Spike's World hedgehog food
Spike's World makes food for garden hedgehogs rather than a kept pet — this range is about supporting wild hedgehogs that visit your garden, not something you own and care for indoors. It's a small, specific corner of the shop, and one worth getting right, because the wrong food genuinely can do more harm than good.
What we stock
The range covers dry hedgehog food in 650g and 2.5kg bags, a semi-moist food described as hedgehog hospital approved, two wet trays — a fresh chicken recipe and a chicken and pork sausage-style meal — and a weather-resistant outdoor bowl for putting food and water out safely.
These are formulated specifically for hedgehogs rather than being repurposed cat or dog food, which matters because a hedgehog's dietary needs aren't the same as either. Milk in particular is genuinely harmful to hedgehogs despite the old advice to leave out a saucer of it — plain water alongside a proper hedgehog food is the safer combination.
How to feed garden hedgehogs responsibly
Put food and water out at dusk, away from a busy path or where a cat or dog could easily get to the bowl first, and try to feed in the same spot each night so hedgehogs learn where to find it. Only put out what's likely to be eaten in one night rather than leaving large amounts, which can attract other wildlife or simply go to waste.
If you find a hedgehog out during the day, looking unwell, or very small and out late in the year, that's a sign it may need help — organisations like the RSPCA and local hedgehog rescues are the right first call rather than trying to nurse it yourself.
Common questions
- Can I feed a hedgehog cat food instead?
- In a pinch, a small amount of meaty (not fishy) cat food won't do harm, but a food made specifically for hedgehogs, like this range, is the better everyday choice since it's formulated for their actual needs rather than borrowed from another species.
- Is it true I shouldn't give hedgehogs milk?
- Yes, this is genuinely important — hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, and milk can cause serious digestive upset. Plain water is the safe option to put out alongside any hedgehog food, whatever older advice you may have heard.
- What time of year do hedgehogs need feeding help most?
- Autumn is often the most important time, since hedgehogs need to build up enough weight to survive hibernation, and a hedgehog that's small or out in daylight late in the year may be struggling. If you're concerned about a specific animal, a local hedgehog rescue or the RSPCA can advise.
- Will feeding hedgehogs attract rats?
- It can, if food is left out in large amounts or overnight without being eaten. Putting out only what's likely to be finished in one sitting, and clearing any leftovers in the morning, reduces that risk considerably.
- Do I need a special bowl for feeding hedgehogs?
- Not strictly, but a weather-resistant outdoor bowl like the one we stock is worth having, since it won't blow away or fill with rainwater the way an ordinary dish left outside can. Placing it somewhere sheltered helps keep both the food and any water fresher for longer.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.