Hamsters are cute and cuddly, but they’re not always ready or willing to cuddle like other pets. Since they can get frightened easily, you can’t force them to hug and cuddle you. So, how can you train your hamster to want to cuddle?
You can train your hamster to cuddle by speaking to them gently and offering treats so that they can learn to trust you. You should also gently stroke your hamster to help it become accustomed to you and your touch.
In this article, I’ll explore these and other ways to train your hamster to cuddle. I’ll feature some important tips and precautions that you should take so that you form a bond with your hamster.
1. Set Up a Comfortable Home for Your Hamster
If your hamster isn’t happy or comfortable in their cage, it will become stressed out. This could make them aggressive, which can cause them to not feel comfortable with being touched.
Here are some important tips for setting up a cozy, comfortable home for your hamster.
- Get a cage that’s as big as possible. This will ensure that your hamster can run around as it would in the wild.
- Avoid bright lights and loud sounds. Hamsters are sensitive to both light and sounds, so don’t place their cage in an area of the home where lights are on all night or where there are loud sounds, such as from televisions or children playing.
- Avoid fluffy bedding products. You shouldn’t place soft materials at the bottom of your hamster’s cage that can become fluffy or torn. These can cause your hamster’s limbs to get tangled, causing them stress. Install a cage with a solid floor.
2. Get Your Hamster Used to You Being Around
When you bring your hamster home, you should allow it to slowly get used to your presence. You should always move slowly whenever you get too close to the hamster’s cage and avoid making sudden movements or sounds. Here are some other tips:
- Don’t touch your hamster right away. For the first few days that your hamster is in their new home, only put your hands in its cage to change its food and water so as not to startle it.
- Never surprise your hamster. Your hamster should always see you nearing its cage, so don’t sneak up on it, as this can cause it to get scared.
- Feed your hamster a treat. Place a hamster treat on your hand and place your hand inside the cage so that it lies flat. Let your hamster sniff your hand, and wait for him or her to nibble at the snack. If your hamster doesn’t take the treat, place it on the floor. In time, they will get used to you bringing them tasty treats.
- Speak to your hamster in a soft, soothing voice. This will prevent your hamster from being frightened by changes in your vocal tone or by you speaking at a loud volume.
3. Pick Up Your Hamster in the Right Way
When picking up your hamster, you have to be careful so that the experience isn’t alarming or frightening. Once your hamster gets used to you picking them up, they’ll be more open to cuddling you. Here are a few tips to pick up your hamster correctly:
- Wash your hands. If your hands smell like other pets, this could cause your hamster to become aggressive.
- Use both hands. Place one hand underneath the hamster so that you can provide it with support.
- Lift your hamster so that it faces you. When it can see you, it will feel more comfortable than if it can’t see you. This also prevents your hamster from being disoriented and trying to jump from your hand.
- Use slow movements and take your time. Your hamster might panic and move away from you, so you might have to try again on another day.
- Never pick up your hamster when it’s asleep. By waking it up and startling it, your hamster is more likely to bite you.
Be patient with your pet if it doesn’t want to be held immediately. Allow them the time to get used to you rather than forcing it.
4. Provide Snacks While Cuddling
Once you’ve managed to get your hamster to feel comfortable with you picking them up and holding them, you can try to hold them for longer. This is the perfect time in which to feed your hamster some treats so that it will associate being held and cuddled with getting delicious snacks.
You should get into the routine of holding and feeding your hamster daily so that your hamster gets used to this habit and it becomes a positive experience for them – and you.
Final Thoughts
If you’d love to hold and cuddle your hamster, but they always bite you or jump out of your hands, it can be frustrating. Hamsters don’t naturally want to cuddle, so you have to train them to be comfortable with being held. This can be achieved by:
- Speaking slowly and softly.
- Never frightening your hamster with quick, sudden movements.
- Picking it up with both hands.