In their natural habitat hamsters eat a range of grasses, wind-blown seeds and grain. Hamsters are often mistaken as herbivores, but they are omnivores and do need protein in their diet to keep them healthy. Left alone in the wild, they will find grubs and insects to supplement their diet. The bulk of their diet is cereals and other hard foods which are chewed and digested slowly. This slow eating would make them easy targets in the wild, so they would normally bring their food back to their burrow to eat it in the safety of their own home. This also allows them to hoard spare food, in case it becomes difficult to find at a later date.

They have continuously-growing teeth which is why they need to gnaw hard material which helps wear down their teeth.

What to feed your hamster
Hamsters need feeding every day. Because they are nocturnal it is better to feed them when they wake up in the evening. Then you should have hours to play with them before you go to bed. A good quality, heavy, earthenware food bowl is essential to keep the food dry and clean. Plastic should be avoided as hamsters will chew it. Their bowls must be cleaned after every use.

HARRY HAMSTER FOOD
The first food ever approved by the National Hamster Council, Harry Hamster is a coarse mix and contains all the nutrients and goodness that your hamster requires to keep fit and healthy. It is a mix of ingredients including alfalfa, flaked corn, wheat, naked oats, beans, peas and sunflower seeds, as well as a high quality soy meal for easy to digest protein. It even contains peanuts in the shells as a special treat. Your hamster will have to gnaw quite a bit to get inside and this is good for their teeth. This variety of ingredients encourages foraging a natural behavior in hamsters. Do not give foods that contain whole oats (with the husks on) as these can puncture hamsters delicate cheek pouches.

TREATS
Treats are so called because thats just what they should be a treat. If fed correctly they are not detrimental to hamsters and they will love them. However, treats are designed to be an extremely small element of the animals diet, and overfeeding may lead to health problems such as obesity, dental problems and heart disease. Supreme makes some specially prepared Treats for hamsters, such as:

Harry Yippee Treats
A tasty mix of crunchy sticks, bursting with the flavors of carrot, apple and corn that hamsters love! And theyre good for them too. Hide one or two around the cage to encourage your hamster to forage. If you have a Dwarf Hamster, break the stick in half before you give it to him.

Root n Fruit Treats
Scrumptious bars bursting with natural goodness and energy. Each bar is packed with plump raisins mixed with crispy carrot and tasty apple pieces break a small piece off and treat your hamster.

Supreme Petfoods also provides a range of tempting Stickle Treats. Each stickle is a blend of delicious ingredients, full of flavor, and baked on to a special holder for easy handling.

Banana n Honey Stickle Treats (a favorite for hamsters and will provide hours of fun)
Popcorn n Carrot Stickle Treats
Sweetcorn n Honey Stickle Treats
Wild Fruit n Nut Stickle Treats
Apple n Cranberry Stickle Treats

Too much green food will cause diarrhea as a hamsters natural habitat is in dry deserts. If you feed your hamster human food, remember to avoid foods that are high in calories, sugary or contain too much fat or dairy products. To help keep your hamsters teeth healthy, you need to provide lots of hay and perhaps a gnawing block and safe twigs to chew. Some natural treats you can provide your hamster, in small amounts, are parsley, carrot, apple, celery, broccoli, sprouts, cauliflower, kale, spinach, peas, banana and cucumber.

Never give sticky foods, like peanut butter, becuase it will stick in their pouches..

Go on spoil your hamster (but not TOO much!).

Changing your hamster’s diet
If you are not feeding Harry Hamster food at present but would like to try it, you must introduce it gradually into your hamster’s diet. Mix about one quarter of the new food with three quarters of the old food on the first day and then gradually increase the new food and decrease the old food over a 10-day period. This should make sure that your hamster has no tummy upsets.

Selective feeding
You should try to ensure that your hamster eats all his food from a very young age by calculating the correct daily requirement and dividing it into two meals, one fed in the morning and one in the evening. However, if you notice that your hamster tends to leave some of the ingredients in coarse mixes, reduce the amount you give him until he is eating all of it. Then slowly increase the amount again to the recommended daily allowance.

Ensure there is fresh drinking water available at all times.

Drinking Bottle
The best way to provide fresh drinking water is to use a gravity-fed water bottle, attached to the front of the cage. Use one of the large ballpoint bottles to prevent dripping and ensure a constant supply is available. Water bowls are not suitable as they are easily tipped over and can get contaminated.