Hamster · Fruit
Can hamsters eat grapes?
No. The RSPCA advises never giving grapes to hamsters because they can be poisonous to rodents. Some vets allow a tiny amount, but with no proven safe dose, it is better to skip them.
- Sugar
- 15.5 g / 100 g
If your hamster already ate some
Call your vet for advice and say how much was eaten. Watch for diarrhoea, reduced appetite, lethargy or changes in drinking and urination, and see a vet promptly if any appear.
Why
Risks. The RSPCA warns that grapes can be poisonous to rodents. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs; how this applies to hamsters is not known, and no safe amount has been established. Grapes are also very sugary.
Questions owners ask 2
Are seedless grapes safe for hamsters?
We treat seedless and seeded grapes the same. The concern is about the fruit itself, not only the seeds.
Why do some guides say grapes are fine?
Some reputable sources, including a UK animal charity and some vet clinics, allow an occasional grape. Because the RSPCA warns grapes can be poisonous to rodents and there is no proven safe amount, we take the cautious view.
Grapes: nutrition per 100 g
| Water | 80.5 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 69 kcal |
| Sugars | 15.5 g |
| Fat | 0.2 g |
| Protein | 0.7 g |
| Fibre | 0.9 g |
| Calcium | 10 mg |
| Phosphorus | 20 mg |
| Calcium : phosphorus | 0.5 : 1 |
| Sodium | 2 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 3 µg |
| Vitamin C | 3.2 mg |
“Grapes, red or green (European type, such as Thompson seedless), raw”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 174683). Public domain.
Sources & method 5
The sources below discuss grapes for hamsters (or for pet rodents generally). Confidence: medium. Rated on the JOMIZOO Feeding Scale; when good sources disagree we choose the more cautious level.
- What to feed hamsters — RSPCA
- What to feed your hamster - safe foods, fruit, veg and a complete feeding guide — Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Can Hamsters Eat Broccoli & What to Feed Your Hamster — Northgate Veterinary Clinic, Seattle
- Hamster Nutrition — Dogwood Animal Hospital, Lawrenceville, Georgia
- Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) Toxicosis in Dogs — Merck Veterinary Manual
Other pets
More fruit
Small amounts
Apple
Small amounts
Banana
Small amounts
Blueberry
Small amounts
Strawberry
Small amounts
Raspberry
Never
Raisin
Small amounts
Watermelon
Small amounts
Cantaloupe
Better not
Orange
Small amounts
Mango
Small amounts
Pineapple
Small amounts
Pear
Small amounts
Cherry
Small amounts
Peach
Small amounts
Kiwi
Never
Avocado
Small amounts
Coconut