Have you ever been cleaning your hamster’s cage when it suddenly made a weird squeaking or chittering noise? It can be startling if it’s not a sound you’ve heard in the past. What do all those different hamster noises mean anyway?
A hamster can make various sounds, including squeaking, clicking, and even hissing! They make these noises for different reasons. For example, a hamster will squeak when it’s hungry, but it might also squeak when it feels distressed, so context is essential.
In this article, I’ll explore the sounds hamsters make and their meaning. That way, you’ll know what your hamster is trying to express. I’ll also look at why hamsters make sneezing sounds and if it’s normal for them to make noises during the night while they sleep.
A List of Common Hamster Noises and Their Meanings
While squeaking is the most common sound your hamster will make, there are a variety of other sounds you might hear. Here’s a rundown of what they mean.
Squeaking
As Pet Keen reports, hamsters generally squeak when they’re happy, such as while running on the wheel in their cage.
However, if the squeaking is high-pitched or sharp, you should check that your hamster is okay, as they might be hungry, hurt, or distressed about something.
Hissing
Hamsters hiss when they feel threatened or scared. They could also be warning you that they’re about to bite, so be careful.
If your hamster hisses when alone in the cage, check to see what could be upsetting them. Perhaps they don’t like the new toy or hideaway in their cage.
Bruxing/Clicking
Bruxing, also called clicking, is the sound of the hamster’s teeth rubbing against each other. It’s similar to a cat purring and occurs when your hamster is happy.
However, teeth grinding that’s accompanied by a lack of appetite and drooling could indicate that your hamster is in pain.
Teeth Chattering
Whether you call it teeth chattering or simply chittering, the sound is the same. Your hamster could make this unique noise when it is communicating with another hamster. It’s usually a sound of aggression or fear. However, it might also chatter its teeth when it’s not around other hamsters if it’s feeling nervous.
Screaming
Screaming is a rare hamster sound, but it occurs when your hamster is in real pain or distress. Screaming can also be a way for your hamster to express that they’re terrified, such as when they’re exposed to a new environment for the first time, as Hamster Guru reports.
Sniffing
Hamsters can sniff for different reasons:
- A loud or deep sniff means the hamster is learning about its environment. It could also be feeling curious about something, such as a new toy you’ve placed in its cage.
- Continuous sniffing. Your hamster does this when it’s exploring a new location.
Why Your Hamster Sounds Like Its Coughing or Sneezing
If you’ve heard your hamster making coughing or sneezing sounds, you might wonder if it’s struggling with allergies. That could be the case. Your hamster could be allergic to something in its cage, such as the type of food you’re feeding it or its bedding.
If items in your hamster’s cage contain artificial chemicals or fragrances, it increases the chance that your hamster could be allergic to them, making it sneeze and/or cough.
But another reason for these symptoms is if your hamster has a common cold. Your hamster doesn’t get a cold the same way humans do, but it can suffer from a respiratory tract infection.
This infection causes symptoms such as:
- Runny or crusty eyes
- Decreased appetite
- Sneezing
- Nasal drainage
- Lethargy
Why Hamsters Make Noise During Sleep
It’s unusual for your hamster to make sounds while they sleep. If your hamster is doing so, it could result from a respiratory infection affecting its breathing. Additionally, your hamster could be making noises in its sleep because it’s feeling stressed out – or it could be having bad dreams!
Humans spend up to 25% of their time sleeping in the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, and studies have shown that hamsters also enter this sleep phase for the same amount of time.
Be careful not to wake up your hamster in such a way that it alarms them. Do this gently, such as slowly dimming the lights or bringing more light into the room. That way, you won’t make your hamster feel anxious while it’s waking up.
Final Thoughts
You might have felt a bit worried if you’ve heard your hamster making a strange or unusual sound. There are many reasons why your hamster could be more vocal than usual, but this depends on the type of sound it makes and the context in which it’s making the sound.
Hamsters can make a variety of sounds, such as:
- Clicking
- Squeaking
- Hissing
- Screaming
- Chattering
Knowing what these sounds mean can help determine whether you need to do something for your hammy.