Can Hamsters Eat Cashews? Significant Points You Need to Know!
Finding the right treats for your hammy is a fun experience. And we all know hamsters enjoy nuts a lot.
But can hamsters eat cashew? Yes, they can eat cashew in carefully controlled amounts. That’s because overfeeding hamsters with cashew nuts can make them obese as they’re high-fat and high-calorie food. But every once in a while, you can treat your hamster to a cashew if they enjoy it.
We’ll take a deeper look at how many cashews to feed your hamster and how often, which cashews are safer and which ones to avoid, how to feed hamster cashews and more. Let’s dive in!
Can Hamsters Eat Cashews? [Is it safe]
Yes, you can feed your hamster cashew nuts but only in moderation and cashews are safe for all types of hamsters. Cashew is high in fat and calories. There are more lean options of food available that better meet hamsters’ nutrient needs than cashew.
Hamsters are pretty small animals with a need to maintain only a 4%-5% fat level in their diet. A cashew kernel weighs approximately 1.6 grams, out of which 0.7 grams is fat. This is enough fat for an entire day.
So, feeding too many cashew nuts is a bad diet for your hamster leading to obesity and heart issues. This can reduce the lifespan of a hamster.
Knowing all this, can Syrian hamsters eat cashew nuts? Yes, as Syrians are a big species of hamster, they can eat more cashew than Dwarf hamsters.
Cashew nut is a special treat for your hamster. As long as you’re not feeding them too regularly, your hamster will be fine.
Can Hamsters Eat Salted Cashews?
Hamsters can’t eat salted cashew. That’s because salt isn’t good for a hamster’s tiny body. Drinking too much salt increases the risk of dehydration.
If you provide your hamster with regular commercial hamster food, it won’t have a deficiency in the minerals it needs from salt. Overfeeding salt with salted cashew nuts is a bad idea. So, please avoid feeding cashew nuts coated with salt.
But can hamsters eat unsalted cashews? Yes, Plain nuts are the best for hamsters as that way, they won’t exceed their daily salt needs.
Can Hamsters Eat Roasted Cashews?
Yes, you can feed your little hammy-roasted cashews as long as they’re plain with no unnecessary seasoning. There’s also the question, can hamsters eat raw cashews? That’s a yes too as long as the nuts are plain.
The question isn’t whether the nut is raw or roasted but whether the nutritional value it provides is healthy. Cashews are healthy.
These nuts are good for a hamster’s diet and health. We’ll get into the benefits below. However, the high fat makes it necessary to watch the intake.
Benefits of Cashews for Your Hamsters
Cashew nuts are packed with Vitamins and minerals. It’s a healthy nut with the following benefits.
- Cashews are rich in Vitamin B6, which helps in the conversion of food into energy and the creation of new cells. It’ll give your hamster a boost of energy throughout the day.
- They’re also high in Vitamin K, with an ounce having 10 mcg of it. Vitamin K helps in blood clotting and bone development.
- There’s a good amount of Vitamin E in cashews as well. It improves your hamster’s immune system and plays a positive role in vision, brain function, reproductive health, and physical appearance.
- Iron present helps the movement of oxygen through channels of red blood cells in your hamster’s body. And that’ll help carry out all the metabolic activities.
- Copper is also found in cashews. It will help generate blood cells, maintain nerve cells, and a healthy immune system in your hamster.
- There’s also evidence that cashews prevent the growth of cancerous cells, heart and blood circulatory diseases, and other illnesses connected to aging.
How Many Cashews Can I Feed My Hamster?
Suddenly taking an increased amount of fat can upset your hamster’s digestion. So, it’s important to know how often and how many cashews to feed your hamster.
Syrian Hamster
If you have a large species of hamster, like a Syrian hamster, you can feed it an entire cashew every week. For particularly active Syrian hammy, two cashews can also be okay. However, don’t start with two. Work your way up from one.
Remember to start slow. Another point is that your lovely pet may not enjoy the taste as much either. Before loading your hammy with cashew nuts, see how it reacts.
Dwarf Hamster
Now you know that big hamsters can handle cashews in their weekly diet. But can Dwarf hamsters eat cashews? Yes, but in smaller amounts. As Dwarf hamsters are smaller, they have less caloric needs.
The risk of obesity is higher for them. Only give half a cashew to your Dwarf hamster each week or give them one every two weeks. Again, more active hamsters can handle up to one hamster a week, but you should start smaller than that.
How to Serve Cashews to Your Hamsters?
Here are a few tips when it comes to serving your hamsters with cashews.
Bond With Your Hammy
You can feed your hamster from your hand or a plate. Feeding by hand is a good way to earn the affection of your pet.
Prevent Overfeeding
In the beginning, it’s a good idea to take away the cashew from your hamster’s hand after it has eaten a few chunks. This will make sure that your hammy doesn’t upset his stomach from suddenly taking too much fat.
No Force-feeding
If your pet doesn’t show an interest in eating the cashew, or simply sits with it in its cheek pouch for a long time without eating, don’t force feed.
Some Precautions
Keep the following points in mind while serving.
- Make sure to wash the cashew first
- Only serve plain cashews
- Don’t break down cashew to feed. That’s a choking hazard
Risk of Feeding Cashews to Hamsters
Now that you know about the benefits, it’s time to take a look at the risk associated.
- Food high in fat, like cashews, can cause an upset stomach. The risk is higher when you overfeed your hamster. It can cause bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, or diarrhea.
- Another risk is obesity. This happens when the hamster is overfed. It can lead to your pet becoming lazy and uninterested in moving like before.
- Overeating and lethargy can also lead to the development of diabetes.
With the above risks known, are cashews safe for hamsters? Yes, they’re definitely safe. Keep in mind that you can keep the risks in check by moderating the amount of nuts you give to your little furry friend.
Alternative Nuts for Your Hammy: What Nuts Can Hamsters Eat?
There’re many other nuts suitable for hamsters. If you don’t have cashews or want some other nuts, here are the best options.
Almonds
Almonds have an abundance of copper, manganese, magnesium, and Vitamin E. They’re also rich in monounsaturated fats that are known to benefit heart health and reduce cholesterol.
But the question is, can hamsters eat almonds? Yes, but only with the skin removed and the ones that don’t taste bitter. Bitter ones are known to contain cyanide in toxic quantities.
Walnuts
Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health. Also, your hammy will get manganese, copper, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B6.
Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts contain a healthy amount of copper, manganese, and Vitamin E. Their balance of poly and monounsaturated fat also makes them beneficial for heart function.
Brazil Nuts
Another nutritious choice for your hamster is Brazil nuts. They contain selenium, which improves immunity. However, carefully monitor the quantity you give to your little friend as it’s a high-fat food.
Peanuts
Peanuts contain a good deal of protein, niacin, fiber, and Vitamin E. They also promote heart health due to the presence of monounsaturated fats.
But can hamsters eat peanuts? Yes, but skin the nuts before treating your hammy to them.
Macadamia Nuts
These nuts are very similar to Brazilian nuts. It’s inappropriate for Dwarf hamsters as they are too calorie-rich and run the risk of diabetes. But bigger hamsters can take these nuts and enjoy the benefits to their immune system.
Pistachios
You can also feed your furry pet pistachios. They love these nuts. These are a rich source of fiber, manganese, copper, protein, fiber, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, and some ‘good’ fats; they’re the perfect treat.
Pine Nuts
With these nuts, your hammy will get a healthy dose of iron, manganese, copper, Vitamin K, and not to mention monounsaturated fats or “good” fats. They’re perfectly safe for your pet hamster.
Here are the answers to some common questions hamster owners have.
Can I Feed My Hamster Salted Or Flavored Cashews?
No, it’s best to go with unflavored, unsalted, and entirely plain cashews. You can feed plain cashews raw or after roasting. However, hamsters can’t tolerate seasonings and flavors.
How Should I Store And Prepare Cashews For My Hamster?
Buy a small amount of cashews for your hamster as they only eat one or two a week. Refrigerate in an airtight container. You can roast it before feeding it or feed it raw.
Final Words
To summarize, can hamsters eat cashews? Yes, they can eat cashews but in moderation. This is because of their high content of fat and calorie. A hamster will be at risk of obesity if overfed these nuts.
Small hamsters like the Dwarf ones can handle one cashew nut a week or two weeks. Larger hamsters, such as the Syrian hamster, can take one cashew each week. If your hamster is active and healthy, you can sometimes feed it a little more. Cashews are rich in Vitamin E, B6, and K. They also contain iron and copper. So, the benefits of these nuts are multi-faceted.
Resources:
- https://www.gardenhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Natures_Feast_Hamster_Care_Guide.pdf
- https://www.forestrynepal.org/unlock-the-health-benefits-of-himalayan-salt-for-your-hamster/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-b6-benefits#:~:text=Vitamin%20B6%20may%20prevent%20clogged,higher%20B6%20levels%20(%2030%20).
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-k/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287228#:~:text=Iron%20is%20a%20mineral%20vital,problems%2C%20including%20iron%20deficiency%20anemia.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/heavy-metal-good-for-you-copper#:~:text=Copper%20has%20an%20important%20role,absorption%20of%20iron
- https://www.vinmec.com/en/news/health-news/nutrition/7-effects-of-fatty-foods-on-your-body/
- https://mooreanimalhospital.com/2015/07/01/fort-collins-co-vet-obesity-hamsters/
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cashews#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20lowering%20rates,does%20not%20receive%20enough%20blood.