Do Hamsters Need Affection? Here’s How to Keep Your Pet Happy
Many hamster owners wonder if their hamster really needs affection after all. They believe that just giving your pet treats, toys, and other objects will be enough to keep them entertained and happy.
So, do hamsters need affection? Yes, they do. Hamsters are social creatures and need love just as much as any other pet animal. They’re unlike dogs or cats because they don’t need constant attention and cuddling. Still, they do love to have company and companionship.
Here is what you need to know about giving your hamsters attention and affection and making them happy. This article will also answer all your questions, such as do hamsters want attention? And how do you give them attention?
Do Hamsters Need Affection?
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Hamsters are some of the cutest, most adorable animals on the planet. They’re small and furry, with big eyes and whiskers, and just want to be loved!
But there’s a problem: hamsters aren’t like dogs or cats. They don’t need walks, cuddles, or belly rubs. What do you do with a hamster when you want to show affection?
The answer is simple: make sure your hamster has everything they need to be happy! Here’s how to keep your pet happy:
1. Play with them
It’s not hard to play with a hamster, but it does take some time.
First, wash your hands. Then rub their bedding (i.e., the stuff they sleep on) with your hands to show them that you’re trustworthy. Give them food with your hand as well—they’ll trust you more if they see you feeding them directly.
Hamsters are very sensitive to smell. If you do not wash your hands, they will bite you.
Once they trust you, they’ll let you pet them. Just make sure that whenever you rub the pets, you’re gentle and respectful of their boundaries (which are usually pretty clear!).
Don’t forget to wash your hands after playing with your hamster. Animals carry infections, which might make you sick.
2. Give them toys
Hamsters like to play with toys and other objects that they can use to capture prey or navigate their environment. For example, a hamster might like a ball of yarn or a piece of paper that it can roll around the cage.
Hamsters like to gnaw on things, so wooden blocks, wool, and other soft materials are best for them. You can also get some more expensive toys with bells or mirrors.
You should avoid giving your hamster plastic toys and other items not made from natural materials like wood or fabric. Plastic can cause damage to their teeth, gums, and digestive tract if they chew on it too much. Plastic has also been shown to cause behavioral defects in rodents. And remember that hamsters like to chew cage when he wants attention.
3. Give them ways to exercise
Hamsters are small creatures, which means they need a lot of exercise. The best way to give them a good workout is to provide them with a wheel.
This will allow them to run around their cage and burn some energy.
It’s important to ensure that the wheel you choose is appropriate for your hamster. You don’t want it to be too big or too small. If it’s too small, they won’t be able to run around in it, and if it’s too big, they could get hurt by running into walls or corners.
Exercise has been shown to improve rodents’ bone mass, quality, and strength.
4. Get a bigger cage
Your hamster will be happy if you get a bigger cage.
Why? Because when it’s in a smaller cage, it’s hard to do anything else. The ham doesn’t have enough room to play or run around and exercise. And if the pet gets bored, the only option is to create some kind of distraction. Maybe make a nest out of paper rolls or something—but even that can be hard when they’re stuck in a small cage all day.
But if you move it into a bigger cage, it will allow your hamster more room to move around and provide more space for nesting materials and other activities. It’ll be happy if you allow your hamster to explore its new surroundings. The pet will not be bored because it has more options for making itself feel comfortable.
5. Clean their cage
Cleaning your hamster’s cage is essential to keeping them happy and healthy.
You must clean out the cage once a week, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself. You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush to get into all the nooks and crannies that are hard to reach with a regular brush.
If you do this every week, your hamster will thank you for it!
6. Feed them treats
That’s right—treats are a great way to make your hamster happy, and you don’t even have to give them the expensive stuff. You can get all kinds of treats at the grocery store, but here are some of our favorites:
- Peanut butter: Hamsters love peanut butter. It’s low-calorie and high in protein, so it’ll keep them full for a while.
- Fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are delicious and a source of vitamins for your pet. Some types that hamsters love include carrots, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, and so on.
Treats can be anything—from apples to cereal to seeds—so long as they’re healthy and tasty for your hamster. Just make sure that whatever you’re giving them is something that won’t give them diarrhea or other health issues.
7. Provide a warm place to sleep or hide
Hamsters have a natural instinct to seek out warm places, like a burrow or their nest. Providing a warm place for your hamster to sleep will help them feel safe and happy. It’s also important to ensure you place its cage in a more hospitable place.
8. Let them sleep
It may sound weird, but you’d be surprised at how happy your hamster will be when they get to sleep.
Hamsters are active in the evening, at night, and morning hours. They prefer to be asleep during the daytime. They feel more comfortable in their skin when they’re sleeping, so if you want to keep them happy. Make sure they don’t wake you up in the middle of the day.
How to Know if Your Hamster Wants Your Attention?
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Now that we’ve established how to show your hamster affection let’s talk about how you can tell when something is off with them. Here are some signs that you might need some extra helping from you:
1. Hamster Biting Cage for Attention
Hamsters are known for their antics and love of attention. If your hamster is biting the cage, they want your attention. Be sure to keep a close eye on your pet, and don’t leave them alone in the cell for long periods.
2. Crawling on you
If your hamster has a habit of crawling on you when you’re near, it indicates that it wants more attention from you. If you’re not giving it enough attention, it will creep on you and lick you more often.
3. Wandering around
If your hamster is always wandering around looking for something to eat or play with, it indicates that it wants more attention from you. If they aren’t getting enough food or playtime, they’ll start wandering around corners or under tables looking for food and toys.
4. Looking at you with erect ears
This is the most obvious sign that your hamster wants your attention. They will lift their head and look at you with erect ears. It shows that they are curious about whatever you are doing and want to be involved.
FAQs
Here are answers to some of the questions you might have:
How Often Should I Give Attention to My Hamster?
At least once a day, you should give your hamster attention. Spending time with your pet hamster daily is a good idea. This will make it more likely that your hamster will get used to you, and it can help build trust between you.
How do hamsters show affection to humans?
Hamsters can show affection to humans in more ways than one. First, they will often sit on your lap and groom themselves—a sign of friendship.
If your hamster yawns and stretches out in your arms, they probably feel at home.
But it doesn’t end there—if you open their cage and find them running towards you for a petting session? They’ve decided that you are someone worthy of extra attention.
Why is it that my hamster always wants attention?
Do hamsters like human affection. Yes they do. Sometimes too much. Hamsters are social animals who enjoy interacting with their owners and other members of their species (as well as humans). They will also get bored if left alone too much—so sometimes they ask for attention.
You can use treats and toys to keep the pet busy so that it doesn’t demand much from you. But remember: The more interaction they have with you, the happier they’ll be overall.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned how to show your hamster affection, it’s time to take these new skills out on the hamsters in your life.
Your hamster will be happy if she’s not in a cage all day. If you’re able to let them run around and explore their environment, they’ll be more likely to bond with you as an owner. You also need to feed them with treats, let them sleep peacefully, buy a bigger cage and give them soft beddings that are warmer.
Remember: hamsters are just like us. They need attention and affection too! So go ahead—give your pet some love today!