Do Hamsters Dream

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Hamsters are tiny, delicate creatures with few similarities to humans. However, you might hear your little furry friend making odd noises while they’re sleeping and wonder whether or not they’re dreaming. So, do hamsters dream?

Hamsters probably dream, but there are no concrete studies to prove it. You’ll likely notice your hamster making noises during sleep, such as squeaking, from time to time, and this might indicate that they’re dreaming. 

Hamster dreams are interesting to learn about, especially if you have a furry friend at home. Keep reading this article if you want to understand more about this topic, how to know if a hamster is dreaming, and what to do if your hamster has a nightmare.

What Do Hamsters Dream About?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to know what hamsters dream about, but we can assume they dream about things they’re familiar with, just like humans do. For example, humans often have dreams about friends or family members.

A hamster might dream about eating food or climbing on walls. It might also have a bad dream that causes it to panic and pant in its sleep. A dream could be so bad that the hamster wakes up and needs a few minutes to calm down!

If you’ve ever noticed your hamster waking up suddenly and panting or screaming, it’s likely that they had a scary dream and need some time to relax and get back to normal. 

How To Know if My Hamster Is Dreaming

Since hamsters likely do, in fact, dream, you might want to know the signs. In some cases, your pet won’t show any signs that it has a dream in the same way humans don’t always show signs they’re dreaming. So, you likely won’t even realize it most of the time!

Still, below are some of the main things to look out for:

Screeching

One thing that likely indicates a dream is screeching. Screeching can mean a hamster is scared or distressed. However, it could also indicate excitement or other positive emotions. So if you notice your hamster screeching, it’s difficult to know whether it’s a good or bad dream.

The screeching may be short and only occur once, or it may happen multiple times. You’ll likely also notice other things, like shaking or different movements. Once the dream stops or the hamster awakens, the screeching should subside.

Lots of Movement During Sleep

Something else that can indicate your hamster has a dream is if they are moving while sleeping. Of course, this might simply mean that it can’t find a comfortable position to lie in, but it could also be your hamster’s way of dealing with the events within the dream.

Movements to look out for during sleep include:

  • Rolling over.
  • A shocked jump, as if it’s startled.
  • Any other sudden movement.

Pay attention to your hamster’s movements because they may indicate a more serious issue. If it doesn’t stop after a few seconds, it might be worth gently waking it up to ensure there’s no medical issue. 

For example, some Syrian golden hamsters are prone to seizures, which could cause sudden movement unrelated to a dream.

Making Odd Noises 

Screeching is one noise a hamster might make if it has a dream, but it could make other noises, too. For example, you might hear hissing or murmurs while the hamster sleeps, indicating a less intense dream.

Again, the noises shouldn’t last too long, but they can happen at various volumes, depending on how intense or scary the dream may be. 

Panting 

Panting is another sign to look out for, and it most likely indicates your hamster is having a scary or stressful dream. The panting might begin during the dream or only happen once it wakes up. If the panting goes on for longer than you think is normal, you should check to make sure everything is ok, as there may be something else going on.

If your hamster has a bad dream and wakes up panting, it should subside after a few moments.

Do Hamsters Dream Every Night?

It’s hard to say whether or not hamsters dream every night. But since most humans have dreams every night (even though we usually don’t remember any of them), it’s possible that most hamsters do, too.

According to a Cornell University study, hamsters’ brains are surprisingly similar to ours For example, hamsters have a good capacity for memory. Although the study didn’t discuss hamster dreams, it proves they are intelligent creatures with advanced brains.

So if we consider that hamsters’ brains are likely highly complex, it’s not crazy to think that they could dream every night, just like we do!

Should I Wake My Hamster From a Dream?

You should wake your hamster from a dream if it seems highly distressed for an extended period. You shouldn’t wake them if it doesn’t seem like a bad or stressful dream. To wake your hamster, be gentle and avoid sudden movement. Consider making some noise near the cage to wake them up.

You should avoid suddenly putting your hand on them because it may frighten them, resulting in them biting you. Make a soft noise by talking or whistling to avoid startling them unnecessarily. 

Once the hamster wakes, give them a few seconds to adjust to the surroundings before touching it. Consider talking to it in a soft, friendly tone to enable them to calm down and understand they’re safe.

Then, it should be OK to gently pet your hamster or give some treats. 

What To Do if My Hamster Has a Nightmare

If you think your hamster is having a nightmare, there are a few things you can do:

Keep an Eye on the Hamster

If you believe your hamster is having a nightmare, there’s no need to wake them up right away. Instead, the best thing to do is to keep a close eye on the hamster and monitor the situation. In most cases, you shouldn’t need to wake them up because the nightmare will eventually stop, and your hamster can relax.

Wake Them Up if You’re Worried About Their Health

If you see that the hamster seems more scared than usual and you’ve never had this problem before, it’s a good idea to rouse them and ensure everything is OK. 

Plus, if a hamster has a particularly bad dream, the stress from the dream can cause heart problems and issues with other vital organs. When you wake them up, be very gentle so as to keep them as calm as possible.

Feed Them

Food is an excellent way to calm your hamster down if it seems to be having a nightmare. Once you’ve gently woken it up, give it time before placing treats nearby. If the hamster can eat some treats, it should realize it’s safe and has nothing to worry about.

Treats may include fruits like the following:

  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Cherries

Conclusion

Hamsters probably have dreams because they often make odd noises in their sleep, like screeching or murmuring. Other signs that indicate a hamster is dreaming include:

  • Moving around
  • Shaking
  • Panting

Generally, it’s OK to let a hamster continue sleeping, even if they seem to have a bad dream. However, if you’re worried for your hamster’s health, consider waking them up gently and giving them some treats to calm them down.

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