’re only getting 1-2 pea-size pieces of cheese. Giving your hamsters more also has several health risks, such as:
Obesity
Cheese contains high levels of fats, and giving too many to your hamsters can cause obesity. When your hamsters are obese, they’re at higher risk of diabetes, heart diseases, and hypertension. Obese hamsters also have shorter lifespans.
Choking
Because of their size, hamsters can’t easily digest cheese when given in large amounts. As a result, the cheese can get stuck in their cheek pockets and cause choking in your hamsters.
Toxicity
Aside from the amount of cheese you give to your hamsters, you should also pay attention to the type of cheese you feed them. Blue cheeses are actually toxic to pets, and giving any to hamsters can lead to death.
What Types Of Cheese Can Your Hamsters Have?
Cheese comes in different varieties, which is why it’s important to determine which ones are safe for your pets. Feeding your hamsters with the wrong types of cheese can be fatal, regardless of the amount.
Generally, you should only feed your hamsters with cheese that are low in fat, namely:
Ricotta
Ricotta is a soft cheese that’s low in fat. Even ricotta made with whole milk only contains four grams of fat, and about two grams of those come from saturated fat.
To give your hamsters a special dessert, serve them a teaspoon of ricotta with a small pinch of blueberries. The flavor of the cheese complements the fruit and will surely satisfy your pets’ taste buds.
Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese has very little fat and contains healthy levels of saturated fat. This type of cheese doesn’t have any added sugar and is an excellent source of protein for your hamsters.
Provolone
Provolone has healthy levels of saturated fat and calcium. This cheese is also packed with more flavors, and giving some to your hamsters will surely make their snack time more fun and interesting.
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is known to have a pleasing texture and light flavor. Because it’s soft and easy to slice, you won’t have any problems giving pea-sized mozzarella cheese to your hamsters!
What Types Of Cheese Should You Never Feed Your Hamsters?
And while some cheeses are healthy for your hamsters, others contain high levels of saturated fats and sodium. Feeding your hamsters with these types of cheeses can result in weight gain, constipation, and dehydration.
Never offer your hamsters hard cheddars, processed cheese products, cheese-flavored snacks, and parmesan. Most importantly, never give your hamsters blue cheeses as these contain bacteria that can trigger toxicity issues in your hamsters.
How Often Should Hamsters Eat Cheese?
Although generally safe when given in moderation, you should never feed your hamsters cheese every day. Your hamsters need a balanced diet to stay healthy, and giving cheese daily will prevent them from consuming other healthy foods.
Ideally, you should give cheese pieces to your hamsters one to two days a week. These days should be spread out a few days apart and should never be back-to-back. For instance, if you feed your hamsters with cheese on Monday, don’t give them the same snack on Tuesday.
Can Hamsters Eat Cheesy Snacks?
No, you should never offer your hamsters cheesy snacks. Junk foods contain a multitude of additives and preservatives, which can be harmful to your pets.
Can Hamsters Eat Cheese From A Can?
No, your hamsters should never be fed with cheese from a can or any spray cheese. Remember, these products were made for human consumption, not for pets. The ingredients used to create these products can be toxic when given to hamsters.
How Should You Feed Your Hamsters With Cheese?
Now that you know what type of cheese to give to your hamsters and how often you should give cheese to them, it’s time to learn how to properly introduce cheese to their diets. You should start by cutting cheese into bite-sized pieces to prevent your hamsters from choking.
After feeding your hamsters with cheese, wait for 48 hours to see if they’re developing any symptoms, such as diarrhea and lethargy. If your hamsters exhibit these symptoms, look for healthier alternatives to cheese. Conversely, if your hamsters remain energetic after feeding them cheese, it shows that they actually love the treat!
Talk To A Vet First
Is this your first time introducing new foods to your hamster? Worried that you might not be able to do it properly? Before making any changes to your hamsters’ diets, ask for pieces of advice from a vet. They can provide you with tips on how to incorporate cheese into your pets’ diets without compromising their health and safety.