How Long Can I Leave My Hamster Alone? (A Day, Week & More)

Hamsters need constant attention and care but there might have been some instances when school or some business work, makes you travel for a day or two sometimes even more. In such cases, you may not always be around as much as your Hamsters might need.

So, as a concerned Hamster owner, you might be wondering what you should do with your Hamsters? How long can you leave your Hamsters alone? A day, a weekend, or even more?

Hamsters should not be left unattended for more than 24 hours. If you are going to be out just for a night, then stalk them with adequate food and water. You must leave your Hamster with a family member or a trusted neighbor whenever you have to stay away from your house for more than a day.

Leaving your Hamsters alone can be a little daunting for some people, and I totally understand that.

I would suggest you take the service from Trusted pet sitters if there is no one else available to look after your pet.

There are a few other concerns that we must know before you leave your little one alone.

Also, there are a few tips I would like to share with you all that will help you to keep your Hamsters healthy and safe when you leave them alone.

Picture Credits: Dora, The Syrian Hamster; Instagram Handle: thehamstercalledmouse

Concerns About Leaving Your Hamsters Alone

Leaving your Hamsters alone involves a lot of risk. Your little one can surely get into trouble when there is no one around to look after them.

Though most of the problems can be avoided if necessary precautions are taken still it it better to be familiar with all kinds of trouble your Hamsters might have to face.

Listed below are some of the noteworthy you may should have before you leave your Hamster alone.

Running Out Of Food And Water

Food plays the role of a keystone in your Hamster’s life, despite the age and breed. You should make sure that you are providing your Hamster a suitable amount of nutrition.

Also, your Hamster might not be drink water if it is dirty or stinky. So, it is important to provide fresh and clean water to your Hamster every 24 hours.

Picture Credits: Dora, The Syrian Hamster; Instagram Handle: thehamstercalledmouse

Fruits and vegetables are also an essential part of a Hamster’s diet. Besides being their favorite treat, fruits and veggies have a great nutritional value.

They are rich in numerous vitamins, minerals, and calcium which helps in the prevention of a lot of diseases in Hamsters.

Thus, if you plan to leave your Hamsters alone, you must ensure they have enough food and water to last through the period.

Here comes the tricky situation, fruits, and vegetables if rotten generates a foul smell. It can cause stress in your Hamsters. Therefore, you must be careful about the kind of food you leave with your Hamsters when they are alone.

Have a look at this food bowl I got from Amazon. It is tip-proof, therefore, your Hamster will spill less food around their enclosure.

A Leak In The Water Bottle

Mostly all Hamsters face difficulties related to their Hamster’s water bottles.

There are two major difficulties you would face if your Hamster’s water bottle is leaking. Firstly, your Hamster will have no water to drink. Secondly, it will make the bedding damp.

You can use a water-absorbent mat to soak the dripping water. Also, make sure the water bottle is filled with water before you place it in your Hamsters cage.

Half filled bottles will not create an adequate vacuum, therefore they are sure to leak as soon as you put them inside the cage.

I have experienced that glass bottles are better than plastic bottles.

Recommended Reading:

Soiled Bedding Attract Flies

There are numerous reasons due to which flies get attracted to Hamsters.

In the majority of the cases, flies are attracted by the living conditions of the Hamsters. The more unpleasant the cage, the more the flies.

Some of the common reasons which attract flies towards Hamsters are:

  • Stale food
  • Smelly hutches
  • Leaking water bottle
  • Urine of your Hamster

It my sound scary but flies generally drop eggs in the manure of your pet. These eggs if not cleaned, later hatch maggots which may feed on Hamster’s flesh.

If you ever see your hamster hit by a flystrike it is always advisable to visit the vet as soon as possible. Delay in such conditions may worsen the situation.

Have a look at this Insect Trap I got from Amazon! It is effective as well as eco-friendly.

Your Hamsters May Escape From Their Enclosure

Like every other creature, Hamsters are just desperate to break free. They attempt to jump out of their cage whenever there is a possibility.

If your Hamsters escape when you are away, they can get into all sorts of trouble, which can harm them or even be life-threatening for them.

If you are buying a bar cage for your Hamster, always make sure that it is covered from the top. I personally prefer glass enclosures for my Hamsters.

Hamsters are excellent climbers, they will climb up the cage and jump out of it if it is open from the top.

Your Hamsters May Injure Themselves

There are high chances that your Hamster may injure themselves if they see a threat or see somethings that frightens them.

Picture Credits: Dora, The Syrian Hamster; Instagram Handle: thehamstercalledmouse

Whenever your Hamsters see a threat they will probably try to run around their enclosure and cause chaos. There are high chances that this can lead to an injury( eg. spinal injury or fractures) in your Hamsters.

Also, there aren’t any artificial aromas for soothing Hamsters like there are for other pets.

Hamsters can even have a heart attack due to fear. In such cases, only the vet will be able to provide you with the best possible help.

How Long Can My Hamsters Go Without Food?

Hamsters can go without food for 24- 48 hours at max. If your Hamsters doesn’t have access to food, then within the first 24 hours, their digestive system will start having trouble, and within 48 hours, they can become seriously ill.

Anything above 48 hours without any food can be a life-threatening situation for your Hamsters. Your little one’s intestine may get damaged permanently.

Here’s a list of some healthy food that your Hamster would love to munch on:

  • Fresh Hay
  • Commercially made Hamsters pellets
  • Eggs(smalls pieces only-boiled, scrambled)
  • Vegetables: Broccoli, Carrots, Spinach, and Cucumber
  • Fruits: Apple(without seeds), Banana, Strawberries, and Pears

Only a few are listed here, there are many others with your Hamster may enjoy. These are the top ones

How Long Can My Hamsters Go Without Water?

Hamsters health can deteriorate if they do not drink water for a long period.

Hamsters should not go for more than 24 hours without water. Drinking less water will show signs of dehydration in Hamsters.

Dehydration can often lead to organ failure and can be life-threatening.

If your Hamster is drinking less water or no water at all you must try to find out the reason behind it. There may be numerous reasons behind the same.

If are unable to crack the reason, it is always suggested to visit a vet to be on the safer side.

Tips To Keep Your Hamsters Healthy And Safe When You Leave Them Alone

If you are planning to stay a few nights away from your Hamster, then there are a few measures you need to take.

Your little one can surely get into trouble when there is no one around to look after them. You cannot just toss away a little extra food and leave them alone.

It is important for us to make sure that our Hamsters remain healthy and safe when we are away.

Following a few steps will ensure that our little ones are going to be okay even when we are not available. This will ensure that now we can travel with peace of mind.

Get A Pet Sitter

If you have to stay away from your house for a few days then you might need to consider getting someone to look after them for a small fee.

You could either get a personal pet sitter who visits your pet in intervals to time, or you can drop your Hamsterinto their place or center where they can be looked after.

I would suggest you take the service from Trusted pet sitters if there is no one else available to look after your pet. They are amazing as well as affordable.

You can expect to pay a small fee of 5-7$ per day for your Hamsters. If you plan to leave them for an extended period or you have a large litter size, then you might bargain the price a little bit

Train A Friend Or A Neighbor To Take Care Of Your Hamsters

Although a pet-sitter would be the best option but if you are looking for other alternatives your friends and neighbors would be the best option.

Picture Credits: Dora, The Syrian Hamster; Instagram Handle: thehamstercalledmouse

If you are planning to go away only for a day, your Hamsters would just do fine on their own. However, you must leave your Hamster with a family member or a trusted neighbor whenever you have to stay away from your house for more than a day.

This is one of the most reliable methods if you plan to leave for a weekend or more.

Set Up A Camera To Monitor Your Hamsters

If you travel frequently, it is advisable to set up a security camera with access to live footage to monitor your Hamsters.

This will help you monitor your Hamsters whenever you want. If you notice some sorts of problems, you can ask your friends, family, or neighbor to check on them.

Get Your Hamsters Multiple Water Bottles (A Wise Investment)

An adult Hamster drinks anywhere between 20-25ml water per day. If you leave in a humid region the amount of water intake may vary.

The consumption of water is dependent on a variety of factors, including the age, size, diet of your Hamsters.

If your Hamsters go more than 24-48 hours without water, they would probably like to dehydrate themselves.

If you are leaving for more than 24 hours, install 1-2 extra containers of water in your Hamster’s enclosure because if something goes wrong with one bottle, they can drink with the other.

You definitely don’t want to leave your little ones dehydrated and thirsty when you are away.

Here are some of my favorites leak-proof water bottles from Amazon. Check them out!

Throw In Some Extra Greens And Pellets

You should leave at least 2 bowls of pellets in your Hamster’s enclosure for them to munch on when you are away.

You can also throw in some lettuce before you leave. In that way, they at least have some green for the day too much on.

Food plays the role of a keystone in your Hamster’s life, despite the age and breed. You should make sure that you are providing your Hamster a suitable amount of nutrition.

I personally pick Kaytee Hamster pellets as these are fortified with essential nutrients needed by our Hamsters.

Get Someone To Clean The Enclosure When You Are Away

It is very important to clean your Hamster’s cage regularly. If your Hamster’s enclosure stays dirty for too long, it can lead to health complications in Hamsters.

if you are planning to leave for a weekend or more, you need to ask someone to spot clean the cage at least every other day.

They may not seem to be happy while you clean their cage as they think that you are interfering with their territory.

It is advised use pet-safe cleaning materials for cleaning your Hamster’s cage. Guide them to return things as they found them while cleaning the enclosure.

Conclusion

You can leave your Hamsters alone for a maximum of 24 hours provided you have stalked them up with enough food and water.

If you are planning to go away for a weekend then the best option would be to leave your Hamsters with a family member or a trusted neighbor.

Your little one can surely get into trouble when there is no one around to look after them.

Though most of the problems can be avoided if necessary precautions are taken.

Sources: RSPCA, Science Direct, Springer Link, Dehydration In Hamsters, Biology and Diseases of Hamsters, Journal of Nutrition

Mohini

Hello, I am Mohini, the founder of this blog. I am a qualified Animal Nutrition. I am here to help everyone understand their pets better.

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