Is Cabbage Good for Hamsters? Should They Eat it?

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Cabbage is a highly recommended treat for hamsters and all hamsters like good quality cabbage.

It does not matter if it is the Winter White, the Campbell’s, the Syrian, the Robo, or the Chinese hamster.

a hamster eating cabbage, can hamsters eat cabbage safely?

Can Hamsters Eat Cabbage? Sure!

A half to full teaspoon of cabbage every day or two is recommended for your hamster.

Always make sure that your vegetable is safe and clean for your pet by thoroughly washing them in clean running water.

Benefits Of Cabbage For Hamsters

Cabbage is a great source of fiber and vitamin C, which can help your pet hamster stay healthy. It also has a high water content, which is beneficial for pets that are dehydrated.

There are many benefits to feeding your pet hamster with cabbage. The following are some of these benefits:

  • Cabbage is high in vitamin K, which helps with blood clotting. This makes it ideal for treating wounds or preventing wounds from occurring.
  • Cabbage contains vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system by strengthening white blood cells. This makes it a good choice for pets that have been exposed to infections or illnesses.
  • Cabbage contains antioxidants like beta-carotene and lutein, which help fight off free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress on cells caused by them. These antioxidants also help keep your pet’s eyesight strong as they age so they can see better later on in life when compared to those who don’t eat enough antioxidant-rich foods like cabbage!

Can Baby Hamsters Eat Cabbage?

Baby hamsters can eat cabbage, but it’s not a food that should be fed to them regularly. Cabbage contains a lot of water and fiber, so it’s not the best food for your pet.

However, if your hamster is sick or underweight, cabbage can be helpful in providing extra nutrients.

Other vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots can also be given in small amounts to baby hamsters. They are good sources of fiber and vitamins such as A and C.

How To Feed Cabbage To Hamsters

It’s best to feed cabbage to your hamster when they’re young. They’ll need to learn how to eat it from scratch. Here are some tips on how to give cabbage to your hamsters:

Cut up the cabbage into smaller pieces so that your hamster can eat them easily. The pieces should be about 1/4 inch thick, no bigger than the width of two hamsters’ mouths together.

Place the cut-up pieces of cabbage on top of the food bowl or inside it if there are holes large enough for them to reach their mouths through.

If there aren’t any large holes in the food dish yet, use a spoon or fork and push the cabbage down through one of those holes until it reaches its bottom level on top of the food bowl.

How Often Can Hamsters Eat Cabbage?

There is no limit to how much cabbage hamsters can eat. Cabbage is good food for hamsters, but they need to be careful not to overdo it. Hamsters should only eat a small amount of cabbage at one time.

Cabbage is safe for hamsters because it contains vitamin C and fiber. It also contains calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. These nutrients are essential for hamsters to have a healthy diet.

Hamsters should not eat too much cabbage because it can cause gas and bloat in the stomach area. Eating too much cabbage can also cause diarrhea and make your hamster sick.

These symptoms are usually temporary and will go away once your hamster stops eating too much cabbage or other foods that cause gas problems in their bodies.

What Is the Right Amount of Cabbage for Your Hamster?

The amount of cabbage you feed your hamster depends on its age, weight, and activity level.

A 1-year-old hamster weighing about 200 grams (7 ounces) should have about 3 tablespoons of raw cabbage daily. An older or larger hamster will need more cabbage than this amount.

What Others Treats Can I Give My Hamster?

Hamsters thrive on a high-variety diet. Fruit and vegetables are with some exceptions a good and healthy choice that adds antioxidants and healthy fats to a diet. In addition, food like meat and cheese can be important protein sources

… and watching your hamster feast on its treats is sure to give you a warm and even proud feeling!

If you’re ever unsure about feeding your hamster a particular food, just don’t do it. Likewise, if your hamster ate something you’re not sure about, call your vet.

Check: Can Hamsters Have Bread?

To answer the most common items given as treats (and some items not to give you hammy) we’ve put together a hamsterific infographic you can get below.

hamster food infographic

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Check: Can Hamsters Have Grapes?

3-Step System for Testing New Hamster Treats

When I introduce new treats for my Hamster, Mr. Bubbles, there is a 3-step system I use every time to ensure it’s good for his little stomach.

How To Test New Hamster Treats

  1. Make sure it’s fresh, washed, and doesn’t contain any pesticide (i.e. purchase organic treats)
  2. Test if your hamster can eat the treat. This is done by giving a little test piece and waiting a couple of days watching for any symptoms
  3. Introduce the treat into your hamster’s diet at more regular intervals over the coming weeks

Check: Can Hamsters Eat Carrots?

Best Hamster Food

Besides giving your hamster treats, it is very important to give it the right kind of hamster food.

There is a lot of food out there with one of the following traits:

  • Not enough protein in it
  • Becomes dusty
  • Your hamster simply doesn’t like it and leaves a lot of food

That’s why, we have done the research and recommend the following three products, which are none of the above, and instead are the backbone of a good hamster diet.

Table could not be displayed.

Check: Is Celery Good for Hamsters?

Other Feeding Tips For Your Hamster

  • Provide fresh water every day. The water bottle should be frequently checked for any dirt or leaks to avoid contamination of the water. It is also good to monitor your hamster’s water intake because a reduction in water intake can mean you need to visit the vet.
  • Remove any remnants of feed to avoid rotting- this is especially for fresh fruits, vegetables, and powdered food which tend to grow mold/bacteria.
  • Do not overfeed vegetables to avoid diarrhea. Overfeeding on sugary fruits and treats is also discouraged because it tends to cause obesity in your pet.
  • When introducing a new kind of feed to your hamster, you should first give a small amount and observe for a week for any negative reaction to the food. If there is no negative reaction, then the feed is safe for consumption for your hamster. A sudden change in the diet of your pet may cause stress.
hamster eating vegetables, can hamsters eat celery

CHECK: Can Hamsters Have Arugula?

Conclusion

Hamsters can eat cabbage as it is nutritious for them. Be sure that the cabbage is fresh and doesn’t have any pesticides on them. Also, hamsters should only be fed cabbage in moderation to avoid any health issues.

If you’re wondering whether hamsters can have edamame, check out our article “Can Hamsters Have Edamame” to learn more about this nutritious snack for your furry friend.

a hamster trying to eat cabbage, can hamsters eat cabbage safely?

Can hamsters have cabbage? Please share your opinion on this topic below!

Barry Stingmore
Barry Stingmore

Barry Stingmore is a British content writer living in Fuerteventura, Spain. An animal lover at heart, he shares his home with a dog and four rescue cats and has a passion for writing about animals big and small.

Barry loves finding answers to your animal-related questions, the more research involved the better! You can rely on him to find the facts.

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Read his latest ARTICLES.
Find more about him HERE.

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