Everyone knows mice love to eat cheese. At least that’s what we’ve seen in TV cartoons, isn’t it?

What about hamsters? Although they are also rodents, hamsters are less diversified than rats. So can we share cheese with them or not? What care should we have in mind when it comes to their feeding? Will giving it cheese kill my hamster? That’s what we’ll find out in this post.

The short answer is yes. Hamsters can eat cheese and yogurt, but just those low in fat and only in small amounts. Hamsters have a completely different digestive tract than humans. Because of this, they cannot digest cheese the same way as us.

Certain precautions have to be taken when feeding your hamster. It should be as similar as possible to the food in his natural habitat. You also can add fruits, vegetables, and other foods used for human consumption.

But there are some foods that we humans eat, that should not be shared with them, especially in large amounts. Otherwise, they can cause different health problems for your rodent.

One of the most common questions children ask when adopting a hamster is if the hamster can drink milk. Unfortunately, the answer is a little tricky. To learn more about this, read on.

Before giving your little pet any new or different food from the usual, you should ensure it is safe for your hamster’s health.

When we adopt a hamster, we have to know what their proper food is, in other words, what they can eat.

What Do Hamsters Eat?

In the natural habitat, hamsters feed on:

• Grain seeds

• Plant seeds

• and insects

So, when we decide to adopt a rodent, we should feed them food that most resembles their natural habitats.

Hamster food contains all the necessary nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. But you can add other foods to provide for your pet’s daily well-being.

Its diet should be varied so it can absorb the various nutrients in a balanced way.

Among fruits, vegetables, or even meat, there are several foods you can add.

If your hamster puts aside food and is no longer interested in eating it, don’t leave it in the box much. It may happen that, later, it is no longer fresh and could be harmful to its health.

Also, wash the vegetables before and remove all the seeds from the fruits.

Be very careful when preparing the food for your pet. Hamsters are tiny animals, and therefore you should not give them excessive amounts, as this can cause several problems.

You can safely give your hamster: 

• spinach
• Cucumber
• courgette
• Carrot
• Broccoli. 

• Grape
• Apple
• cherries
•  Banana
• Peach
• or melon

You can also give it dry fruits, such as walnuts, hazelnuts, or chestnuts, but always in the correct amounts.

Cooked chicken or turkey, without seasonings and flaxseed, sesame, or pumpkin, can also be part of your hamster’s diet.

Dog biscuits are a good option for rodents but in small quantities.

Do They Like It?

Cheese is widespread among humans. Since cheese is part of our diet, we wonder if we can give it to our hamsters.

The short answer is yes. Hamsters can eat cheese and yogurt, but just those low in fat and only in small amounts.

Hamsters have a completely different digestive tract than humans. Because of this, they cannot digest cheese the same way as us.

Veterinarians recommend a diet containing 15-20% protein or a combination of rabbit and rat chow.

As hamsters are not strictly vegetarian, it makes sense, in theory, that they like milk and cheese. But in reality, it’s a bit different.

Can hamsters drink milk?

Milk is not toxic to hamsters, so technically, we can say yes, they can drink it. But there are several good reasons why you shouldn’t.

There are serious health risks associated with giving milk. It’s essential to know these risks.

Your Hamsters’ Health Benefits

Let’s first know the benefits of consuming this type of food and then see the dangers.

The physical constitution of the hamster itself is not capable of processing milk-derived products such as cheese.

Although a bit of cheese is acceptable, if you give it large amounts, you can end up creating problems and pain in your pet’s stomach.

Cheese is an excellent source of protein, calcium, and bacteria that help regulate the intestines. In addition, it has a wide selection of valuable substances like protein, calcium, zinc, riboflavin, vitamin A and vitamin B12.

All cheese varieties have excellent benefits because they contain the same nutrients as milk and yogurt, such as calcium, protein, or vitamin B12. However, depending on the cheese, quantities may vary.

But since hamsters can’t digest it correctly, they will never get all the benefits from eating cheese.

Not to mention, because cheese contains a high-fat content, it means that if you give your hamster too much, your little friend will start to get rounder, that is, to get fat!

But cheese is something hamsters tend to like, and while the nutritional advantages aren’t quite the same as humans, you can still give some to them once in a while.

How To Give Cheese To Your Hamster

Before you feed your hamster cheese, you need to understand how to do it correctly.

It is very likely that your hamster will love the taste and will not be able to let go of the delicious treat. But don’t let your rodent overeat it!

If you give your rodent cheese more than three times a week, that should be enough. However, do not let it consume too much cheese as this will lead to stomach issues.

Choose relatively softer cheese such as cheddar rather than any stronger ones such as organic cheeses.

In addition to respecting nature and animal life, these cheeses are tastier. No poisons or additives, so your little friend can indulge it worry-free!

Before adding cheese to your hamster’s diet, make sure it has the necessary ingredients for good health in its regular diet.

Hamster diets should mainly consist of high-quality pellets. You will find food specially prepared for your little friend at the pet shop.   

There are also hamster treats on the market you can give your rodent from time to time.

Can Cheese Kill My Hamster?

Although cow, goat, and even soy milk are not necessarily harmful, giving this to your hamster is always risky for its health in different ways.

Hamsters naturally need to live in a dry environment to stay healthy.

This means that if milk spills or drips into your hamster’s cage, it can end up dampening its habitat and creating mold, which can make your hamster ill.

Another thing to be aware of is that milk also spoils quickly, so leaving it in the cage for the hamster to drink is not good.

Sudden dietary changes are also dangerous for your hamster

Dietary changes can cause diarrhea and dehydration, which can be fatal to hamsters.

If you’ve given your hamster some milk and you’re worried he might get sick, there are a few things you need to know and watch out for!

Sick hamsters can show various symptoms such as:

• Weight loss
• Lethargy
• rough skin
• bent posture
• difficulty breathing
• Decreased activity levels
• Diarrhea
• Dirty hindquarters

Healthy hamsters are active and curious. And their coats and eyes are shiny and smooth. If you notice any changes in your hamster’s appearance or behavior, it is best to talk to a veterinarian.

Hamsters like to accumulate food. It’s part of their behavior. This means that if it were to keep bits of cheese, it could end up spoiling. This can be risky and end up causing problems for your pet in the future.

So, try to keep his “home” as clean and dry as possible.

Instead of feeding your hamster a potentially risky diet, give it a healthier, more natural biscuit for its diet.

Many healthy hamster treats on the market are made from vegetables and fruits such as carrots, apples, and broccoli.

These snacks are a better option for your hamster than giving him milk or cheese.

Generally, veterinarians recommend that pet owners only feed healthy treats made from 100% natural products such as hay, fruits, vegetables.