My hamster screams!!?

Question

Please help, iv only had my hamster 2 days so i am not sure why but she screams at me. The first day i got her she was doing it quite alot and then stopped. Last night she was in her bed and everytime i spoke to her she was screaming at me (thats the best way to describe its a bit like growling) almost telling me to shut up. I give her lots of attention and am handling her alot, i have also bought her loads of toys. Shes kept very clean aswell, does she just need more time to settle in?

Please help i dont want her to be unhappy!!

Thanks Janice, your comments are very encouraging and helpful!!

Answer 1

I have over 1,000 hamster pups a year and occassionally I have a pup that makes this sound when I pick it up. They will grow out of it. It is just because the hamster is young and still a bit scared. Some hamsters are done with the "noise-making" when being held in a few days though I had one that did it for six months. I haven't had a squeaker bite me so don't be scared, just patient.

Unlike the other suggestions to leave her be, you don't want to do that. If she learns that making noise will get her put down, she'll do it for much longer. Just keep holding her gently. I suggest cupping her in your hands loosely with one hand underneath holding her and the other hand over and covering her, much like you would hold a lightening bug. Hold her like this until she stops squeaking, it will usually take a minute or two. Then put her back into her cage. This is what I do with all my "noise-makers" and it's very effective. Just do it several times a day and I'm confident she'll stop doing it very soon.

-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com

Answer 2

While it's very uncommon, hamsters can create a "screaming" pitch while in utter, absolute distress. This may not have been the case, perhaps your hamster just got spooked by a door, another pet, or another family member. It's really uncommon, and scary for the person who hears it the first time. It's perfectly normal. Now, the passing out thing isn't normal.... you're sure he didn't get scared, screech and then go into slight shock? Were his eyes frozen, open, body stiff and breathing stopped? From what you typed, it seems like he got scared and "screamed" and went into light shock. I would try to figure out what happened and why he did that. Good luck!

Answer 3

Dont worry, she is just unsetlled. She has been taken away from an enviroment she was used to and she is just scared.
Handle her early morning while she is tired but dont wake her up cos you could get bit and scare her even more. Talk to her very softly. Be completely calm cos I find if you are calm with any animal, especially small ones, it rubs off on them.
FOOD is the way to a hamsters heart. bring her in the evening bits of food, my hamsters, I find, ADORE boiled chicken, which is perfectly safe. When you give her these small treats, dont let her snatch it off you, let her eat it while you are still holding it (unless its chicken, you dont have fingers left if you do that with mine its a case of now you see it now its eaten-not hoarded-eaten) cos that will build up her trust in you. Hold her every hour or so she will soon warm to you. Especially if you bring her food.

Answer 4

my last hamster did this screaming thing but it wasnt a good sign for me! she was wild and i couldnt handle her from day one! I think she must have had a tough time at the shop i got her from because she was terrified and no amount of handling her helped! if you can handle yours ok then i imagine it will be fine though!

Answer 5

its ok some hamsters do this when they are scared the more you handle her the better she will get if your unsure go back to where you got her from and ask them for some advice hope this helps

Answer 6

your hamster will need time to settle in hes in its new environment hes not used to it and has to get used to being away from its mum. also try to keep your hamster in one room so it gets used to it because if u dont your hamsters can get depressed.
so it will just take time = )

Answer 7

maybe your voice is too loud n it shurting her little ears,

eg when you were a little kid, when it thundered n lighteninged, or there was a noise you didnt like did you put your fingers in your ears n go "la la la la" till the noise stopped? maybe thats what its doing! only minus the paws in the ears!

try talking really softly and quietly, see if it helps

Answer 8

You have only had her for 2days, and I suggest you leaving her alone for a week, just to settle into the environment.... She seems really scared..

Answer 9

if it screams it means its a russian hamster.
i have a russian hamster and the first month i got it it screamed like mad.

Answer 10

she could have a urinary tract infection and she is screaming when she pees. take her to the vet!!!