What can I feed hedgehogs, and is milk OK?

Meat-based wet cat or dog food, dry cat or kitten food, or a specially made hedgehog food, with a shallow dish of water. Do not give milk: Hedgehog Street says “Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, so please do not give them milk.” Bread is low in energy and, in its words, “fairly worthless to them”.

What Hedgehog Street suggests

Food: “Hedgehogs relish any combination of meat-based wet dog or cat foods, or dry cat/kitten food.” Products with a high meat content work best. Specially made hedgehog food is also sold.
Water: “Don’t forget to offer water bowls too!” A shallow dish helps most in cold or dry weather.
When: put food out around sunset. Feeding is most useful in cold or dry spells, when insects and worms are harder to find.

What not to give

Milk. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant.
Bread. Low in energy and of little use to them.

Keeping cats and foxes off the food

Hedgehog Street suggests a feeding station that is hard for anything larger than a hedgehog to get into: a length of piping, or a shelter made of bricks and paving slabs. A water dish at the entrance or a brick maze inside can also put cats off. Keep food at least a couple of metres from a hedgehog house, not inside it. Spreading food across more than one spot may reduce squabbles.

Before hibernation

Hedgehog Street says eating enough before hibernation is vital, and that this is when extra food can be important. See when do hedgehogs hibernate?

Sources

Hedgehog Street: Feed hedgehogs, opened 14 November 2026.
Hedgehog Street: Hibernation, opened 14 November 2026.