Can hamsters eat cheerios? Yes, hamsters can eat cheerios, but there’s a caveat to this, and we’re going to talk about this shortly.
Admittedly, there are many things your pet hamster can and cannot eat, and knowing about this will help you take proper care of your pet, avoiding every form of food poisoning.
As someone who trains hamsters, the last thing you want is to wake up one morning and discover that your lovely pets are sick or dead due to what they ate.
So, you need to be mindful of what you feed them. Hamsters are omnivores and can eat almost anything; however, processed food such as cheerios should be a treat rather than a meal.
What Are Cheerios & Are They Safe For Hamsters?
Cheerios are a brand of cereals, famous for their taste and beautifully crafted designs, which both adults and kids enjoy.
Like I mentioned earlier, cheerios are very safe for hamsters, but it should be in small amounts.
You want to ensure that the cheerios you’re feeding your hamsters are original and not the types of cheerio that contains any flavorings or frostings.
Flavored cheerios are very unsafe for any hamster species to eat because they have high sugar content, which is not good for hamsters.
How Much Cheerios Should Hamster Eat?
Cheerios are high in sugar and salt, and just like in humans, eating foods high in these ingredients can put one at risk of a plethora of diseases.
The catch, therefore, is to give hamsters as treats and to avoid the flavored ones altogether.
The flavored cheerios contain other ingredients, including preservatives and food coloring, that their bodies cannot process or excrete.
One or two plain cheerios are more than enough for them in a week if they must eat cheerios as treats.
Read Also: Can Hamsters Eat Peaches?
What are the Health Benefits of Cheerios for Hamsters?
Cheerios contain minerals and vitamins such as sodium, fiber, potassium, magnesium, Vitamins A, D, C, and B6.
These vitamins and minerals are absorbed and utilized by humans because we eat large amounts of cheerios. The only benefit for our dear hamsters is that it may improve their digestion in the long run.
This is to say that cheerios have little or no nutritional benefits for hamsters, so why bother giving it to them?
Some of these added supplements, which are healthy for humans, are likely to be overwhelming if not dangerous for small pets like hamsters. Moderation is key.
What are the Health Risks of Cheerios for Hamsters?
Cheerios are high in cholesterol, sugar, and salt, not to mention that flavors such as chocolate can outrightly kill your pet.
The high sugar content of cheerios can lead to obesity and diabetes, which we know are the bedrock of many diseases. High cholesterol is a problem, as it can also lead to heart disease and other organ failures.
Sodium in excess is just as dangerous as sugar and cholesterol when consumed in large amounts. It can raise their blood pressure, which can lead to organ damage.
Sugary foods can also cause their teeth to decay, making it difficult for them to eat other foods, not to mention the painful aches that come with it.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Cheerios?
Dwarf hamsters, like other species of hamsters, are omnivores too and can eat practically anything; cheerios included. But should they? The answer is no.
Dwarf hamsters are smaller species of hamsters, and their diets are more closely monitored as they are somewhat more prone to diabetes.
We have discussed the problem ingredients such as sugar, salt, cholesterol, and food dyes can cause. Are cheerios worth all that stress? I guess not.
If you must share your cheerios with your pets, it is recommended you keep it moderate. Less is more, and plain is always better. Keep it as nothing but treats.
If possible, do not give dwarf hamsters cheerios. In fact, do not give them any sugary treats, including fruits. Just stick with their recommended diets.
Read Also: Can Hamsters Eat Cantaloupe?
Can Hamsters Eat Honey Nut Cheerios?
Cheerios come in at least 16 flavors, with honey-nut as one of the most popular ones. This variant is just as delicious as the name but also quite unsafe for your hamster.
You may want to argue that nuts are suitable for your hamster and that this cheerio variant would be perfect for your furry pets.
It may shock you to know that the honey nut variant doesn’t have nuts in them. The honey-nut cheerio was introduced in 1971 and used to have actual nuts in them.
In the year 2000, the real nuts were removed for reasons best known to them and replaced with artificial flavorings.
It is worthy of note that some of the things we regard as healthy nuts are not even nuts in the first place. For instance, peanuts are legumes, and cashew nuts are seeds.
Peanuts may be healthy and nutritious but may also contain dangerous aflatoxins, just in case you plan to replace honey nut cheerios with “nuts.”
So can Hamsters eat honey nut cheerios? The answer is no. If they must eat cheerios, stick with the plain ones with no flavors or additives.
Can Hamsters Eat Multigrain Cheerios?
Can hamsters eat multigrain cheerios? Yes, they can, but that doesn’t mean they should.
Do not let the term multigrain deceive you; they are not a balanced diet for your hamsters and also contain high quantities of sugar and salt, which can harm your hamster. Let us not even talk about the cost implications of giving the multigrain cheerios to your hamsters.
Just because multigrain cheerios are good for humans doesn’t automatically make it acceptable for hamsters. This cheerio variant is also as complicit as the other flavored ones in high sugar, sodium, and food dye quantities.
Even though an occasional treat won’t hurt either you or your hamster, there are less expensive and healthier options you can feed your hamster.
Read Also: Can Hamsters Eat Cheese?
Healthy Treats For Hamsters
Hamsters can eat a variety of human foods, but in their case, treats should be limited to just 10% of their entire diet.
These treats must be whole and healthy. It is advised that junk should be eliminated from your hamster’s diet or, if you must give them, keep it at the barest minimum.
Their treats should be whole grains, fresh vegetables are fruits but only in moderation as they are also high in sugar.
Yogurt is also a good treat for hamsters but avoid store-bought ones as they are likely to contain high amounts of sugar and other ingredients you do not want your hamster eating. So, keep it homemade or avoid it altogether.
Here is a list of healthy foods and treats that are beneficial not only for your hamster but also relatively inexpensive.
- Seedless apples
- Cooked potatoes
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Squash
- Whole grain bread or toast
- Crickets
- Lentils
- Sunflower seeds
- Unsalted peanuts
- Pumpkins seeds
- Plain popcorn
- Cucumber
- Cauliflower
- Bananas
- Carrots
- Broccolis
- Skinned green grapes
- Kale
- Peas
- Spinach
- Mealworms
- Cooked chicken
Ten Foods You Must Not Give Your Hamster
- Apple seeds
- Junk food
- Sugary and salty foods
- Garlic
- Onions
- Chocolate
- Citrus fruit
- Raw beans
- Raw potatoes
- Almonds
Chocolates and onions are highly poisonous to hamsters and, in many cases, may result in death for your hamster. Junk and sugary foods such as cheerios, on the other hand, are disasters waiting to happen.
Cheerios do not have the nutrients that hamsters require to be healthy, not to mention that they are salt and sugar-laden. They are also more expensive than the nutrient-packed foods such as the fruits and veggies listed above.
Read Also: Can Hamsters Eat Nectarines?
Conclusion | Can Hamsters Eat Cheerios?
Can hamsters eat cheerios? Yes, they can, but the real question should be whether they should eat it, and the answer is no.
Cheerios can be eaten by your hamster as occasional treats but, when possible, replace them with other low sugar cereals, fruits, and vegetables. The more natural the treat you give your hamster, the better.
