In this video, we’ll discuss the top 18 things that hamsters hate and you should avoid.
Loud Noises
Loud noises are stressful for your hamsters because they have much more sensitive hearing than humans.
The sound of slamming doors, vacuum cleaners, horror movies, loud vehicles, blenders, or hair dryers can be terrifying for your little pet.
Bathing them
Hamsters are known to be very clean animals who groom themselves often. Therefore, they don’t need to a bath. These animals also have sensitive skin, and baths may result in dry fur coats and skin problems. Bathing them can send a hamster into shock.
If your hamster has dirt in a certain area of its body, you can spotclean them using a damp washcloth.
Sand bathing is also something most hamsters love. Provide your pet with a container of petsafe sand.
Waking them up
Hamsters are nocturnal slash crepuscular. This means they naturally sleep during the day and are more active at dawn and dusk. This means you should not wake up your hamster to play with them.
Instead, plan your interactions for late afternoon or early evening after they've had their proper rest.
Strong Smells
Hamsters have very keen sense of smell. This is why hamsters hate overpowering smells such as perfumes, deodorants, strongly scented soaps, lotions, garlic, and some air refreshers.
Essential oils are another thing hamsters dislike. Don’t keep them around your hammy, especially if not diluted.
Hamsters also despise the smell of citrus as well as olive oil.
Likewise, make sure not to use pungent cleaning products in their living space.
Cotton fluff bedding
Never use cotton fluff for nesting. Cotton fluff is harmful because it is not digestible. If your hamster accidentally swallows it, it can cause blockage in your pet’s digestive system and lead to death. Cotton can also get wrapped around the limbs and cut off circulation leaving the limbs dead.
Too much change too often
Hamsters hate any type of change if it happens too often. That’s why they are very scared when brought to a new home. They will need time to adjust to the new environment.
A dirty or smelly living space
Hamsters are very clean animals and they appreciate a clean, nice environment. Dirty and smelly homes will create mental and physical health problems for your pet.
Make sure to clean your hamster’s cage regularly.
Sharing their territory
Because hamsters are so territorial and rather solitary animals, it's generally best to only keep one hamster per enclosure.
Most hamsters don’t like to share their territory with another hamster.
Small children
Young children are unpredictable and impulsive. They can sometimes harm or frighten a hamster.
Keep in mind that hamsters are sensitive to mishandling. A hamster could be put in danger of being mishandled due to their special touch and support requirement.
Make sure every interaction between kids and hamster is supervised.
Not enough space to exercise
Although hamsters are small, they need plenty of room to exercise, burrow and explore tunnels. Hamsters are highenergy animals and their bodies are built to run. In the wild, hamsters run up to six miles every single night to search for and gather food.
So be sure to provide your hammy with an environment as large as possible with the enrichment they need to stay happy. Keep in mind that hamsters are burrowers, so your little pet needs at least 6 inches of bedding to dig, burrow, hide and stay occupied.
Socializing with predators
You may think it’s cute to introduce your little pet to cats or dogs, but these are predatory animals, and they can be very frightening for your hammy.
Visitors and strangers
As prey animals, hamsters are very skittish animals. They are fearful of unfamiliar people and weird new smells. Therefore, strangers or visitors are often perceived as scary, which generates a stressful experience for your little friend.
Having nowhere to hide
Hamsters are prey animals and open spaces without a place to hide makes them feel nervous and vulnerable.
It is important for your little pet to have a safe place to hide when they feel threatened or are spooked.
Being picked up
Hamsters are prey animals, and as such are not comfortable with being picked up.
But hamsters can be trained to enjoy being held. The key is making your hamster comfortable around you and used to your hand.
Traveling
Hamsters hate traveling because they would rather be at home where they feel safe. Being outside of their known environment makes them feel anxious and vulnerable.
Chasing After Them
Although chasing after your hamster may seem like all fun and games from your perspective, it can be devastating for your pet.
When chased around, your pet gets frightened and their heart rate could skyrocket.
Living with guinea pigs or rabbits
Hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits are similar in size and all are prey animals but they should not be kept together in the same enclosure.