A sad Hamster can be distressing for any owner. Just like us, hamsters too have emotions, and even they often feel sad. Today we will learn some of the signs that would help us know if our Hamster is sad or not.
Hamsters that are sad mostly stop eating and drinking. They become lazy and spend most of their time hiding. They often try to escape their cage, show unusual grooming behavior and become aggressive. Owners must be cautious about the same as some of these signs can be a sign of an underlying health problem.
If you see your Hamster is sad, do not let them recover on their own. You never know they might be hiding some pain. It is strongly advised to visit the vet if you notice anything unusual in your Hamster.
Do not worry; this article will help you understand the signs and behavior of sadness in your Hamsters. Also, I will share some useful tips to cheer up their mood.
Pick Up These Signs!
Some of the symptoms of sadness can also be a signs of an underlying health problem.
Paying close attention to your Hamster’s behavior will make it easy for you to catch their weird and usual behavior. These are some of the common signs that show your Hamster is sad.
They Have Stopped Eating/Drinking
If your Hamster has suddenly stopped eating or drinking, then there are high chances that they are either sad or depressed. Some health complications might also result in such behavior.
If your Hamster does not eat a bit or sip any water even after several attempts, they might need medical attention. Observe your Hamster intently, to understand their behavior.
Any Hamster’s health can deteriorate in no time if adequate attention is not given to them. Therefore, do not hesitate to take your Hamster to the vet if you feel your Hamster is sick.
They Spend Most Of Their Time Hiding
If your Hamster is sad, then they will start to spend most of their time hiding. They may lay around in a corner of their cage and sleep for hours without showing interest in anything.
In such cases, try to give your Hamster much more attend to make they feel at home and more relaxed.
Also, if you start to neglect your duties towards your little ones, they might become sad and go in hiding. They can even hide their pain and sadness till they fall sick.
Make sure that your Hamster comes out of their hide space to eat and drink. If not, there might be something serious with your Hamster.
If you notice any such thing, or are suspicious about your Hamsters health, then you must take your Hamster to a vet.
They Are Being Lazy
Hamsters are active and energetic animals. They rarely sit in a place quietly for a long time. If your Hamster is sad, they often show signs of lethargy and inactiveness.
Sad Hamsters tend to lay around more and do not interact at all. Old Hamsters show such behavior, but if it’s not the case with your Hamster, then they might be sad.
Lack of space and mental stimulation often trigger such behavior in Hamsters. Provide your Hamsters with a huge cage and a variety of play toys to keep them engaged. If you feel your Hamster is sick, take them to a vet.
Increase your Hamster’s floor time. Take them out of their cage more often to play. However, at the same time, you must make sure that your little one is safe and secure while playing.
They Are Overgrooming/UndergroomingThemselves
Grooming behavior is common in all Hamsters. It is their natural way to keep themselves clean. However, if your Hamster has suddenly started to show unusual grooming behavior, then there is something definitely wrong with them. A sad Hamster often shows such behavior.
The sadness can also be due to some kind of skin issues in your Hamster. Rashes and other skin problems often trigger excessive grooming behavior in Hamsters.
They Are Biting The Cage
Unusual cage biting is often a sign of sadness and depression in Hamsters. Hamsters often feel sad if they have a limited space to live and play around.
Cages available in the local pet shops are usually too small for our Hamsters. Therefore, it is essential to provide your Hamsters with an adequate place to keep them happy and satisfied.
Plastic bins or tanks is a great option to prevent your Hamsters from chewing the bars.
Also, you must let your Hamsters out of their cage for at least an hour each day to keep them happy and engaged. Playpens make a great choice for Hamsters. You can let your Hamster play out without having to worry about their safety.
They Often Try To Climb The Cage
If your Hamster is sad, then they will try to climb the cage to run away or escape. This is one of the other signs that tell you that you must upgrade your Hamster’s cage.
To keep your Hamster happy, provide them with at least a 30-40 gallon tank, or say 4 square feet of space and 20 inches height square feet of space.
To make sure that your Hamsters do not hurt themselves while clinging to the bars of their cage, place adequate bedding in their cage. It will keep them safe throughout.
They Always Try To Escape
If your Hamster is sad or depressed, then they will surely try to escape. You will see them making regular attempts to break free.
It can be a worrying situation for any Hamster owner if they find their little one trying to escape. Therefore, it is important to understand the cause of such behavior in our Hamsters and take proper measures for the same.
No Hamster owner would want their little one to run away and find itself in danger. To prevent such behavior in them, it is necessary to provide them with enough mental and physical stimulation.
Also, if you have got yourself a new Hamster, give them some time to adjust to their surroundings. Spend more time with them, and make them accustomed to your presence.
They Have Become Aggressive
Sad Hamsters tend to be more aggressive and reactive than usual. They seem to act out with signs of fear. If you notice a sudden change in your Hamster’s behavior being abnormally scared or aggressive, then they may be sad.
Also, in such cases, if you try to put your hand in their cage, they react pretty aggressively and may bite you. They may start to feel that you are invading their territory.
If you attempt to get hold of your Hamster forcefully, then they may try to jump off your hand or run away. If this behavior is unusual in them, then they may be sad. Aggressive and destructive behavior is quite common in sad Hamsters.
They Have Started Pacing
Pacing around in a confined area can be a sure sign of sadness and depression in Hamsters. There are several reasons that can trigger such behavior in Hamsters.
You must try to find out the cause of such behavior in your little one. Stress is one of the major causes of the same. Some of the common reasons that might lead to stress in your Hamsters are:
- Sudden loud noises
- Predators or other threats
- Your Hamster lives in a tiny space
- You are traveling too often with your Hamster
- Sudden change in their routine
- Excessive Handling
- They are just bored and curious
- Other health complications
These are one the best selling Hamster chew toys, I got from Amazon! My Hamster seems the happiest with them. Also, I keep rotating these toys every week to make sure that my Hamster never gets bored of them.
How Do I Cheer Up My Sad Hamster?
If you are unsure about the reason behind your Hamster’s sadness, it is advised to take them to a veterinarian for a check. They will help you find out the cause for the same.
Discomfort and pain can often lead to sadness in Hamsters. Aggression, loss of appetite, overgrooming, and lethargy can definitely be signs of some underlying health problems in our Hamsters.
As Hamsters are prey animals, it is in their natural behavior to hide the pain. They do so to avoid looking weak in front of their predators.
Listed below are some of the ideas, that will help you cheer up your sad Hamster:
- Spend More Time With Your Hamsters: Unlike most other rodents, Hamsters prefer to stay alone but there is a difference between alone and lonely. Therefore, it is advised to spend at least an hour each day with your Hamsters. Small play sessions will definitely help you build a bond with your Hamsters and reduce sadness. Spending time with your Hamster might prove to be a therapy session for you as well.
- Upgrade Your Hamster’s Cage: Small cages and confined areas often lead to sadness in Hamsters. Do not forget that the cage is your Hamster’s home. Provide them with adequate space to run and play. Choose a comfortable and safe cage for your Hamsters.
- Provide Them With New Toys: Toys provide Hamsters with both, mental and physical stimulation. A lack of toys can surely make a Hamster sad. Therefore, it is essential to provide your Hamsters with a variety of toys. You can keep rotating their toys each week, this will make sure they are not bored.
- Keep A Note At Their Surroundings: A sudden change in any Hamster’s living environment might lead to stress and sadness. Therefore, if you have recently made any changes, then start reverting those changes.
- Provide Them With Sand Bath: Sand baths are often known to reduce stress and sadness in Hamsters. Besides this, sand baths help to evenly distribute the natural oil present in Hamster’s skin.
If the vet does not find any health problem in your Hamster, then it is most likely to be just curiosity and boredom.
