Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
Yes, adult hamsters can eat kale in moderation. A piece of soft outer leaf about the size of your hamster's head, with no stem, once or twice a week is the amount The Vet Desk suggests for a Syrian. Kale is low in sugar but rich in calcium, and like all greens it can cause diarrhoea in a big helping. Baby hamsters should not have any.
| Safe? | Yes, for adults, in moderation |
| How much | A piece of leaf about the size of your hamster's head |
| How often | Once or twice a week |
| Best served | Raw, washed, soft leaf only, no stem |
| Watch out for | Diarrhoea, stems, babies, dwarfs |
Is kale safe for hamsters?
Yes. The PDSA lists kale among suitable vegetables, Woodgreen names curly kale, and The Vet Desk, whose hamster pages are reviewed by a vet, says hamsters can eat kale in moderation. Red and green kale are both safe.
The Vet Desk gives a few reasons to keep it occasional. Kale is about 90% water, so too much can bring on diarrhoea, which can lead to the dangerous infection wet tail if the cage is not clean. It is rich in calcium, at about 254 mg per 100 g (3.5 oz). And it contains goitrogens, natural compounds that can affect the thyroid if eaten in large amounts over time, though The Vet Desk says kale's levels are not especially high.
How much kale can a hamster have?
The Vet Desk suggests a piece of fresh, soft outer leaf about the size of your hamster's head, around once or twice a week. For a Syrian that is a piece roughly 2 to 3 cm (¾ to 1 in) across. Start with a much smaller piece and wait a day to check the droppings. The PDSA puts all fresh food at a teaspoon or two a day, so on a kale day, kale can be most of it. Our hamster diet guide shows how to rotate greens across the week.
Can dwarf hamsters eat kale?
The sources disagree. The Vet Desk says kale should not be given to dwarf species. The PDSA and Woodgreen list kale without excluding dwarfs. Kale is low in sugar, so it is not an obvious risk, but with plenty of other safe greens to choose from, we take the careful route and keep kale for Syrians. Give a dwarf cucumber, broccoli or spinach instead.
How to prepare kale
- Wash it well. Rinse under cold running water, getting into the curls where grit collects.
- Strip the stem. Pull the leaf off the stalk and cut out the thick rib. Only the soft leaf goes in.
- Cut a small piece. About the size of your hamster's head, smaller the first time.
- Dry it. Pat it dry so it is less likely to turn slimy in the hoard.
- Clear up. Remove any left after a few hours and check the stash.
Stems, cooked, dried and kale chips
- Soft outer leaf: the part to feed.
- Stem and inner part: no, as The Vet Desk advises.
- Cooked kale: not covered by our sources. Kale cooked for people usually has oil, salt or garlic, so we would skip it.
- Plain dried kale: a safe occasional snack, The Vet Desk says, though it has none of the water.
- Shop kale chips: no. They are made with oil and salt.
If your hamster gets runny droppings or a wet, dirty bottom after greens, stop fresh food and ring a vet the same day. The Vet Desk warns that diarrhoea in hamsters needs prompt professional care.
What to offer instead
Rotate kale with cabbage, bok choy and romaine lettuce. The full list is on what can hamsters eat, and our hamster care guide covers everything else.
Kale questions
Can dwarf hamsters eat kale?
Sources differ. The Vet Desk says kale should not be given to dwarf species, while the PDSA and Woodgreen list kale for hamsters without excluding dwarfs. Kale is not sugary, so a crumb now and then is unlikely to harm a healthy dwarf, but we would follow the careful advice and choose cucumber or broccoli instead.
Can baby hamsters eat kale?
No. The Vet Desk says baby hamsters should not eat any kale. Wait until your hamster is fully grown and settled on its dry food, then start with a tiny piece and check the droppings the next day.
Can hamsters eat kale stems?
No. The Vet Desk says to serve only the soft outer leaf and leave out the stem and the watery inner part. Strip the leaf off the stalk and cut out the thick rib before serving.
Can hamsters eat kale chips?
Not shop-bought ones, which are made with oil and salt. The Vet Desk says plain dried kale is a safe occasional snack, so a crumb of home-dried kale with nothing added is fine. It has no water, so make sure the water bottle is full.
