Babysitting a hamster!!!?

Question

I'm currently babysitting my girlfriends hamster while she's away and amber (the hamster) has beenn chewing on her cage bars a lot!!! Is this ok for her to do?? It's just i don't really want to make any mistakes as i've never had a hamster before!!! Can someone let me know that everything's ok!!! She seems happy is always running about and she is generally very active!!! It's just this bar chewing that is bothering me!!! Anyone have any advice???

Answer 1

Don't worry - it's perfectly normal.

Hamster's teeth never stop growing, so it likes to chew on things to stop them from overgrowing. Has she left any chew toys for it? Although some hamsters prefer their bars, mine always chews on his bars. The bars are designed so that hamsters can't chew through them.

If you don't like him doing it because it's making a ton of noise try putting a toilet roll tube in there for him to chew on, make sure any little bits of toilet roll stuck on are removed first, though.

And if he hasn't been out today, then get him out and hold him for a few minutes. If you don't feel OK with holding him (DON'T hold him wearing gloves - he will sense you are scared of him and try to bite you) then get his ball and open the top, turn it on it's side and let him climb in. Maybe put a bit of cucumber or some other fruit/veg (NOT citrus or anything with a really strong taste) in the ball to tempt him, not too much otherwise he will stuff his cheeks and want to go back straight away.

Then once he is in, carefully put the top on the opening and make sure it's secure before putting him on the floor for a run-around. Make sure you close all doors going out of the room and keep him in a room with no carpet in case he wees/poos.

Answer 2

Calm down~~ Hamsters LOVE to chew . . .


Hamsters teeth are these little growing machines!! They never stop growing. They chew as a teeth file!! Usually though hamsters will prefer to chew on wood blocks.


Don't stress hamster cage bars WILL NOT allow hamsters to chew their way out!! Let her chew on toilet roll tube, towel roll, or old little kid blocks!!

I really hope this helps!!
Wardles_tollbar has good ideas too!!
I've had over 30 hamsters!!

Answer 3

he's chewing because he wants out. if she doesnt have a ball for him, run out to the petstore or walmart even & get one - $5. hold it up to the open cage door & he'll jump right in. close it & use tape on the lid--they pop open! let him run about an hour then put him back for a break. if he chews again let him go another hour. repeat until u go to bed.

if she doesnt have a ball for him then she'll be happy u made her hamm happy! she can use it at home with him too.

when u go to bed throw in an empty toilet tissue roll (or one with a few strips)and hide him some food in a few places rather than all in the 1 bowl. this will give him things to do when u sleep & cant let him run.

Answer 4

No its very common in hamsters to chew the bars if there is nothing else to chew on . They need to wear there teeth down because they never stop growing

Answer 5

Don't worry a hamster's teeth are always growing so they gnaw on whatever's handy to keep there teeth in check , go to your nearest pet shop and you can buy hamster chews.

Answer 6

Don't worry they all do it. My hamster Texas used to drive us mad with it , if she wasnt do that she was hanging from the top bars of the cage n falling off! if shes alert n active shes fine.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

They do this - it wears their teeth down which stops the teeth growing too long. It's an annoying noise to be sure but it is good for the hamster to do this.

Answer 9

it should be ok
just put a hard transparent plastic lining around the bars(inside the cage)
ne way hav u kept it cooked up in its cage all day?
if u did, just take it out for a few minutes to play.or giv it something else to chew on.

Answer 10

It means she's bored. Handle her a lot and give her interesting foods such as apple, cucumber, carrot etc and things to play with - an empty loo roll will do.