Are Hamster Balls Safe? – Know The Truth
Your pet Hamster is irritated or frustrated because it is not getting exercise. As a result, they are ruining items in their cage. It must be distressful to witness this. You may want to know if you should get an exercise ball for your Hamster.
But are hamster balls safe? No. If it is not used correctly, then Hamster’s ball is unsafe. It can cause claustrophobia, injuries, ventilation problem, etc. in them. Besides this, the ball gets highly unhygienic and even breaks apart after some time.
Today, I will cover why Hamsters balls are unsafe, what other balls you can use as an alternative, tips to use the ball safely, and much more. So, please read this article till the end to learn about it.
Key Points
Here are some key points from this article about hamsters ball. Have a look at it below-
- Hamsters have no control over the balls. So, they cannot lead in the right direction
- Many people use hamsters ball thinking it’s safe. But it causes serious injuries to Hamsters
- The alternative ways, such as playpens, wheels, or free-roaming, are much better for them to exercise and recommended
- Hamsters get distressed exercising in the Hamster ball. They can destroy items in cages because of being stressed.
10 Reasons Hamster Balls Are Bad?
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Hamster balls can cause several problems for the Hamster. It becomes highly unsafe for them to exercise in this ball. Have a look at the points below to know the ten reasons why Hamster balls are bad-
No control over the ball
Hamsters have no control over the ball. When they move the ball, the ball can go anywhere. The ball has no particular direction. So, it can lead to bumping with other objects in the house. As a result, the Hamster will also get injured.
Besides, as the Hamster has no control over the ball, the ball can roll over and even fall downstairs. The Hamsters have poor eyesight and can’t even see clearly. So, they would make vain attempts to stop the ball.
As you can see, it gets tough for them to adjust to the ball, so exercising in the hamster ball is highly unsafe.
No sensory information
Hamsters cannot see correctly. They have to use their senses to communicate with the environment. But plastic Hamster balls block their way of communicating with the environment. In the blocked area, they cannot use their senses at all to navigate outside.
This problem can lead Hamsters to get stressed. The RSPCA has also said that they have concerns over the Hamster ball use as it can cause the Hamster injury and stress them.
Claustrophobia
Putting hamsters in small cages is not the right thing to do. Although hamsters are small pet animals, they require larger cages. They need a lot of space to move around. But they have nowhere to move if you put them in something minor, like a hamster’s ball.
It can make the hamster get stressed. Apart from this, the hamster also gets anxious if put in a small area. This is why putting them in hamsters ball is not recommended. However, sometimes, if you are going somewhere outside, don’t take them with you.
You would be carrying the pet hamster in a cage. As carrying a big cage with yourself everywhere is impossible, you must leave the hamster at home.
Injury
A hamster’s ball can cause severe injuries to the hamster. As discussed earlier, claustrophobia and no control over the ball can cause injuries, but this section explicitly highlights serious injuries.
Putting a hamster in the hamster ball can sometimes cause spinal damage while running inside the ball. Besides, their legs can also get injured if they exercise with this ball.
It can not only cause them to have long-term health problems but also lead them to have expensive treatments.
Unhygienic
Hamsters need to pee and poop regularly. As it can happen anytime, they may do it inside the ball and make it unclean. If they stay in the ball for a long time, gradually, the ball will get jammed with the poop. It can clog the ventilation holes. As a result, they won’t get oxygen from outside.
Most importantly, the unhygienic area inside the ball will make them sick. It’s why you should avoid using the hamster ball at all costs.
Ventilation problem
The holes in the hamster ball are not for their breathing concerns. Instead, it is just a design to give them a visual appeal. So, it provides less to almost no air. Your hamster will have breathing problems in the hamster ball.
Besides, the holes cannot do any good. Instead, they will cause injuries in the hamster’s claws. It can directly take the claws out of the hamster’s paw. That’s why you should avoid using hamsters ball.
No food or water
Hamsters do not have access to food or water in a hamster ball. So, they can’t get their basic needs fulfilled in that ball. This will result in the hamster falling sick and being unable to do anything.
While many people think having food or water for a short time is okay, they guess wrong. The RSPCA also says that without food and water, they will get distressed.
Ball breaks apart
The hamster ball is made of plastic and can break apart anytime. So, when the hamster is running inside the ball, it can cause the hamster to get injured by the broken pieces of plastic.
While some try to patch the broken plastic ball, it is entirely wrong. It should not even be used for the first time so these problems do not occur again.
No place to hide
Hamsters often want to hide somewhere because they are afraid for their lives. But they cannot hide anywhere in the hamster ball. As a result, they may often flee their lives.
This inability to hide can make the hamsters highly distressed. The hamsters can also lead to destructive behavior due to being stressed and bumping into the objects in your house.
In this case, you can place hammocks in the cage. But why do hamsters use hammocks and not prefer other ways to hide or nest? They love burrowing in that fabric, which enriches their living environment. It is why placing hammocks in the cage will be a good idea.
Unsuitable animal supply
It is marked as an unsuitable animal supply in most countries. The vets do not ever recommend this thing to use for exercise. Apart from this, animal protection societies also do not support the usage of hamster balls. They have criticized its use as it can cause fatal injuries to the Hamsters. That’s why the use of hamsters ball should be stopped.
Hamster Ball Alternative
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As using the hamster ball is highly not recommended, you can use some alternatives so they can exercise. Here are some of the ways that can be followed to make them exercise :
Play-pens
You can use the playpens as an alternative to the hamster ball. It works great for the smaller hamsters. The best part is you can make a play-pen for your hamster. Once you have made it, fill the area with hamster tunnels and tubes.
You can also think about what do hamsters like to play with and place those things in the play-pens.
Wheels
You may place a wheel in the cage. But why do hamsters need a wheel? Well, it can be an excellent way for a hamster to exercise. They can get into it whenever they feel like exercising and run as much as they want. It is a safe way for them to release endorphins.
Free roaming
Apart from the other options, you can let the hamster roam freely in your house. It is not necessary to only give them tools to exercise. Free roaming in your home can be a good alternative. However, you must make the house utterly hamster-proof so they don’t get injured by any objects.
Horizontal Bars
You can consider purchasing cages with horizontal. As they love to climb, they can play with it. The bar cages are suitable for hamsters as there is good air circulation. So you won’t have to fear them getting sick.
However, if you have recently bought your new hamster pet, you can also consider checking out the hamster checklist online. It will let you know the essential things a hamster should have.
Final Verdict
You have concerns about your pet Hamster. It is completely justified if you want to know, are hamster balls safe? Well, now you know that it is unsafe. Exercising in a hamster’s ball can make the Hamster frustrated and stressed. That’s why you should avoid getting a hamster’s ball for their exercise.
However, as exercise is essential for their health, consider purchasing the alternative hamster ball. They are not dangerous to use. So they can get their exercise done in those alternatives ball. I hope his article made it clear to you why Hamsters ball is unsafe.