Hamsters make excellent pets since they’re relatively low maintenance and don’t require much attention. Not to mention they can be pretty cute and cuddly. But if your hamster is constantly trying to make a run for it, you may wonder what you’re doing wrong.
If your hamster is always trying to escape, it could be because its habitat conditions aren’t ideal or comfortable. Though they typically adapt well to captivity, some hamsters may dislike being caged. Reassessing your hamster’s environment and making needed changes may stop the behavior.
The rest of this article will unpack all the reasons your hamster may want to get packing. Keep reading if you’re looking for answers to help your hamster stop trying to break out.
Reasons Hamsters Try To Escape and How To Prevent It
Hamsters originated in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. They once faced extinction in the 1920s because they were almost effortless prey. Archeologist Israel Aharoni found a nest of hamsters and brought the mother and offspring to a laboratory in Israel.
That might have saved the species.
With such a perilous, unforgiving natural environment, you’d think your hammy would be grateful to have a nice cozy cage, meals served to them, a fancy hamster wheel, and all the hamster luxuries money can buy.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
If your hamster seems hell-bent on breaking out of its cage, it could simply be because it didn’t take to cage life. Generally, hamsters adapt well to domestic pet life, but there are always exceptions to the rule. However, there may be other reasons.
Here are some reasons your hamster may constantly be waiting for a way out:
- It’s not comfortable in its cage.
- It feels threatened.
- There are too many disturbances in the environment.
- It’s bored.
Your Hamster Is Not Comfortable in Its Cage
There can be a lot of reasons your pet doesn’t like its cage. More often than not, these factors can be improved, hopefully changing how your hamster feels about making a run for it. Here’s why your hamster may hate its cage:
- The cage is too small. Hamsters are tiny, but that doesn’t mean they should be crammed into a small space. Your hamster’s enclosure should be spacious, with plenty of room to run around.
- The bedding is prickly or uncomfortable. Store-bought bedding can sometimes be prickly, especially if you’re using wood shavings. Try switching to pellets and see if that doesn’t make your hamster change its attitude about leaving.
- The cage has become too dirty. If you’ve been slacking off on giving your hamster’s pen a good cleaning, then you may be to blame for its behavior. Hamsters are pretty hygienic. They don’t like dirty cages.
Your Hamster Feels Threatened
If you have other pets or young kids in the household, there might be a chance your furry friend feels threatened by their presence. One bad experience is enough to traumatize a hamster who may want to escape before the cat gets any ideas.
Be sure to keep other pets and young children out of your room. Never let younger kids play with your hammy without supervision. You may also want to cut back on cuddle time. If you’re picking up your pet too often, it may feel anxious about being handled.
There Are Too Many Disturbances in the Environment
If you’re blasting hip hop through super bass speakers, your hamster would have some uncouth words to say about it if it could speak. Loud noises can be stressful and overwhelming to your hamster. So keep it down.
Even if the volume isn’t deafening, they can feel the vibrations as long as the bass is on. You should switch to bass headphones if you want to put your music on blast. Also, keep the speaker on a surface away from your pet’s cage.
Your Hamster Is Bored
Yes, hamsters get bored. They need a healthy dose of stimulation to keep them occupied. If your hamster is bored, it may try to find excitement beyond the walls of its cage. It may be so bored that it would be willing to take chances with the cat.
Provide different toys to keep your hamster busy. This adorable Erkoon 11-Pack Hamster Chew Toys Set (available on Amazon.com) is perfect. The variety should keep your hamster entertained. This may be the missing piece in its life.
Final Thoughts
Hamsters that are constantly trying to escape may be uncomfortable with their cage. Check your pet’s living space and see what you can improve to make cage-living more pleasant. You may also need to control the environment around its cage to make it feel safe.
Finally, ensure that your hamster is getting enough exercise and activity to prevent boredom. Bored hamsters can become impressive escape artists just to have something to do. Make sure your furry friend has plenty of toys, a nice hamster wheel, and even an exercise ball so it can safely run around outside of its cage.