Hamsters can make great pets for several reasons, particularly for individuals or families with limited space. They are small, generally easy to care for, and do not require the extensive social interaction that some larger pets need. Their relatively simple habitat requirements make them accessible for first-time pet owners. Additionally, hamsters can be entertaining to watch as they engage in their natural behaviours, such as running on exercise wheels or burrowing in their bedding.
However, potential owners should be aware of their nocturnal nature, as hamsters are most active during the night, which may not align with the schedules of all household members. They also have a lifespan of around two to three years, which is shorter than that of many other pets, so families looking for a long-term commitment might want to consider this factor. Overall, while hamsters can be wonderful companions, prospective pet owners should consider their lifestyle and preferences to determine if a hamster is the right fit for them.
Just looking at your pet hamster can tell you quite a bit about the characteristics of him. First, look at those soulful large eyes. Gorgeous, aren’t they? While the eyes may be the mirror of the soul, in the case of the hamster, it’s the mirror of the hours that he keeps. You can tell merely by the large size of the eyes that your hamster is a nocturnal animal. He’s an animal that’s awake at night and sleeps during the day.
And no wonder. His origins are from the desert, His ancestors – and contemporary cousins – prowl the arid range at night, when the temperatures are cooler. During the day, they sleep (much like teenage children!)
Hamster Ears
Next, examine the hamster’s ears. Positioned high on the rodent’s head, these ears are indicative of an animal that possesses a keen sense of hearing. They’re positioned high on the head to take advantage of that very trait. After all, he needed this for protection from various predators in the wild.
Hamster Whiskers
Check out those cute whiskers! They’re more than just an attractive appendage. Whiskers perform a very valuable task. They’re essentially the way that the hamster touches his world. That’s right! The hamster uses these whiskers – called vibrissae in the zoological world – to guide them along. And his face isn’t the only place you can find whiskers. He also has these valuable tools on the sides of his body. The average hamster relies quite heavily on the whiskers to help him from falling off or bumping into objects. And because a hamster’s eyesight isn’t remarkably clear, these whiskers help him during the day as well as at night when he’s tunnelling and its virtually impossible to see because of the dark.
Hamster Sense of Smell
That could very well be the mantra of your pet dwarf hamster. Perhaps he can’t see very well, but he’s honed his sense of smell quite well, thank you very much. Hamsters, in fact, depend on their sense of smell to lead to not only food but water as well (I bet that’s something you can’t do, find water by smell alone – and chlorinated water doesn’t count!)
Their nose also warns them of impending danger. It helps to identify other animals, helps them find their way back home and believe it or not, it also helps to tell them the right time to breed. In more ways than one, a hamster’s very survival depends on its sense of smell.
Hamster Scent Glands
And while we like to credit his nose for his incredible power, the truth of the matter is that the hamster has scent glands on other parts of his body. These scent glands produce a musk-like fluid, which is primarily used to attract the opposite sex. It’s also used to mark and identify his territory and quite frankly, to recognize individual hamsters. These are called midventral scent glands.
Some species of hamsters even have a second set of scent glands located on either side of their bodies. This particular type of gland is larger on the male than the female. It’s also influenced by the sex hormones.
You can recognize these glands in the male. They’re the dark pigmented areas on the side surrounded by dark, bristly hairs. In the female, the hair around the side glands are softer. If you can’t see them right away, watch a hamster groom himself. He spends much time grooming these glands (can’t be too good looking for the opposite sex, now can you?)
You’ll discover more about his incredible sense of smell later in this site, when we explain how to orient your new pet to your presence and his new surroundings!
The Hamster’s Need for Speed
The scarcity of food in her natural habitat contributes to another physical trait as well: the need for speed. When you adopt your pet dwarf hamster you’ll know exactly what we mean. You’ll discover that your hamster needs exercise – and plenty of it. The stereotype of a hamster running on a wheel getting nowhere, while humorous, is extremely accurate!
In the wild, the hamster needs to travel vast distances (especially in relation to his size) in order to find enough food. Of course, this physical trait shouldn’t be much of a surprise to you. In the desert where food can be hard to come by, storing what you do find for later only makes sense from a survival standpoint.
But, unfortunately, animal behaviourists don’t know as much as they would like about the dwarf hamster’s wild relatives. Naturally a burrower, the untamed hamster spends much of her time underground. She prefers to hide in the cool recesses of tunnels, far away from the glaring sunlight.
Hamsters are Chewing Machines
Saying that hamsters love to chew would be an understatement. These cute little guys even love to chew the bars on the cage. So, rest assured that if your hamster chews incessantly, he’s really not obsessive. A genuine physical reason exists for his habit. He’s only trying to trim his teeth. A hamster’s teeth never stop growing. Have you ever heard the saying he’s ‘long in the tooth” when referring to an older person? It may not make sense when talking about people, but it makes perfect sense when you think about the hamster.
In order to keep their teeth at an acceptable reasonable size, they must constantly chew. But please, don’t let him chew on the metal bars of his cage. This according to some experts can damage his brain.
Instead, provide him with plenty of “chewing material.” You can buy wooden chews at the pet store. You can also let him chew fruit tree branches.
Hamsters are Fitness Fanatics
You’ve no doubt heard tales of new hamster owners being kept up all night because their pet is busy running on his wheel. So do hamsters really spend that much time running? They certainly do. They enjoy their exercise. An average hamster, in fact, runs about the equivalent of two miles a day. Not bad for a tiny animal that’s barely four inches long himself. There’s no getting around it; you’ll have to include that infamous hamster wheel in his cage.
Hamsters are Creatures of The Night
Along with the need for exercise comes the common complaint among new hamster owners: they choose to run like the wind in the middle of the night. Yes, this is true as well. Hamsters are nocturnal animals. This means that they’re most active at night and sleep during the day (similar to the average British teenager!)
Now, knowing this, I’ll give you one piece of advice: Unless you are up half the night you probably shouldn’t set up your hamster’s cage in your bedroom. In fact, even before you bring your hamster home, think hard about where you want it to be located.
Similarly, the cage shouldn’t be in one of your children’s bedrooms either – if, that is, you want your child to get any sleep at night. Instead of trying to curtail your hamster’s activity level, you should be encouraging it. Your job, if you want to be a good hamster parent, is to provide your new pet with the practice for the dwarf hamster marathon that he craves.
If I haven’t dissuaded you from getting a pet hamster, here are some reasons why they make great companions.
Hamsters are not only adorable but also relatively low-maintenance pets, making them an excellent choice for first-time pet owners or families with children. Their small size means they require less space than larger pets, and they can be comfortably housed in a well-ventilated cage with appropriate bedding and toys. Hamsters are nocturnal creatures, which means they are most active at night, providing entertainment for those who enjoy evening companionship. Their playful nature and curious personalities make them fun to watch as they explore their surroundings, engage with toys, and run on exercise wheels. Additionally, hamsters can be quite affectionate and may even bond with their owners, offering a unique sense of companionship that can be both rewarding and enjoyable.