Hamster · Greens & herbs
Can hamsters eat kale?
Yes, in small pieces. PDSA lists kale as a suitable vegetable for hamsters. Rotate it with other greens rather than feeding it every day.
- Portion
- A piece of leaf about 2 cm (¾ in) square for a Syrian; about half that for a dwarf.
- How often
- 2–3 times a week, as part of a rotation
- Sugar
- 1 g / 100 g
How to serve it
- Wash well
- Strip the leaf from the thick central stem
- Tear or chop into small pieces
- Serve raw and plain
Why
Risks. Kale belongs to the cabbage family and is fairly rich in calcium; offering it in rotation rather than daily avoids overdoing any one vegetable. At treat-sized portions no specific problem is known. Large amounts of any new green can upset digestion.
Benefits. Provides fibre, vitamins A, C and K and some calcium.
Questions owners ask 2
Can hamsters eat kale stems?
The thick central rib is tough and fibrous. It is not toxic, but it is better to strip it off and offer only the leafy part in small pieces.
Can hamsters eat kale chips?
No. Kale chips are usually coated in oil and salt or other seasonings. Offer plain raw kale instead.
Kale: nutrition per 100 g
| Water | 89.6 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 35 kcal |
| Sugars | 1 g |
| Fat | 1.5 g |
| Protein | 2.9 g |
| Fibre | 4.1 g |
| Calcium | 254 mg |
| Phosphorus | 55 mg |
| Calcium : phosphorus | 4.62 : 1 |
| Sodium | 53 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 241 µg |
| Vitamin C | 93.4 mg |
“Kale, raw”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 168421). Public domain.
Sources & method 2
The sources below discuss kale for hamsters (or for pet rodents generally). Confidence: high. Rated on the JOMIZOO Feeding Scale; when good sources disagree we choose the more cautious level.
- Feeding your hamster — PDSA
- Rodents: Feeding — VCA Animal Hospitals (Gregory Rich, DVM; Laurie Hess, DVM; Rick Axelson, DVM)
