Why Is My Hamster Making Weird Noises?

Hamsters are tiny adorable critters known to make sounds during play or when communicating with cagemates. While some of these noises are normal, others are unusual and might signal underlying issues. So why is your hamster making weird noises?

Hamsters make weird noises, such as squeaks, chatters, clicks, hisses, cries, buzzes, and coos. These sounds may be due to contentment, teeth grinding, irritation, discomfort, fear, pain, or relaxation. It’s best to observe your hamster’s body language to understand the reason for the weird noises.

In this article, you’ll learn the types of noises hamsters make and what they mean. We’ll also discuss what to do when hamsters make specific sounds in certain situations. Read on to learn more.

Types of Hamster Noises and What They Mean

Hamsters are small to large rodents similar to gerbils and rats. They’re often kept as pets in cages and other enclosures.

Let’s take a closer look at the common types of noise and their meanings.

Squeaks

High-Pitched, Short Sounds (Chirps, Cheeps, Peeps)

Hamster squeaks are usually quiet but may become repetitive and noisy. Most people who’ve owned rodents are used to these sounds coming from their pet’s enclosure.

These little creatures squeak for many reasons, but the most common is contentment or nothing at all. However, they may also vocalize with squeaks due to hunger, boredom, or curiosity. The best way to decipher your hamster’s squeaks is by watching it.

If your furry friend squeaks as it eats, drinks, and runs along on its hamster wheel, you can safely assume that its chirping, cheeping, and peeping are due to contentment. On the other hand, if your hamster is chirping as it frantically searches around its food bowl, it may be hungry. Is it squeaking incessantly at another hamster? It may feel irritated.

Higher-pitched chirping could suggest fear. If you’ve recently cleaned your hamster’s cage or moved it to a new enclosure, it could feel frightened because its scent is no longer there. The chirping should get back to normal once the hamster gets used to its new surroundings.

Bruxing

Rough, Clicking Noises (Chattering, Crackling, Grinding)

Like rats and other rodents, hamsters have long teeth that grow throughout their lifetime. As such, they gnaw on objects to keep them shaved down. Grinding their teeth on wooden blocks, alfalfa cubes, and other hard items leaves them blunted. To sharpen them, hamsters rub their teeth together.

This behavior is called “bruxing.” The teeth-chattering sounds you hear result from the teeth rubbing together to get them filed to a nice, sharp edge again. It’s completely normal, particularly after having chewed on something hard.

If, however, your hamster grinds its teeth even when it hasn’t recently chewed, it could be feeling irritated. This is also a sound associated with territorial behavior, so if it’s occurring among hamsters in a single enclosure, it may be time to separate them.

Hisses

Sharp, Open-Mouthed Vocalization (Prolonged “S” Sound)

Hissing isn’t a common noise made by hamsters, but it does happen. When the furry rodents make a hissing sound, it’s not a good sign. It could indicate several negative emotions, including:

Irritation
Discomfort
Fear

Your hamster may feel threatened due to mishandling, introducing a new hamster or toy, or discomfort with its current environment. This sound is usually a warning signal that your hamster is about to bite.

Cries

High-Pitched Wailing (Screeches, Squeals, Howls)

Perhaps the worst sound to hear coming from your hamster is a cry. This may sound like a high-pitched wail, screech, scream, squeal, or howl. When you hear this noise, it will be apparent that something is very wrong. This sound indicates that your furry friend is in extreme distress.

Crying is a very rare sound that may be due to extreme fear or severe pain. Because it’s difficult to tell if the vocalization is due to pain or fear, you should take your hamster to its veterinarian as soon as possible.

Buzzes

Vibrating, Kazoo-Like Vocalization (Prolonged “Z” Sound)

This is the rarest sound among adult hamsters, but it’s relatively common among infants. In baby hamsters, you may hear buzzing or vibrating sounds coming from the nest. This is a defense call to alert their mother that something is wrong or that an intruder is near. You may notice the infants making this sound if you adjust something in the enclosure.

Adults very rarely make a vibratory sound, but it’s possible. Some make a soft, deep, buzzing vocalization akin to a purr. It’s called a “coo,” and it’s usually heard when a hamster is in a state of deep relaxation and complete comfort.

HAMSTER SOUND	WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE	WHAT IT MEANS
Squeaks	Chirps, Cheeps, Peeps	ContentmentHungerBoredomCuriosityFear
Bruxing	Clicking, Chattering, Crackling, Grinding	Teeth Grinding
Hisses	Prolonged “S” Sound	IrritationDiscomfortFear
Cries	Screeches, Squeals, Howls	Extreme DistressFearSevere Pain
Buzzes	Vibrating Vocalization, Prolonged “Z” Sound	Alarm/Defense“Cooing” vibrations may indicate contentment

Hamster Won’t Stop Making Noise

If your hamster doesn’t stop making noise, there are several things you can do. The first step is to find out why your hamster is vocalizing so often so you can eliminate the problem.

Hamster Won’t Stop Making Noise at Night

If your hamster squeaks and chirps quite a bit at night, this is normal. Hamsters are nocturnal, so at night is when they’re naturally active. You can try to reduce their activity level by playing with your hamster during its awakening time in the late evening before you go to bed. You can let it run around in a hamster ball or put it in an animal playpen with a few new toys. This may reduce some of its boredom and tire it out.

One useful toy I’d recommend is the Lee’s Kritter Krawler Exercise Ball, available on Amazon. This 7-inch (17.78 cm) diameter ball is clear, so you can easily see your pet inside. The ribbed interior allows your hamster to easily grab onto the sides and maneuver around the cage.

Hamster Makes Weird Sounds During Handling

When your hamster makes weird noises during handling, it could be due to mishandling or fear. You must handle hamsters slowly. These rodents are known to bite, which can be quite painful. However, they do this when they feel threatened.

Learn how to properly handle your hamster and slowly introduce them to it. This allows them to become accustomed to being held. You may want to start with bite gloves as you work to make your hamster more comfortable.

For your glove needs, I’d recommend the FOIBURELY Anti-Bite Gloves from Amazon. These gloves feature strong rubber to protect your hands against bites and scratches while maintaining enough flexibility to safely handle your pet.

Hamster Makes Weird Sounds After Cleaning Cage

After cleaning your hamster’s cage or switching your rodent to a new enclosure, you may notice that it makes strange noises as it explores the environment.

The weird noise is usually due to confusion, fear, and curiosity. Their scent is no longer present, so they may feel fearful of the enclosure. Within a few hours, they should become more comfortable, and the fear should resolve.

Hamster Sounds Like It’s In Pain

If your hamster sounds like it’s crying or screaming, you need to address the issue immediately with an exotic veterinarian. This is a rare sound that’s either due to extreme pain or fear and may happen after an injury.

And since it’s often difficult to tell if a hamster is injured, you’ll need a vet to assess things thoroughly. Even if your pet is walking around, there could be internal injuries that you cannot see.

Conclusion

Hamsters use vocalizations to communicate and show how they’re feeling. By listening closely and observing your furry friend’s actions and behaviors, you’ll be better placed to understand why it’s making the particular sound.