Can hamsters eat oatmeal? Oatmeal is a healthy addition to one’s diet, and many people enjoy eating oatmeal. Oats contain fibers, vitamins, and minerals which are great for people having cholesterol and blood pressure.
Yes, hamsters can eat oatmeal occasionally, but only water-based oatmeal. Milk and other dairy products are unhealthy for your hamster. Besides, milk is rich in calories, and hamsters are pretty sensitive to digesting milk.
Here is more to learn about, can hamsters eat oatmeal? Are oats beneficial for hamsters?
Can Hamsters Have Oatmeal?
Let us answer this question for you, can hamsters eat oatmeal?
Yes, giving oatmeal made with water is suitable for hamsters on occasion. However, milk-based oatmeal is not recommended for your hammy. That’s because hamsters have quite sensitive stomachs that are not made to deal with high-calorie milk.
If you want to give your hammy oatmeal, go for the water-based oatmeal without flavorings or added sugar. Also, avoid giving your hammy instant oatmeal as it is high in sodium than regular oatmeal.
To enhance the taste and flavor, you can add some fresh fruits and a bit of honey along with water and oats.
Do Hamsters Like Oats?
Can hamsters eat oatmeal? Before feeding your hammy, you might wonder, do hamsters like oats? Yes, hamsters like eating oats; even if they haven’t eaten oatmeal earlier, they will get used to it quickly.
Initially, give only a tiny amount of oatmeal to familiarise your hamsters. Once they show a positive reaction to it, you can gradually increase the amount of oatmeal.
What Are The Health Benefits of Oats For Hamsters?
Oatmeal mainly consists of oats, a healthy snack for your furry friend. Let’s have a look at how these oats are beneficial for your hammy.
Proteins
Protein is an essential part of your hammy’s diet. The fact is that growing hamsters need more proteins compared to adult ones. An adult hamster’s diet should contain 18% protein.
However, baby hamsters need 20-24% protein. Besides, hamsters having any disease also have high protein requirements. Luckily, 100 grams of oats contain almost 16 grams of proteins which is suitable for hamsters.
Do You Know?
Hamsters can eat a variety of foods, and we have researched lots of them. Check out this One: Can Hamsters Eat Onions?
Fat
If you are giving your hammy too much or too little fat, it can imbalance the hamster’s diet. The fat requirement varies from one hamster to another. Generally, giving 7% of the fat in the diet to hamsters is essential. In this regard, oats are a perfect snack.
Fibers
Oats are also high in fiber, essential for maintaining your hammy’s digestive system. Besides, fibers also nourish the healthy bacteria in a hammy’s gut.
Are There Any Risks of Eating Oats for Hamsters?
Now, let’s have a look at what are the risks associated with giving oats to hamsters. Minerals like sodium and phosphorus in oats are unhealthy for your pet’s health.
Sodium can lead to dehydration in hamsters as their diet already contains less water. Further, the acid content in oats can make your furry friend sick.
Overconsumption of oats can result in bloating in hamsters, so be careful. Unfortunately, oats don’t fulfill all the nutritional requirements of your hammy. So, giving your hammy a varied diet would be best instead of giving your furry friend too many oats.
Can Baby Hamsters Eat Oatmeal?
Compared to adult hamsters, baby hamsters have delicate digestive systems. That’s why you shouldn’t give anything to your baby hamsters that might be good for adult ones.
But oats in oatmeal are high in protein content and beneficial for baby hamsters with higher protein requirements than adults.
Can Hamsters Eat Uncooked Oatmeal?
You can give cooked or uncooked oatmeal to your hammy according to your preference. Instead of giving your pet dry or cooked oats, you can soak oats in water to soften them.
Alternative Options
Although hamsters can eat oatmeal, it should not be a significant part of their diet. A well-balanced hamster’s diet includes pallets or a seed mix, fresh fruits, veggies, and other treats like nuts, eggs, and insects.
However, here are some alternatives that you can try for your hammy:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Seeds (like quinoa)
- Rice
- Cherries
- Broccoli
- Carrots
Final Words – Can hamsters eat oatmeal?
In the end, can hamsters eat oatmeal? Yes, water-based oatmeal is preferable for hamsters as it is easy to digest and does not contain many calories.
Oats are loaded with proteins and fibers that make them a good snack for hamsters. You can give oatmeal occasionally to your pet in moderation. Avoid overfeeding your hammy with oatmeal, as it can be dangerous.
