Nibbly

Can hamsters eat cheese?

Best not. Rodents may eat cheese in cartoons, but it does not suit a hamster: it has a lot of fat, salt and lactose, and can give it diarrhoea and make it fat. If you want to give some protein, a small piece of unsalted boiled egg or dried insects for rodents is far better.

By Nibbly · Updated 28 October 2026

Two Nibbly hamsters, a sapphire one and a cinnamon one, standing face to face in a play boxing match.

Why not give it cheese

  • Lactose: adult hamsters digest it poorly, and it gives them diarrhoea.
  • Fat: very fattening for such a small animal.
  • Salt: cheese has plenty, and a hamster gets enough from its pellets.
  • It sticks in the cheek pouches and goes off in the larder.

What protein to give instead

Its pellets already have the protein it needs. As an extra, once or twice a week, give a small piece of unsalted boiled egg, a little plain cooked chicken or dried insects for rodents. There are more ideas in the feeding guide.

Cinnamon Russian dwarf hamster eating from its bowl full of seed mix in Nibbly.

Food in Nibbly

In Nibbly you choose what goes in the bowl: seed mix, which keeps their weight, veggies, light and with a little water, or sunflower seeds, which they love but which are fattening. Overfed hamsters get chubby, and treats from your hand help you earn their trust. Everything they eat is in the feeding guide.

Adopt your hamsters in Nibbly

Frequently asked questions

What if my hamster ate a little cheese?

A little is rarely serious. Watch for diarrhoea over the next few days, and if it gets it or stops eating, take it to the vet.

Can hamsters have milk or yoghurt?

No either: they contain lactose and yoghurts often sugar too. Clean water in the bottle is all it needs.

Sources