How Do I Know If My Hamster Likes His Cage?

Your hamster spends a lot of time in its cage, so you want to ensure you give it lots of stimulation and make its cage a happy place to live, especially since it will be in its cage most of the time. But how do you really know if your hamster likes his cage? 

You’ll know if your hamster likes his cage if he spends a lot of time playing with his toys and exploring his cage. If you can see your hamster burrowing and being happy to see you when you feed it, those are also good signs that your hamster enjoys his cage. 

In this article, I’ll explore the most common signs that indicate your hamster likes his cage. I’ll also look at other cage-related questions you might have, such as if you can let your hamster out of his cage sometimes and how long it takes a hamster to get used to its new cage.

How Can I Tell If My Hamster Is Happy In the Cage?

You can tell your hamster is happy in the cage by checking its behavior and energy levels. Hamsters are full of energy, so if you can see that they’re usually active in their cage, this indicates that they’re feeling happy. 

So, a happy hamster might display these behaviors: 

• Using their exercise wheel a lot: This helps hamsters to keep anxiety at bay, and some hamsters are capable of running a maximum of five miles (8 km) every day! Hamsters also need daily exercise, which is a great way for them to do so. 
• Lack of aggression: If your hamster is active and happy in its cage, it will be calm and peaceful. You’ll also see this behavior when you feed your hamster snacks by hand.
• Engaging with its toys, such as biting chew toys: Hamsters love toys because they help to keep them active and busy. They are highly curious and love exploring new things. 
• Burrowing: Hamsters love to find hiding places where they can relax. They can dig a lot and hide their food sources, so make sure their bedding is at least 6” (15 cm) thick.  
• Running around at night: This indicates that your hamster is happy because hamsters are nocturnal and more active at night. 
• Stretching: Hamsters stretch in their cages when they feel relaxed and don’t have to be on guard for predators or other dangers. 
• Sleeping in any area of the cage: This indicates that your hamster feels comfortable. 

• Exploring their cage: Hamsters are curious by nature. Research has found that hamsters who displayed curious behaviors were likelier to drink from bottles instead of just sipping at them. 
• Yawning: This is an interesting sign that your hamster is calm and relaxed. Don’t worry, as it’s not a sign that your hamster is bored, especially if you’ve equipped its cage with lots of stimulation in the form of toys and exercise wheels. 

How To Set Up the Right Cage for Your Hamster

Besides having a large enough cage for your hamster to roam and explore, the cage should also meet the following requirements to keep your hamster happy: 

• The hamster cage should be set up in a peaceful area of the home. Avoid placing your hamster’s cage in close proximity to high-traffic areas of the home where it’s noisy, as this can cause your hamster to feel anxious. 
• The cage should be exposed to room temperature. Aim to keep the temperature of your hamster cage at around 68°F (20°C). It shouldn’t be exposed to harsh sunlight or draughts.  
• The cage needs a lot of ventilation. This will keep your hamster happy and prevent bad odors from forming in the cage.

Do Hamsters Get Bored In Their Cage?

Hamsters can get bored in their cage. If they’re not getting enough stimulation from toys, they could feel the need to escape. A common sign that your hamster feels bored is if it seems lethargic or is sleeping more than it usually does.

Hamsters are naturally full of energy, so if yours seems to be tired and sleeping a lot, that’s not a good sign. 

Other signs that your hamster is bored in its cage include: 

• Eating more than normal.
• Pacing around the cage.
• Trying to escape, such as by climbing up the sides of the cage. 
• Not showing interest in their old toys.
• Chewing cage bars.

To prevent your hamster from becoming bored and stressed out, there are some things you can try. 

Here are some ideas: 

• Provide new toys. Every now and then, it’s good to replace your hamster’s current toys with new ones so that it has something fun to do. 
• Bring in new cage elements. There are several items that intrigue hamsters. A puzzle house or animal playground will work wonders. I’d recommend Hamiledyi Natural Fir Wood Hamster House from Amazon. It’s got a swing and ladder, so your hamster can play in it. 

• Hide snacks and treats for your hamster to find. Hamsters have an excellent sense of smell which helps them find food because their eyesight is so poor. Hide a snack in your hamster’s cage and let it sniff it out. This will keep it entertained. 
• Rearrange your hamster’s cage. While you shouldn’t do this too regularly as it can cause your hamster to feel stressed, moving some things around can stimulate your hamster.
• Play with your hamster outside its cage. By playing and spending time with your hamster, you’ll keep your hamster interested in its environment. Since hamsters are nocturnal, they’re ideal for people who work all day and are home at night, as this can be your bonding time together.
• Place thick bedding in your hamster’s cage. This should be free of dust and harmful toxins that can harm your hamster’s health. A good choice is wood shavings. 
• Ensure your hamster cage is large enough. Your hamster will easily become bored and frustrated if its cage is too small. Your hamster’s cage should be at least 24” (61 cm) by 12” (30.5 cm). But bear in mind that you should have as large a cage as your living space permits because hamsters are so active.

If your hamster shows these symptoms and you’ve done everything to stimulate your little buddy, you may want to take it to the vet to rule out any illnesses. 

How Often Should You Take a Hamster Out Of Its Cage?

You should aim to take your hamster out of its cage at least once a week, but more regularly if possible, as this keeps your hamster interested in its environment and give it a new place to explore. However, you should never leave your hamster unsupervised.

Instead of letting your hamster roam around the house, which could put it at risk of injury or being misplaced, you should set up a playpen in the house. 

I’d recommend Amakunft Portable Pet Playpen, which is available from Amazon. It contains transparent, waterproof netting to keep an eye on your hamster while it’s having fun out of its cage. 

Handling your hamster will help you to connect, so you should try to pick it up daily. However, never pick up your hamster and cuddle it when it is ready to sleep or is asleep, as this can cause it to feel stressed or anxious. 

If you’ve taken your hamster out of its cage and it seems anxious, you should place it back in its cage. 

Hamsters can become stressed or anxious because of things in their environment, such as: 

• Noises
• Sudden movements 
• Other pets 
• Light changes

If you’ve brought your hamster home and it’s still unsure of its environment, it’s a good idea to give it some time to become comfortable in its cage before letting it out. 

Tips For Taking Your Hamster Into the Backyard

Some hamster owners like to take their hamsters outside into the backyard. You can do this, but ensure you expose your hamster to a small area, which can prevent it from getting in trouble or lost while also ensuring you can keep a steady eye on it. 

However, ensure that there aren’t many noises outside as this can stress your hamster. 

If you’re going to bring them to sit on the grass, make sure that you place an enclosed playpen for them to spend time inside so that they don’t feel anxious or start roaming around too much. Hamsters are really tiny and can easily hide in hard-to-reach places.

Other Tips For Taking Your Hamster Out Of Its Cage

To ensure your hamster has a positive experience when roaming out of its cage, you should follow these tips: 

• Give them a place to hide. Ensure your hamster can relax and hide in its playpen when kept out of its cage. They might hide behind curtains or under blankets on the floor. 
• Hamster-proof the room. If you think it would be nice to give your hamster a bit more free reign of a room in the house, ensure that there’s nothing dangerous in it, like vents through which they climb or fall into. 
• Don’t let them be in very hot or cold conditions. If you want to take your hamster outside, ensure the space is protected and safe, and avoid exposing them to very cold or hot temperatures. They want to be in a moderate indoor temperature. 

How Long Does It Take For a Hamster To Get Used to Its Cage? 

It can take a hamster about one or two weeks to get used to its new cage. Ensuring you have the correct cage and all the items your hamster needs inside it will go a long way to helping your hamster adjust to its new home. 

Here are some tips to follow to help your hamster adjust faster: 

• Cover your hamster’s cage. You should cover your hamster’s cage with a thin sheet so that it can become comfortable with the immediate environment of its cage instead of being overstimulated by sights and sounds. This will also help it to explore its new home on its own. Choose a cloth that lets in light so your hamster can differentiate between night and day.
• Speak to your hamster daily. You want your hamster to get used to your voice, so speak to it in a calm, soft voice every day. Do this right next to its cage. 
• Don’t take it out of its cage. For the first week or so after you’ve brought your hamster home, let it stay in its cage. It needs to become used to its primary home before it explores another area. 
• Don’t pick it up. For the first few days, you should avoid picking up and handling your pet. It takes a bit of time for your hamster to get used to its cage and you, so let it get used to your voice while it’s in its cage is beneficial. 
• Clean the cage regularly. This is important to prevent your hamster from feeling stressed in its new home. But, avoid giving the cage a thorough clean in the first few days as the hamster is getting used to it. 
• Install a heavy food dish in the cage. It should have a water bottle attached, which ensures your hamster has food and drink, but without it risking turning over its bowl. I recommend Newweic Hamster Water Bottle from Amazon. It has a small food bowl and water bottle attached, as well as a small hole in one side where your hamster can hide. It’s ideal for hamsters and other small pets.

Final Thoughts

If you own a hamster, you’ll want to ensure that you give it a spacious, safe cage so it can run around and feel happy. You can know for sure that your hamster is happy in their cage by noting signs such as that your hamster is:

• Active in the cage, such as running a lot on their exercise wheel. 
• Playing with their toys.
• Stretching and relaxing.
• Finding places to burrow in the cage.