Giving your hamster toys and other fun additions to their cages provides them with entertainment and opportunities to snack, dig, gnaw, and hide. There are many hamster-safe toys to choose from, but how do you know they are safe?
Hamsters may like stuffed animals, but that doesn’t mean you should put them in their cage. The materials used to make stuffed animals are not safe for hamsters to ingest when they inevitably start chewing on them. Always supervise hamsters around stuffed animals.
The rest of this article will explain in more detail if hamsters like stuffed animals and give you a few alternative options for additions to your pet’s enclosure.
Can You Put Stuffed Animals in Your Hamster’s Cage?
Stuffed animals are made from a wide array of materials. The cotton, polyester, and plastic used to manufacture stuffed animals can be harmful to your pet for many reasons. When giving your hamster a toy or anything in its cage, it is crucial to remind yourself that your hamster will gnaw on and possibly eat almost everything you give them.
If ingested by your hamster, cotton, polyester, and other non-edible materials can lead to serious health concerns like intestinal blockages. Additionally, the stuffed animals’ plastic eyes are a choking hazard and also inedible.
Why Do Hamsters Chew on Everything?
Hamsters are members of the rodent family. Rodents are classified in many ways, and one of the main classifications is constantly growing teeth. Unlike humans, a hamster’s teeth do not stop growing.
Because their front teeth keep growing into adulthood, hamsters and other rodents have to constantly gnaw and chew things to keep them from becoming too long. That is why it’s so important to give them toys that are safe for them to chew.
Additionally, rodents may chew on items in their enclosures because of the primal urge for them to find shelter or hiding places for food. Giving your hamster ample hiding places throughout its cage is essential for its general development and overall well-being.
Can You Stop Hamsters From Chewing on Everything in Their Cage?
While chewing and gnawing are typical for hamsters, there are a few behaviors related to chewing that can point to something problematic. Your hamster chewing on toys and other things in its cage is to be expected, but if your hamster is continuously biting the bars of its cage for more than six months, there might be something else going on, and you should call your veterinarian.
Too much bar-biting or chewing on things they shouldn’t eat can lead to intestinal issues, broken teeth, and abrasions on their noses. To keep your hamster from biting the bars in its cage, give them alternative things to chew on that are safe, such as:
- Wooden toys
- Safe metal toys to simulate the metal cage bars
- Wooden hideaways and houses
- Hamster-safe chews and snacks
Abnormal behavior can also point to your hamster being unhappy in its cage. Make sure your hamster is being kept in an appropriately-sized cage to eliminate destructive behaviors and future health problems.
What Kinds of Toys Can You Put in Your Hamster’s Cage?
When picking a toy for your hamster’s cage, your safest option is to go with products specifically made for pets. Picking only hamster-friendly toys will ensure the materials they are made with will be safe to ingest if your hamster chews on them.
Here are a few ideas for toys available on Amazon.com to give your hamster instead of stuffed animals:
- These Sofier Natural Wood Hamster Toys are safe for chewing and biting, provide entertainment for your pet, and can help to improve their dental health.
- An Andwe Coconut Hut Hamster House gives your little friend a pleasant place to take a nap or store their food, and it is made from hamster-safe materials.
- While not technically a toy, your hamster will have a ball rolling around and cleaning itself in this Kathson Hamster Desert Sand.
Giving your hamster ample entertainment and opportunities to gnaw in its cage is an integral part of owning this pet. They rely on you to keep them safe, so be sure to always use hamster-safe toys, never give them anything inedible, and check the ingredients before giving them treats.
Conclusion
Giving your hamster a stuffed animal sounds cute and harmless, but it can lead to health problems like intestinal blockages and choking. Only give your hamster pet-safe toys, and never leave them unsupervised with non-edible toys.
Using a stuffed animal to take a quick photo outside your hamster’s cage is fine as long as you supervise them the whole time. Hamsters do like stuffed animals, but that might not necessarily be such a good thing. Stick to appropriate toys so you can keep your hamster safe and sound.