Why Do Hamsters Spit Out Their Food: Know Your Hamster Better
Hamsters are adorable to have as pets and don’t require much effort or money to keep. They often like to play with their owners, similar to cats and dogs. But some of their behaviors can look bizarre, such as spitting normal foods out of their mouth.
But why do hamsters spit out their food? Well, they usually spit food into their cage after storing it in their cheeks so they can eat it later. But if they spit it in your hand, it usually means they want to eat from your hand, and they trust you.
There’s much more to it than just that. So today, we’ll be going over why hamsters spit food out of their mouth and more. Without further ado, let’s get straight into it.
Why Do Hamsters Spit Their Food?
![Why Do Hamsters Spit Their Food](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Why-Do-Hamsters-Spit-Their-Food.jpg)
Hamsters often store food in their cheeks, as it has no salivary glands, and the food stays dry there. And after storing it there for a while, they spit the food in their cage to eat it later. You may think it’s abnormal, but it’s actually healthy, and all hamsters do this.
They usually spit the food in the same spot of their cage repeatedly. It’s similar to how hamsters usually urinate or poop in the same place. So if they spit their food into their cage, it’s entirely normal and healthy.
But you should ensure the food doesn’t rot while in their cage, as it can get worse if the food stays there for a week or more.
Why Do Hamsters Spit Their Food in Your Hand?
![Why Do Hamsters Spit Their Food in Your Hand](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Why-Do-Hamsters-Spit-Their-Food-in-Your-Hand.jpg)
Most of the time, Hamsters spit their food in their cage, but some hamsters might often spit food in your hand. Although most owners find this kind of behavior bizarre, it’s actually quite adorable.
Hamsters instinctively put food in safe places to eat so other predators don’t find the food. This is the same reason why they carry food in their cheeks. But if your hamster is spitting the food in your hand, it means that they think your hand is a safe place to keep the food and eat from.
They will only do this if they trust you a lot, so if your hamster spits its food in your hand, they only do it to eat from your hand later. Cherish it if they ever do this.
What Foods Can Hamsters Spit Out Due to Disliking?
![What Foods Can Hamsters Spit Out Due to Disliking](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/What-Foods-Can-Hamsters-Spit-Out-Due-to-Disliking.jpg)
Although hamsters usually spit food somewhere to eat at a later time, that might not always be the case. Sometimes, they’ll simply spit out their food because they don’t like them or they find it harmful to eat.
So here’s a list of all the foods that the hamsters may not like or could harm them.
- Apple seeds
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Citrus fruit
- Raw potatoes
- Raw beans
- Onions
- Garlic
- Sugary Foods
- Chocolate
- Salty foods
- Junk Food
- Raw rhubarb and rhubarb leaves
- Most fruit seeds
- Any raw food, such as raw meat or eggs
Eating any of these can be incredibly toxic and harmful for your hamster, and they’ll generally immediately spit it out if they have this in their mouths.
If your hamster accidentally eats any of these, you should seek medical help as soon as you can and get it checked by a vet. You can check out VCAhospitals to know more about taking care of hamsters.
What Foods Are Good For Hamsters?
![What Foods Are Good For Hamsters](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/What-Foods-Are-Good-For-Hamsters.jpg)
Now that you know the foods you shouldn’t feed your hamsters, it’s important to know what to feed them. These can ensure your pet is eating healthy and won’t get any diseases.
So here’s a list of the 30 best foods to feed your hamster —
- Apples without seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Bananas
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Cucumber
- Grapes
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Kale
- Peas
- Lentils
- Dandelion greens
- Cooked potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Squash
- Whole grain toast or bread
- Cooked whole-wheat pasta
- Cooked brown rice
- Cereal without sugar
- Cooked chicken in small portions
- Cooked meat in small portions
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Unsalted peanuts
- Hay
- Mealworms
You should check this article by the PDSA to know more about the proper diet for a hamster.
How Do I Tell If My Hamster Has Abscess In Their Cheeks?
![How Do I Tell If My Hamster Has Abscess In Their Cheeks](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/How-Do-I-Tell-If-My-Hamster-Has-Abscess-In-Their-Cheeks.jpg)
Hamsters can spit food out of their mouth if they have formed an abscess in their cheeks. If this happens, you should seek medical support immediately, but here are all the ways you can check if they have it —
- Your hamster starts eating less.
- They’re uncomfortable eating food.
- Their cheeks are more firm and feel more solid than usual.
- Their cheeks look bulged or swollen even while not carrying food.
- There’s visible pus on the inside of their cheeks from their mouth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Now that you have a good idea of why hamsters spit their food out, here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get to clear any further confusion —
How can I get my hamster to spit out its food?
If your hamster has had food in its mouth for a long, you must remind them to spit it out into its cage or your hand. To do this, you should very gently try to open their mouth while rubbing their throat. They should spit it out in this way.
How much does it cost for hamster food?
Hamsters are cheap pets to keep, and they generally won’t require more than 10$ a month for bedding and the healthy food they eat. You should make sure to research whether the food you buy is safe for the hamster before feeding it, though.
To know more about the expenses of owning a hamster, you can check this article by FirstHamster.
How much food is enough for my hamster?
You should feed your hamster about 12 grams or approximately 2 tablespoon of food, mostly at night that should contain at least 15% to 20% protein. If they’re overfed, they can spit out the excess food.
Conclusion
Hopefully, now you have a good idea on why do hamsters spit out their food. They usually spit it in their cage to eat it later. Sometimes, they spit it in your hand and love eating from there, especially when they trust you.
They could spit out food also if it’s spoiled or toxic, which might be a reason to worry. So check if the food is rotten or toxic before feeding it, as consuming those toxic foods can be fatal. With that all said, cheers!