How to tame your hamster

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 4: Create a Comfortable Environment
Part 2 of 4: Meet the hamster
Part 3 of 4: Building your pet's affection
Part 4 of 4: Dealing with Problems
Tips
Warnings

Hamsters are cute fluffy animals that are very popular as pets. However, they need time to get to know the owners and get used to them. If you want your hamster to become tame, be patient - it will take time for the pet to learn to recognize you, get used to your presence and stop being afraid of the smell of your hands. If you set up a safe, comfortable home for your hamster and give him enough time to get used to and become attached to you, interacting with a completely tame, friendly animal will give you many joyful moments.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Create a Comfortable Environment

1 Build a cozy home for your pet. If you decide to have a hamster, he will need a place to live comfortably. It is best to buy a suitable crate for your pet.Place a soft, absorbent mat on the floor to help your hamster move around the cage. In addition, the absorbent material will absorb the hamster's urine. You will have to remove the soiled litter from the cage daily and completely replace the litter with fresh litter once a week.
- Be sure to install a drinking bowl so your hamster has constant access to water.
2 Feed your hamster regularly. Hamsters are omnivores, that is, both plant foods and animal products are suitable for them. It is best to feed your pet a special hamster food pellet. In addition, it is a good idea to diversify the animal's diet and give him small pieces of raw vegetables and fruits twice a week. The hamster will enjoy a juicy treat with pleasure.
- On average, a hamster eats about 10 grams of dry food twice a day.
- As a treat, you can offer your pet small pieces of broccoli, peach, cauliflower, or banana. Never give your hamster citrus fruits (lemons or oranges) or vegetables with high acidity (for example, onions). These foods can cause digestive upset in your pet.
- When you bring your hamster home, try not to bother your hamster for the first few days. It is especially important to keep this in mind when feeding your animal. Just put the food in the crate and move away so that your hamster can eat safely alone. This will help the animal feel safe in your home.
3 Wait a week before you try petting your hamster. You need to give your pet time to get used to you, begin to feel safe and get used to the new home.
- Sometimes the hamster's adaptation process takes longer than a week. In this case, it is important to be patient.

Part 2 of 4: Meet the hamster

1 Help the hamster learn to recognize your voice. When you are near the cage, try to speak to your pet in a low, gentle voice. You need your furry pet to learn to recognize your voice - then he will stop being afraid of you.
- Try walking up to the crate and talking to your pet lovingly for a few minutes. It will be good if you can do this several times a day.
- After a few days, you can try removing the lid from the cage when you are interacting with your pet so that the hamster can hear your voice better. However, do not forget to be careful - if you gape, the furry weasel can easily escape from the cage.
2 Treat your hamster with treats. To get started, simply stretch small pieces of treats between the bars of the cage or serve the treat from above by opening the lid of the hamster's dwelling (this depends on the type of cage you are keeping the animal in). Soon, the animal will associate your presence with a delicious treat, and it will no longer be afraid.
- Try to hold the treat in your palm for a while and only then give it to your pet - this will help the hamster get used to your smell. Do this for a few days.
3 Wash your hands. Before picking up your hamster for the first time, wash your hands thoroughly. This will help get rid of any food odors that may have remained on your skin. You don't want a hamster to accidentally bite you.
- If you are just starting to hand train your hamster, you can even wear gloves to protect your hands from bites.
4 First, stick your hand into the cage. Choose a time when your hamster is awake and slowly stick your hand into the cage. Allow the animal to sniff your fingers calmly. That's enough for the first time. If your pet looks scared and tries to hide, remove your hand and try again after one to two weeks.
- You can take some treats that your hamster especially loves and place them in the palm of your hand. This will help the animal feel calmer and overcome fear.
- If you are trying to pet a hamster, and the animal suddenly rushes in your direction, you do not need to jerk your hand back sharply.Even if you are scared, do not scare your pet back.
5 Take the hamster in your arms. If you've taken the time to establish contact with your pet and the hamster is used to you, try picking it up. Try to hold the hamster firmly so that the animal does not fall and get injured. A little time will pass, and a fluffy pet will climb into your palm by itself.
- Never grab a hamster, as this will be perceived by the animal as a threat. Instead, fold your palm in a boat and let your pet climb into your hand on its own.
- If the hamster is squeaking in your hands, it means that he is angry. In this case, it is best to immediately return the animal back to the cage. Be patient and give your pet more time to get to know you. Try again in a few days.

Part 3 of 4: Building your pet's affection

1 Help your hamster feel safe. The first time you pick your hamster in your arms, it may get nervous. Carefully pet your hamster and speak to him in a gentle, low voice to help calm him down. Pay close attention to your pet's body language: if the hamster tries to run away from you or squeaks loudly, put him back in the cage. If your pet looks interested and approaches you on its own initiative, then you are doing everything right.
- Do not try to force the hamster to do something against his will, otherwise the animal will be afraid of you. Fear can ruin the results of all your pet taming efforts. It takes time for an animal to develop attachment, and any attempt to speed up the process will backfire.
2 Continue communication with your pet. Try to spend more time with your hamster. The more you communicate with him, the more confident he will feel around you. Your efforts and patience will pay off - your pet will soon become completely tame and friendly.
- Try to hold the hamster in your hands for at least a few minutes every day. Otherwise, the hamster will simply not have the opportunity to get used to you, and it will take much more effort for the pet to bond with you.
3 Show your hamster that you love him. Don't forget about your furry pet. Remember that there is a small creature in your house that loves to play and communicate with you. Try to show your hamster your love and affection (and more often indulge the fluffy baby with delicious treats!) Love is the most important condition for successfully taming a living creature.
- The more you play with your pet, the more tame it will be.

Part 4 of 4: Dealing with Problems

1 Solve the problem of aggression. If a hamster bites your hand, it means that the animal is afraid or anxious. The urge to bite is a natural reaction of the hamster when it feels fear. If the hamster has bitten you, then the animal has not yet got used to you, so wait a while before trying to pick it up again. For the next two weeks, try to talk to your pet more and give him the opportunity to sniff your hands, but do not force the animal to endure your touch. When a hamster is scared, it can shiver, squeak loudly and bite. When your pet stops showing signs of fear, try putting your hand back in the cage.
- Never wake up a sleeping hamster. You will scare the pet and it will end with a bite.
- The hamster can bite you if your hand smells like food. To avoid this, wash your hands thoroughly before handling your pet.
2 Be mindful of your hamster's health. Hamsters are very small animals, so you need to be especially careful to monitor their condition so as not to miss the symptoms of dangerous diseases. Although hamsters rarely develop health problems, symptoms can develop rapidly.
- Diarrhea poses a serious threat to the health and life of hamsters.In this case, you need to take the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible, otherwise the hamster may die from dehydration. A characteristic sign of diarrhea is that the coat on the back of the animal looks wet and brown.
- Another common problem is bulging of the eyeball from the orbit. This condition can be caused by an eye infection or develop due to physical injury. If you think your hamster's eyes are bulging, see your veterinarian immediately.
3 Solve pet relationship problems. Many species of hamsters are territorial animals, so they react with hostility to other animals (including other hamsters) living in the same cage with them. If your hamsters are fighting each other, you will most likely need to move them into different cages.
- If there is no way for each pet to have a separate cage, make sure that there are no closed corners in their common dwelling where one hamster can cornered another. Also, provide each pet with their own food bowls and drinkers to avoid fights over food and water.

Tips

Be sure to equip a wheel in the cage where your pet can run at any time.
You can teach your hamster to follow commands (for example, stand up on its hind legs, give you a paw, etc.) using food reward training.
To teach your hamster to stand by its hind legs, grab a piece of treat and hold it over its head until it rises on its hind legs to take the treat out of your hands.
Replace food and water in the cage with fresh food daily.
Chat with and play with your hamster every day.

Warnings

If the hamster has bitten you, chances are you scared him with something or your hand smells like food. Be sure to wash your hands before touching your pet and after playing with your pet.
Never disturb your hamster while eating, drinking water, or sleeping.
Some hamsters are very agile and very aggressive. Such a pet can suddenly bite you or quickly run away. If you frequently suffer from hamster bites, it is best to wear protective gloves when handling it.
Try not to put two hamsters in the same cage. Only a few species of hamsters, for example, the Russian hamster and the Roborovsky hamster, calmly relate to such a neighborhood. If you put two adult Syrian hamsters in one cage, they will definitely fight and may even kill each other.
Buy a spacious crate for your pet. The minimum allowable size for a hamster cage is 50 x 40 cm.