Hamsters are playful and active little creatures, but sometimes they do things that surprise us. One common occurrence is when a hamster tries to escape from its enclosure. This can be because the hamster is bored, stressed, or wants to find a mate. This can be quite frustrating for the owner since getting the hamster back in its home can be difficult.
In this blog post, I will explore why your hamster might be trying to escape, and I will offer some solutions to help you keep your furry friend safe!
Why is My Hamster Trying to Escape?
There are a few different reasons your hamster might be trying to escape. They include:
Boredom
The most common reason is that the hamster is bored. If your hamster doesn’t have enough to do, it will look for ways to entertain itself.
This can include chewing on the bars of its cage or digging through the bedding in search of something fun.
How to identify Signs of Boredom in Your Hamster
Your hamster might be bored if it:
- Chewing-Avid chewing is another sign of boredom in hamsters. Even when they aren’t bored, hamsters like chewing on objects. Because their incisors are always developing, this habit helps in keeping their teeth in excellent shape and aids in hygiene. If your hamster chews on the bars of its cage, this might lead to an escape risk if ignored.
- Inactivity- If your hamster is less active than usual, this might be another sign that it’s bored. Hamsters are playful and active creatures, so if you notice a decrease in activity level, it could be boredom.
- Changes in Sleeping Patterns-Hamsters are nocturnal animals, so they sleep and are awake at night. If you notice your hamster is awake more during the day and asleep less at night, this might be a sign of boredom since it’s adjusting its sleeping schedule to match yours.
Solutions for Boredom
The best way to solve boredom is by providing your hamster with more things to do. This can include:
- Adding more toys-Toys are a great way to keep your hamster entertained. You can find many different toys at your local pet store or online.
- Making the cage bigger- If your hamster’s cage is on the small side, it might contribute to its boredom. Consider upgrading to a bigger cage, so your hamster has more space to explore.
- Adding hiding places- Hamsters like to hide and feel safe, so adding some hiding places will give them a place to go when they want to relax.
- Providing fresh food-Fresh food is nutritious for your hamster, but it can also be fun for them to eat. Adding some fresh vegetables or fruits to their diet will give them something new to try and help with boredom.
- Provide Hamster Wheels-Hamster wheels are a great way for your hamster to get exercise, and they can also be fun to watch. Consider adding one if you don’t have a wheel in your hamster’s cage.
If all these fail, you should try to get your hamster out of the cage. Allowing your hamster to wander freely in an area of your house is helpful.
This may be a whole room, with cables and other threats considered. It might also be a spacious playpen where they can run and play to their hearts’ satisfaction.
The most important thing is to provide a secure place for your hamster to play. Even then, only under your strict and constant supervision.
Hamsters are little and delicate, and they rely on you to keep them safe outside of the tank.
Stress
Another reason why your hamster might be trying to escape is stress. This can be caused by some things, including:
- Loud Noises-If there are loud noises near your hamster’s cage, this can cause stress. Things like vacuum cleaners, dogs barking, and children screaming can be stressful for hamsters.
- Too Much Activity-Another thing that can cause stress in hamsters is too much activity around their cage. If there’s a lot of movement and commotion near their cage, it can be stressful.
- Changes in the Environment-Changes in the environment can also be stressful for hamsters. Things like new furniture, moving the cage to a new location, or even a temperature change can cause stress.
- Other Pets-If you have other pets in the house, they might be causing stress for your hamster. Pets like dogs and cats can be scary for hamsters, so if they’re constantly around your hamster’s cage, this can cause stress.
Solutions for Stress
The best way to reduce stress in your hamster is by providing a calm and quiet environment. This can include:
- Moving the cage to a quieter location-If there’s a lot of noise or activity near your hamster’s cage, try moving it to a quieter location.
- Providing hiding places- Adding some hiding places to the cage will give your hamster a place to go when they feel stressed.
- Putting the cage in a smaller room-If your hamster’s cage is in a large room; try moving it to a smaller room. This will help reduce the amount of noise and activity around the cage.
- Getting rid of other pets-If you have other pets in the house, they might be causing stress for your hamster. If possible, try to get rid of other pets or keep them away from your hamster’s cage.
- Providing a calm environment-The best way to reduce stress in your hamster is by providing a calm and quiet environment. This can include moving the cage to a quieter location, providing hiding places, and putting the cage in a smaller room.
Mating
Your hamster might be trying to escape is that it wants to find a mate. This is especially common in male hamsters, but it can also happen with females.
If your hamster is looking for a mate, there are a few things you can do:
- Get another hamster- If your hamster is looking for a mate, the best thing to do is get another hamster. This way, they can have a friend and won’t be trying to escape.
- Keep them separated- Another option is to keep your hamsters separated. This means having two cages for them to live in. If you don’t want to get another hamster, this is a good option.
- Put them in different rooms- If you have more than one room in your house, you can put your hamsters in different rooms. This way, they won’t see each other and won’t be as likely to escape.
Curiosity
Hamsters are curious creatures and often want to explore their surroundings. Not all hamsters trying to escape are unhappy; some are just curious.
Your hamster may attempt to climb its cage or discover a way out in order to explore its surroundings. It may be trying to escape to fulfill its insatiable curiosity.
Because of their curiosity, hamsters might get frustrated when they are unable to escape. Your hamster may pick up on something interesting or just want to watch what you’re doing.
If your hamster seems to be very curious, you may need to pay more attention to it. Some hamster owners even show their pets what they’re doing.
If your hamster is trying to escape because they’re curious, there are a few things you can do:
- Provide more toys- One way to keep your hamster from getting bored is to provide more toys. This will help keep their minds challenged and occupied.
- Change the layout of the cage- Changing the layout of their cage will give them something new to explore and will help keep their minds challenged.
- Get a bigger cage- If your hamster’s cage is too small, they might be trying to escape because they’re looking for more space. Getting a bigger cage will give them more room to roam and will help keep them from getting bored.
- Keep them busy- This can be done by providing more toys, changing the layout of the cage, and getting a bigger cage.
Mishandling Your Hamster
Your hamster may be trying to escape because you are not handling it properly. Hamsters are sometimes purchased as pets for children to educate them about animal care.
This is wonderful, but you must also educate your children on how to properly care for the hamsters.
Kids are more prone to mishandling hamsters, and if the children aren’t cautious, your hamster may become scared of them. Remember this since it might be one of the reasons the hamster is attempting to escape.
Mishandling your hamster can include things like:
- Not letting them sniff you first- When you first get your hamster, they will want to sniff you. This is their way of getting to know you. If you don’t let them sniff you, they may be trying to escape because they’re scared.
- Picking them up wrong- If you pick your hamster up wrong, they may be trying to escape because they’re uncomfortable. The best way to pick up a hamster is to cup them in your hand and support its bottom.
- Being too rough with them- If you’re too rough with your hamster, they may be trying to escape because they’re scared. You should always be gentle with your hamster and avoid handling them too much.
There are a few things you can do to prevent your hamster from trying to escape:
- Handle them properly- When you do handle your hamster, be sure to do it gently and correctly. Avoid being too rough with them and let them sniff you first.
- Give them time to adjust- When you first get your hamster, give them some time to adjust to their new home. This can take a few days to a week. Once they’re used to their new home, they’ll be less likely to try and escape.
Poor Eyesight
Sometimes, hamsters try to escape because they can’t see where they’re going. This is especially true for older hamsters.
As hamsters age, their eyesight starts to deteriorate, and they may have a hard time seeing where they’re going. This can lead to them trying to escape because they’re disoriented and confused.
It may not always recognize you as the large, scary thing it is escaping from. Sight is one of their weaker senses since they are most active at night, morning, and dusk.
They can only see a few inches away in poor lighting, and they won’t be able to see anything if the light is too intense. Your hamster will be unable to discriminate between a rapid movement or item, making it scary. The initial inclination of your hamster will be to escape.
There are a few things you can do to help your hamster if they’re trying to escape because of poor eyesight:
- Approach slowly- You can keep your pet hamster from freaking out and escaping by letting it figure out who you are, using its other senses. Move slowly and talk gently to your hamster. Let it touch and smell your hand before trying to pick it up.
- Put their food in the same place- If you put your hamster’s food in the same place every day, they’ll easily find it. This will help them stay on their diet and may prevent them from getting lost.
- Put their water in the same place- Just like with food, if you put your hamster’s water in the same place every day, they’ll be able to find it easily. This will help them stay hydrated and may prevent them from getting lost.
- Use brighter colors- If you use brighter colors when setting up your hamster’s cage, they’ll be able to see them better. This will help them navigate their cage and prevent them from getting lost.
Final Thoughts
There are a few reasons your hamster may be trying to escape. It could be because they’re scared, uncomfortable, or can’t see where they’re going.
I hope this article has helped you learn why your hamster is trying to escape and give you tips on preventing them from escaping.
