Can Hamsters Eat Cashews? (Benefits And Risks)

Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:36 pm

Hamsters can eat various types of food, from pellets, seeds, vegetables, and fruits, thus ingesting nutrients needed to be healthy and live longer.

Like me, you probably wonder whether hamsters can eat nuts, whether they are healthy or harmful for them.

Can hamsters eat cashews?

Yes, hamsters can eat cashews, but always only in moderation to get the benefits without side effects to their health. By eating cashews, hamsters will get nutrients with many vitamins and minerals.

That’s why in today’s article we will find out how many cashews our pets can eat and what are the benefits and risks of these delicious nuts.

What we should know about cashews

Cashews are very tasty and popular nuts that come from South America.

Most cashew nuts are produced in India; of course, large quantities are also produced in other countries worldwide.

Cashews are small fruits that thrive best in tropical areas. Cashews can be used as additions to various dishes, and desserts can be eaten on their own as they are very tasty.

Can hamsters eat cashews?

Hamsters can eat cashews, but always in moderation to benefit their health. The moderation of eating cashews is important mainly because of the high fat, sugar, and calorie content.

Cashews are an excellent source of minerals, vitamins, proteins, and fibers for improving heart health, immunity, and digestion.

If hamsters eat more than allowed, they will have digestion problems because cashews are hard for their digestive system.

Before we give cashews to the hamsters, so that they can eat them, we must ensure that they are not salty and should not have any other additives.

How to start giving cashews to hamsters?

Hamsters are very timid by nature, so we must be careful when introducing them to some new food; in this case, it is cashews.

We recommend that you personally, as owners, give cashews to your furry friend.

When the hamster tries cashews from your hand, he will have more courage to eat something new, and the bond between you will be strengthened so that next time, he will want a new dietary challenge much more easily.

Please give him a small piece of unsalted cashew and wait to see his reaction, whether he likes it.

If he likes it after a few days, give it to him again, and if he doesn’t like it, then don’t give him more of these nuts; he doesn’t need to eat something he doesn’t like; there are many other types of nuts he might like to eat.

can hamsters eat cashews

How to prepare cashews for hamsters?

Before you start giving cashews to hamsters, you need to prepare them in the right way.

The most important thing is always to wash them well to remove possible dirt and chemicals that can be used to grow them.

Chemicals are very dangerous for our furry friends that can cause serious problems and life-threatening diseases.

How many cashews can hamsters eat?

Regarding the amount that is allowed for hamsters to eat cashews, it depends on their breed and size.

For example, Syrian hamsters, the largest breed with the strongest digestive system, can always eat the most cashew nuts or any other food.

Dwarf hamsters as the smallest breed with the weakest digestive system and cannot afford large amounts of these nuts.

So let’s see in detail how many cashews our furry pets can eat according to their breed.

How many cashews can Syrian hamsters eat?

Syrian hamsters can eat one piece of cashew nuts once a week.

Although it may seem like a small amount, it is quite enough for this breed of hamster.

By eating cashews, Syrian hamsters will get the necessary nutrients to improve their health, and avoid side effects from excessive amounts of this nut.

How many cashews can Robo-hamsters eat?

Robo hamsters are smaller than Syrian hamsters but larger than dwarf hamsters, so they can eat a piece of cashew every two weeks.

Maybe the distance of two weeks seems too much, but it is the safest for this breed of hamsters to have no health problems.

Eating cashews and Robo hamsters will get minerals and vitamins to keep them healthy and happy.

How many cashews can dwarf hamsters eat?

Dwarf hamsters such as Chinese, Campbell, and Winter White hamsters are the smallest breeds, and they can eat a piece of cashew per month.

Their digestive system cannot process larger quantities, so giving them more of this nut is unnecessary.

However, even this small amount is enough for them to have a sufficient intake of healthy nutrients in their organism.

Can baby hamsters eat cashews?

No, baby hamsters should not eat cashews while they are very young, at least not until they are a few weeks old.

At first, they should eat only special food intended for their age and drink breast milk and water.

Only a few weeks after a preliminary consultation with a veterinarian can you start giving him very small amounts of cashew nuts.

can hamsters eat cashews

Benefits of cashews for hamsters

Cashews are very tasty, and people have benefits for their health, but what about hamsters? How healthy are they for our furry friends?

Let’s take a look at some of the health benefits of cashews for hamsters:

  • Vitamin E – helps to maintain the appearance of their skin; in addition to this property, this vitamin is also good for the eyesight of hamsters.
  • Iron – helps to better transport oxygen with red blood cells throughout the entire body of hamsters, which is especially important because when all organs have oxygen, they are fed and remain healthy and vital.
  • Copper – a mineral that helps prevent and protect the heart from possible heart diseases.
  • Magnesium – is an excellent mineral that helps improve heart health and protect against heart disease in hamsters.
  • Fibers – help to digest food better and overall for better work of the digestive system in hamsters.
  • Calcium – is one of the most important minerals that ensure the strengthening and development of bones and teeth in hamsters.
  • Antioxidants – help fight free radicals that attack cells in hamsters and cause cancer. Antioxidants also help slow aging and extend our furry friends’ lifespan.
  • Vitamin K – with its action, helps for better blood clotting and easier healing of wounds in hamsters.
  • Vitamin B – is a great vitamin that gives hamsters the energy they need to play and run around all day.

Side effects of cashews for hamsters

Every food besides benefits also has certain risks for hamsters, especially if too much is eaten.

Here are some of the possible risks of cashews for hamsters:

  • Diabetes – occurs in hamsters due to the large amount of fat that cashews contain and the presence of sugar.
  • Stomach aches – since a large amount of cashews is very difficult to digest in the stomach of hamsters, we humans also cannot eat too many nuts.
  • Fatty liver – because too many cashews mean too much fat, which can lead to fatty liver in hamsters.
  • Obesity – fat and calories make hamsters fat, which is not good. When hamsters have more weight, they are prone to various diseases, and their movement is much more difficult and unstable.
  • Lack of nutrients – a lot of cashews will satiate hamsters, so they will not want to eat other foods that contain nutrients that this nut does not have enough of.

What to do if hamsters eat too many cashews?

If the hamster eats too many cashews, you should not panic, give him a larger amount of water, so that he can more easily process a large amount of this nut.

If this happens only once, nothing terrible, but the same must not be repeated in the future.

Abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur, but all of this should disappear in 24-48 hours. Otherwise, it would be best to take your pet to a veterinarian to examine him and give him appropriate therapy.

Can hamsters eat fried cashews?

No, hamsters should not eat fried cashew nuts; they harm their health.

Too much fat in fried cashews is difficult for hamsters to digest and can only cause problems.

Hamsters should not eat fried food; this kind of food always has a lot of fat and spices and is harmful to hamsters.

can hamsters eat cashews

Can hamsters choke on cashews?

Yes, hamsters can choke on cashews if not prepared properly.

Unlike some other food, cashew nuts should not be chopped into very small pieces, and they can be dangerous and cause suffocation in hamsters.

It is best to either give them a whole cashew nut or cut it in half, but never in even smaller pieces.

Can hamsters eat raw cashews?

No, hamsters should not eat raw cashew nuts; they are toxic and can only harm them.

Specifically, you should never give them cashews from the tree, as it contains a poisonous substance called urushiol.

You can only give your hamsters cashews that are available in stores because they are steamed and processed so that there is nothing harmful in them.

Can hamsters eat salted cashews?

No, hamsters should not eat salted cashews; they are too harmful.

Salt is one of the most dangerous ingredients for the hamster’s health. It causes a series of diseases, problems with the heart, and nervous system, water imbalance, and possible dehydration of our pets.

In no case should there be salt in the food we give to hamsters, except in very small amounts?

Can hamsters eat sweetened cashews?

No, hamsters should not eat sweetened cashews; they harm their health.

Sweetened cashews contain extra sugar, which can only cause diabetes, obesity, and other problems in hamsters.

That’s why we recommend you always give them only unsweetened cashews; they are the best choice for our furry friends.

read more: Can Hamsters Eat Hazelnuts? Benefits and Risks

Can hamsters eat cashews in the shell?

However, it is best to remove the shell from the cashews when feeding them with this nut.

It is not yet known what consequences or benefits hamsters will have from a shell of cashew nuts, so it is best not to risk it.

can hamsters eat cashews

Can hamsters eat roasted cashews?

Yes, hamsters can eat roasted cashews in moderation, just like regular cashews.

Only roasted cashews should not have any additions like salt or anything else.

Of course, let’s not forget that they should be cooled before you give roasted cashews to the hamsters. Otherwise, the hamsters will burn and get sores in their mouths.

read more: Can Hamsters Eat Chestnuts?

Conclusion

Hamsters can eat cashews only in moderation to get the best possible health benefits.

If the hamsters eat one piece of cashews, they will improve their health, have more energy, a healthier heart, better-looking fur, and better blood clotting.

If they eat too many cashews, then they can only get diabetes, obesity, digestive problems, and other health problems because of the fat, sugar, and calories.

The most important thing is to give them cashews without added salt or sweeteners; they harm our furry friends.

Finally, give your hamsters a small piece of cashews and let them enjoy these delicious nuts.

read more: Can Hamsters Eat Peanuts? (Benefits and Risks)