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Yes, hamsters can eat kiwi as a treat. Give a Syrian hamster a piece of ripe, peeled kiwi about the size of their paw, about once a week. Kiwi is very watery and fairly sugary, so a bigger piece can cause diarrhoea. Dwarf hamsters, who are prone to diabetes, should have only a crumb, or a low-sugar vegetable instead.
| Safe? | Yes, as a fruit treat |
| How much | A paw-sized piece for a Syrian; a crumb for a dwarf |
| How often | About once a week, twice at the very most |
| Best served | Fully ripe, peeled, in its own dish |
| Watch out for | Diarrhoea, a wet bottom, juicy pieces going off in the stash |
Is kiwi safe for hamsters?
Yes, in a small piece. A vet-reviewed guide from The Vet Desk says hamsters can eat kiwi sometimes, as long as it is ripe, peeled and given in small amounts. It is not on the main UK charity fruit lists, so we follow that guide and the charities' general rules on fruit.
Kiwi has three downsides for a hamster, all set out by The Vet Desk:
- Water. About 84 g of every 100 g (3.5 oz) is water. Too much watery fruit can cause diarrhoea, and in a hamster that can turn serious.
- Sugar. About 9 g per 100 g. The PDSA warns that sugary fruit can lead to obesity and diabetes.
- Oxalates. Up to 29 mg in a whole kiwi. Oxalates bind calcium and can add to bladder stones.
How much kiwi can a hamster have?
For a Syrian, a chunk about the size of their paw, about once a week. The Vet Desk says once or, at most, twice a week, and we keep to the lower end because kiwi is so watery. For a dwarf, a crumb now and then or none. The Bunnyjackpot Foundation, a UK small-pet rescue, says fruit should be a rare treat and points out that dwarfs are prone to diabetes.
How to prepare kiwi for a hamster
- Choose a ripe one. It should give a little when pressed. Unripe kiwi is sharper and harder on the tummy.
- Peel it. Take off all the furry skin.
- Cut one paw-sized piece. The tiny seeds can stay in.
- Serve it in a small dish. This keeps the juice off their dry food and bedding.
- Clear leftovers. Remove any uneaten kiwi and check the stash within a few hours.
Skin, golden kiwi, dried and sweets
- Green flesh and seeds: yes, in a small piece.
- Skin: no, peel it.
- Golden kiwi: none of our sources covers it separately. It is sweeter, so we would use the same small piece or less.
- Dried kiwi, kiwi sweets, fruit salad in syrup and kiwi-flavoured treats: no. The Vet Desk warns against sweetened or processed kiwi products.
If your hamster gets runny droppings or a wet, dirty bottom after kiwi, take all fresh food away and ring your vet the same day. Diarrhoea can make a hamster dangerously dehydrated very quickly.
What to offer instead
A slice of strawberry is a less watery fruit treat. Melon has similar rules to kiwi. If you are wondering about other tangy fruit, our page on oranges explains why citrus is a no. Our list of what hamsters can eat, our hamster diet guide and our hamster care guide cover the rest.
Kiwi questions
Can hamsters eat kiwi skin?
No, peel it. The vet-reviewed guide from The Vet Desk says to serve only fully ripe, peeled kiwi. The furry skin is tough, can carry residue and is not something a hamster needs. Peel the fruit, cut a paw-sized piece of the green flesh and serve it in a small dish.
Can hamsters eat kiwi seeds?
Is kiwi bad for a hamster's bladder?
It can be, in large amounts. The Vet Desk says a single kiwi can contain up to 29 mg of oxalates, which bind calcium and can add to bladder stones. One paw-sized piece a week is a tiny share of that. Do not give kiwi every day, and mix fruit treats up through the month.
Can dwarf hamsters eat kiwi?
Only a crumb, and not often. Kiwi carries about 9 g of sugar per 100 g (3.5 oz), and dwarf hamsters such as Campbell's and winter whites are prone to diabetes, as the PDSA and the Bunnyjackpot Foundation both note. We would give a dwarf a low-sugar vegetable instead.
