In the last couple of years hedgehogs have become one of the most popular new pets, and why not? Even with those spikes on their backs, people still love to hold them and keep them for their cuteness. Since becoming popular we’ve had a lot inquiries from new owners and breeders who have been looking for the best food to feed them properly.

Surprisingly we’ve heard from many owners that cat foods are actually more palatable for hedgehogs than pre-made hedgehog food, though most hedgehog food brands are of course still fine to use if your spiky little pet likes it. The decision to go with cat food or hedgehog food depends on your pets taste, but since both are popular options we’ve covered the best and most suitable products for types of food here.

Food and Diet Guide for Hedgehogs

In the wild, hedgehogs primarily feed on live insects, but they are also not too fussy and can eat a varied diet provided it is protein-heavy. They are known to eat baby mice, small snakes, frogs, fish, worms, eggs, fruits, and more. They aren’t a picky eater which is a good thing hedgehog owners, but it is still better to provide them with a properly balanced diet.

A proper balanced and nutritious diet would let your pet live a long and happy life. Here is a quick food and diet guide for your hedgehog:

Cat Food or Dry Hedgehog Food

Most commercial hedgehog foods aren’t always available in pet stores, which is why most owners purchase cat foods as their pets staples. A chicken or meat dry cat food is a pretty decent alternative as it is high in protein. Dry foods should be the main portion of your hedgie’s diet.

Moist Foods

Moist foods can be also be fed to hedgehog every now and then. A canned cat or dog food works well for them. Also, make sure that the canned food is high in protein and made from fish, chicken, or meat depending on your pet’s preference.

Fruits and Veggies

Aside from meats, you should also add a bit of fruit and vegetables in your pet’s diet. You can use peas, apples, beans, corn, and carrots. Your hedgy might like others so try a variety of them. don’t overfeed your pet with fruits and vegetables, its diet should only consist of around 5% to 10% of fruits and vegetables in their meals.

Treats

It would be great if you’d give your pet some treats in between meals, but make sure that you only feed them in moderation. Insects like mealworms and crickets are great options as treats, you can also try the hamburger, moist dog and cat treats, eggs, and chicken. Even small bits of the food you’re currently eating can make a good treat for them.

Water Supply

Always make sure that your pet always has clean fresh water in their cages. Use a water bottle stopper as it helps keep your pet’s water clean.

 

Best Food for Hedgehogs – Complete Diets

We’ll first go through the best specifically-designed complete hedgehog foods on the market, then go through our most recommended hedgehog-suitable catfoods, and finish with hedgehog’s favorite special treats!

1. Overall Best Hedgehog Food – 8 in 1 Ultra-Blend Hedgehog Diet

This is specially designed as a complete hedgehog food that is suitable for all ages and breeds. Therefore, no matter how old, or what species of hedgehog your pet is you can feed them with this Ultra Blend diet and be confident in the knowledge that you are providing complete nutrition to your pet. This product was specifically formulated with healthy hedgehog diets in mind, and is designed to maintain your pet’s overall wellness and health. It’s also priced very competitively compared to other compete diet products, so is overall our top pick for hedgehog food.

This food contains various types of amino acids and protein, which are keys to a healthy diet. Importantly it is also fortified with vitamins and minerals to ensure that your pet is getting the right nutrients. You can feed this as your pet’s treat or as their staple food.

2. Best High-End Hedgehog Food – Exotic Nutrition Hedgehog Complete

If you want the absolute best for your hedgie, Exotic Nutrition Hedgehog Complete is the way to go. It’s more expensive than other options but was specifically formulated for the complete dietary requirement of hedgehogs and they also love the test. This is one of the few products that has been approved by veterinarians, and is suitable for Asian, European, and African hedgehogs. It is a fortified and a pellet-based diet, which is scientifically blended to make sure to fulfill your pets mineral, vitamins, enzymes, fiber, and amino acid needs.

This pack includes high meat-based proteins as well as dried mealworms and fresh healthy grains which delivers a vitamin-fortified diet that contains all the nutrition that your pet needs. This is the optimal diet necessary for their development, growth, and reproduction.

3. Best Budget Hedgehog Food – VitaKraft Insect Formula Food

This brand of hedgehog food can make your spikey friend both healthy and happy, and does so at a great price. This is made with a high protein, insect-based formula with natural oils like the Omega-3 fatty acids.

This healthy fat can keep your pet’s skin healthy and strong and could make them active and keep their brain healthy. This also contains flax seeds, which is beneficial to your pet’s health. Overall it is our top pick for an inexpensive complete hedgehog food.

4. Best Moist Hedgehog Food – Spikes World Semi-Moist Hedgehog Food

Some hedgies seem to prefer moister food than dry pellets, and in some cases your vet may recommend a moister diet for your pet. In addition, it’s good practise to provide different moist/dry options for your hedgehog so they get their full dietary requirements and get to enjoy different textures and tastes. If you’re after moist hedgeho food, Spikes World Semi-Moist Hedgehog Food is our recommended option.

Each pack of this product is about 500 grams, an average adult hedgehog can eat around 20 grams, meaning one package could last for 25 days or more depending on how frequently you feed them with this.

5. Honorable Mention – Spike’s Delite Hedgehog Diet Food

This was our close runner-up for overall best product. This food has been formulated to be used as a hedgehog’s primary source of nourishment and primarily derives its protein from chicken and fish rather than insects so generally emits less odor than other options. It contains all of the protein, fats, and vitamins for a balanced diet, so can be used this as your pet’s staple food. This is particularly suitable for hedgehogs that are in a reproductive stage.

Even though it’s a little more expensive than some other options, this food was universally loved by owners that we surveyed, and just as importantly, our hedgies absolutely loved it. Almost all of the pet owners we spoke to are repeat-buyers of this product and loved that it was high quality and formulated specifically for hedgies. This is a great option for you to buy if your hedgie is a picky eater.

 

Best Cat Foods for Hedgehogs

5 Tips on Choosing the Best Cat Food

Here are some tips that you follow before purchasing stocks of cat food for your hedgy, this way you can make sure that you get to buy the best cat food for hedgies:

Food Safety

Even if your hedgehog would eat anything that you can give to them, you should still check the cat food’s ingredients that might cause harm to your pet. Carefully select and know the product’s background before making a purchase.

Main Ingredients

There are different ingredients used in a lot of dry and canned cat foods, but we recommend that you mainly use chicken or meat as your pet’s meal. It is high in protein which is important in your hedgehog’s diet.

Representation of Food

You should look at the cat food’s food representation, which is found on their packs, box, or labels, to know the percentage moisture, fats, protein, and fiber added in it. It’s important for hedgies to have a properly balanced diet to become strong and healthy.

Nutritious Diet

A dry cat food should always be a part of your hedgie’s diet. Since foods for hedgehogs are hard to find in the market, you can rely on cat foods to make sure that your pet is provided with the right diet they need.

Feeding Instructions

Cat foods have various feeding instructions which are based on the cat’s appetite. Therefore, do not follow the feeding instructions on the food’s packaging. Hedgehogs are small so they don’t really eat a lot. Put their food in portion, and at least balance their meals with dry fruit and veggies.

Now let’s move on to the list of best cat food for hedgies. There may be a lot of hedgies that prefers cat food over hedgehog food, but owners would still feed them with their actual food to make sure they have a properly balanced diet.

The following cat food list would be separated in half that suits best to the hedgehog’s age:

 

5 Best Cat Food for Hedgehogs Under 6 Months

We would first list down the best cat foods for hedgehogs as most hedgies prefer it, the following cat foods below will be accorded to their ages.

Here are the best cat foods for hedgehog ages 6 months below:

1. Blue Buffalo Natural Adult Dry Cat Food

The reason why most hedgehog owners feed their pets with cat food is because, cat foods have more nutrients that hedgehogs needed than hedgehog food. Also, hedgehogs love the taste of it.

This cat food is packed with a healthy portion of fat and protein (18% and 34%), and as well as fiber. Each percentage of the nutrients is just right for your pet’s needed nutrients. This pack contains oatmeal, deboned chicken, whole ground barley, chicken meal, and whole ground brown rice.

2. Chicken Soup for the Soul Kitten Canned Food

Each can of this kitten food is slowly cooked and quite rich in necessary nutrients, you can feed this to your pet as a stand-alone food or as a supplement. This cat food also has bits of vegetables in it, which hedgehogs would love in the right amounts.

This contains chicken liver, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, and chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols. In addition, its ingredients also have a good source of Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, and as well as Vitamin E and Zinc.

3. Halo Holistic Seafood Medley Dry Cat Food

If your pet craves for something different, dislikes chicken, or if you want to change their usual diet, then this pack would suit you and your pet well. It is also a good option, especially if you are looking for a cat food that has a good source of fiber as it contains 6.5% of fiber.

The fat and protein levels are also sufficient enough. Halo’s main ingredient contains trout, oats, salmon, eggs, pearled barley, and pea protein. Some hedgehogs like the taste of fish, you don’t have to be concerned about this as long as the fat and protein levels are well balanced.

4. Taste of the Wild High Protein Meat Dry Cat Food

Here is another good seafood-based cat food, which is great for hedgehogs that are crazy about fish. Each pack of Taste of the Wild contains a unique mix of sweet potato, trout, potato protein, ocean fish meal, and potato.

It is also highly rich in nutrients and very digestible with proprietary probiotics, which could keep your pet strong and healthy. This is completely grain-free, and it is pretty good for hedgehogs that aren’t avid runners. Avoid feeding your pet with grains in the ingredient as it would only fill up your hedgy, while only being provided with little nutrition.

5. Fromm Family Food for Adult Cats

Each pack comes at around 15 pounds, so each pack of this adult cat food would certainly last for a while, even if you don’t mix it with other kinds of food for your hedgehog. Its main ingredients contain salmon meal, duck, chicken meal, rice, and pearled barley.

It is also packed with healthy nutrients and vitamins that are necessary for you hedgehog’s overall health. The protein is about 32% while the fat level is about 18%, this is balanced enough for your hedgehog. In addition, it also contains fiber that is about 3.5%.

 

5 Best Cat Food for Hedgehogs Above 6 Months Old

Now, let’s move onto the five best cat foods for hedgehogs that are above six months old. Foods for young and adult hedgehogs may vary because their needs changes, which is why we have separated the best cat foods for both young and adult hedgehogs.

Now here are the five best cat foods for adult hedgies:

1. Chicken Soup Canned Food for Adult Cats

If you want to prevent your hedgehog from getting fat, or if you want it to lose some weight, then you should definitely opt for this pack as it only contains about 9% of fat. You can use as your hedgy’s supplement or as its stand-alone meal.

This is also perfect hedgehogs that are lacking in fiber levels. Its main ingredients consist of a chicken meal, chicken fat preserved with tocopherols, chicken, cracked pearled barley, turkey, salmon, and duck. All of its ingredients are natural, so expect your pet to be happy and healthy.

2. Purina Beyond Dry Adult Cat Food

If you are looking for a cat food that can be used as your pet’s staple food, and without leading them to get obese, then this pack of Purina Beyond is a good option for you. We assure you that this cat food doesn’t contain any unhealthy and unnecessary grains, such as corn, wheat, or soy.

However, this pack of adult dry cat food contains whole ground brown rice, which nicely goes with its main ingredient, the white chicken. Its other ingredients consist of soybean meal, chicken meal, whole oatmeal, dried egg product, dried yeast, pea protein, whole barley, beef fat that is preserved with natural liver flavor, and more. Your little hedgehog would surely love this product.

3. Blue Buffalo Weight Control Adult Dry Cat Food

Since you want to keep your adult hedgehog healthy at all times, you would need to control its weight gaining to make sure that they don’t get obese. Chubby or obese hedgehogs are more prone to different diseases, so it’s important to focus on your pet’s age once they’ve become adults.

This pack of Blue Buffalo weight control would be a perfect staple food for your hedgy. It doesn’t have any unhealthy grains and contains less fat. If you are on a budget and want to get your money’s worth, then this pack would be a bang for your buck. Its main ingredients consist of whole ground brown rice, chicken meal, chicken, soybean meal, and many more.

4. Iams Proactive Health Adult Dry Cat Food

The IAMS original ProActive health offers an ingredient that provides sufficient protein, which is the chicken. This comes with a delicious flavor that your pet would surely love. Protein is important in a hedgehog’s diet as it keeps them healthy, and provides strong muscles as your pet grows up.

This product is made of prebiotics and beet pulps that support your pet’s digestive system. This is a balanced diet that your pet would surely need. Also, this 100% complete balanced diet consists of 33% of protein, 15% of fat, 3% of fiber, and even if it is packed as kibbles it still has about 10% of moisture.

5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natural Adult Dry Cat

Compared to cat foods on this list, the Blue Buffalo wilderness contains the highest amount of protein amongst them. Its main ingredients consist of oatmeal, deboned chicken, whitefish meal, turkey meal, chicken meal, and potato starch. Because of those ingredients, it has made this cat food rich in protein.

However, the downside of this product is that you can’t use this as your pet’s staple food, it just might cause your pet to get obese. But this pack doesn’t mainly consist of protein-rich ingredients, it also contains cranberries, carrots, and blueberries, which can help support the enrichment of antioxidant for your pet to live a strong and healthy life.

 

Best Food for Hedgehogs – Treats and Dietary Supplements

Mealworms are a great supplement to a hedgehog’s diet as they are rich in fat, fiber, and protein. Hedgies absolutely love them and will gobble them down in minutes however it’s important that they are not used as their only food source as they need a more balanced diet. Exclusively feeding them mealworms can cause long-term problems to their health. They are perfect as a special treat though since hedgehogs just love them and they are the preferred prey in the wild. If you want to occasionally spoil your hedgie these are the two best brands of mealworms we’ve found:

1. Fluker’s Dried Mealworms

The Fluker’s mealworms are full of vitamins and minerals and 100% natural. This won’t make a mess around your pet’s cage.

This comes in a convenient shaker to keep the worms fresh, and stop any other animals or pests from accessing them.

2. Freeze-Dried Mealworms by Tasty Worms

This pack contains freeze-dried mealworms which are great as they keep longer and don’t emit any bad smell as fresh mealworms can. Freeze-dried mealworms are particularly convenient as you don’t have to rehydrate before feeding to your hedgie.

Some owners consider using live/fresh mealworms for their pets which is a great option, but it’s not always practical to source these regularly and keep them fresh. The good thing about this pack of worms is that you can safely store it near your pet’s cage without dealing with the smell.

3. Sunseed Company Hedgehog Treat

If you want to go beyond mealworms and offer your pet a little bit extra in their treats, we recommend this Sunseed Company Vita Prima. It is packed with a fun mix of both mealworms AND delicious berries that your pet will love. Each pack contains high protein treats, which are specifically designed for hedgehogs to meet their needs.

This pack also encourages your pet’s natural foraging instinct. The mix includes celery, mealworms, and strawberries, this trail mix treat would surely be a very tasty reward for hedgehogs.

4. Exotic Nutrition Berries and Bugs

Exotic nutrition has been delivering high-quality foods for years for various kinds of species, and this pack is 100% natural, which is free from preservatives, colors, or flavors. This unique mix of bugs and berries are perfect all kinds of insectivorous animals.

This diet contains a gut-loaded larva, berries, and grains that are healthy for hedgehogs. You don’t have to worry about storage as it is packed in a resealable bag. This specially formulated for hedgehogs, opossums, sugar gliders, any bird species, and even for a skunk.

Conclusion

Hedgehogs aren’t picky eaters, so it wouldn’t be a problem for you when it comes to choosing the best food for them. But if you are worried about the amounts of nutrients and proteins that your pet takes in, then you should carefully select which type of food can provide all of your pet’s nutritional needs.

Luckily, all the foods that we have reviewed for you are considered to provide all the nutrients your pet needs. All you need to do is to choose a product that seems best for your little hedgie. If your pet didn’t eat the food you picked for it, you should just buy another brand of food as hedgehogs have their own favorites.