What To Do With A Hamster Biting The Cage?
It is very common to see a hamster biting the cage. However, when one of these animals is first adopted, it is normal that many of their behaviors are not understood. If your hamster is biting the cage, we will show you the causes and consequences of this behavior.
Why is my hamster biting the cage?
Seeing our hamster biting the cage is not pleasant. After all, this behavior certainly indicates that our friend is uncomfortable inside his cage and wants out. Furthermore, it can have other serious consequences that we want to talk about. However, let’s look at the reasons why your hamster is biting the cage first.
- Stress. Stress or anxiety can cause a hamster to “find something to do”. Therefore, your hamster may end up biting the cage to distract himself. Stress and anxiety can lead to obsessive behaviors. So you’ll probably see him do it constantly and intensely. This can also happen if the animal compulsively spins on the wheel.
- Boredom. Boredom can be another reason why a hamster ends up biting the cage. However, you will see a clear difference between boredom and anxiety. After all, if the animal is bored, it will bite the bars in a punctual and gentle way.
- Lack of exercise. Hamsters, while not supposed to be taken for walks, also need their daily dose of exercise. So if there is a lack of exercise, it will unbalance your pet. The consequence of this is the presence of obsessive and destructive behaviors in relation to things. In extreme cases, this behavior can even lead to self-harm.
Other reasons your hamster is biting the cage
- Lack of attention. Biting the cage bars can be a symptom of inattention. In this context, the animal does this because it doesn’t know how to get our attention otherwise. Remember that the responsibility of owning a pet goes beyond providing food and water. After all, animals need affection, affection and attention.
- Inappropriate cage. Despite being a small animal, the cage must be of a size that allows some mobility and freedom. If it’s too tight, the animal will want to get away anyway. To try to do this, the hamster will end up biting the cage constantly.
Seeing that the reasons your hamster is biting the cage are abnormal and are damaging your pet’s mental and emotional health, you should do what you can to change this behavior.
What to do if your hamster is biting the cage
Your attitude is very important to change this behavior. Although, a priori, it may seem like an unimportant issue, biting the cage can cause serious harm to our pet. For example:
- Emotional problems
- Mental problems
- Damage to teeth and mouth
- physical health problems
Therefore, although it seems a harmless gesture, it is our obligation to do everything possible to try to stop this attitude. Here are some things you can do:
- Change cages. If you think the cage you bought for your pet is too small and is causing your pet problems, buy a bigger one where it can move freely.
- Buy accessories. As boredom can be another reason why a hamster bites the bars of the cage, you can solve this by buying a wheel. Also, you can put some accessories to entertain you inside the cage.
- Get the hamster out of the cage. From time to time, let him walk around the house at certain times of the day so that he feels integrated with the family and can exercise.
- Play with the hamster. Take time to play with your pet. If you think he’s nervous or anxious, try offering chamomile hay tea. It is sedative and relaxing and will taste great for your pet.
- Vinegar and lemon. If, after trying all of these, your pet continues to do the same thing, try soaking the bars with a strong-tasting product such as lemon or vinegar.
Conclusion
These are the things you can do if your hamster bites the cage bars. However, if after trying all of this the problem persists, visit your veterinarian to make sure it hasn’t developed into a chronic compulsive attitude with a different and more serious cause.
