Has your hamster been hiding in its house or cage recently? If so, you might feel concerned that something is wrong. So, what’s going on with your pet?
Your hamster won’t come out of his house because it’s sleeping, burrowing, or feels stressed or threatened. It could also be a sign of illness. Hamsters are nocturnal, so they will likely hide somewhere in the cage and sleep through the day.
This article discusses why your hamster might be hiding and won’t leave its hiding space. It will also discuss what’s normal and what isn’t so that you can take the appropriate action. Let’s dive right in!
Here’s Why Your Hamster Is Hiding in His House
If your hamster’s hiding behavior has changed recently, there might be an issue, but if this is something your hamster has been doing since you adopted it, it’s most likely part of its normal behavior.
Your hamster hiding isn’t necessarily alarming because it can indicate that your hamster is happy and comfortable.
Let’s look at why your hamster might be hiding in its cage or house:
Your Hamster Is Sleeping
Hamsters are nocturnal, and they sleep during the day when you’re awake and are active at night. If your hamster is hiding in its cage or house, there’s a good chance it’s having some rest and will eventually come out when it’s feeling rested.
This might be new for you if you’ve never owned a hamster before and don’t know a lot about its normal behavioral patterns. However, once your hamster becomes used to your schedule, it may adjust its sleeping patterns so that it’s awake when there is activity around it.
You should never force your hamster to change its sleeping schedule because it would stress them out and ultimately cause serious health issues.
Your Hamster Is Burrowing Itself
Hamsters love warmth and darkness, which they can find underneath their bedding. They love to play and create tunnels in their bedding, and they usually spend a lot of time there. This shouldn’t be a reason for concern because it means your hamster is happy and enjoying life.
If your hamster doesn’t have enough bedding, there’s a chance that it will hide away somewhere else. It needs a secure place, and hiding and playing in the bedding in the cage should be an option for it. A hamster’s bedding should be about 10 centimeters (4 inches) deep.
Your Hamster Feels Stressed or Threatened
Hamsters tend to either hide or escape when they feel stressed or threatened because this is how they escape stressful situations. When they find a warm and dark spot, their stress levels will likely decrease, and they’ll feel comforted.
If your hamster is continuously exposed to stressful situations, it can negatively affect its health. You should, therefore, remove anything that might cause stress in its environment.
Trying to get your hamster used to anything that causes stress is not recommended because they most likely won’t adapt. The longer you wait to deal with the issue, the greater the chance your pet will suffer health issues.
Things that can make a hamster feel stressed may include the following:
- Loud noises
- Household products with strong fragrances
- Other animals
- Kids
- Bright light
- High-frequency sounds
If you want to learn more about what causes hamsters to become stressed, read this article, which should help you identify the problem.
Your Hamster Is Ill
If you’ve noticed that your hamster has been spending increasingly more time hiding in its cage or house, there’s a possibility that it is ill. Those behavioral changes can indicate a shift in your hamster’s health.
The same behavior also happens when other animals get ill, including humans, because they tend to pull away from others and find a comfortable and cozy place to recover. Hamsters are no different.
If you think your hamster is reluctant to come out of its house because it’s ill, don’t hesitate to take it to the vet for evaluation. Immediate treatment is vital in some instances.
How To Lure a Hamster Out of Its Hiding Spot
To lure a hamster out of its hiding space, you should ensure the room is free of whatever’s been causing the stress.
This could involve removing other pets and young children, turning your music off, and turning up the temperature. You could also include some of your hamster’s favorite snacks because they have an excellent sense of smell and will smell any food from quite a distance.
Your hamster will come out eventually when it feels comfortable, and you shouldn’t force it. Your pet should feel safe enough to come out by itself, and any additional stress from being forced to do something against its will is unnecessary and cruel.
Final Thoughts
Hamsters like to hide, so it isn’t necessarily serious if your hamster won’t come out of its house. Your hamster could be sleeping or trying to find comfort somewhere dark and warm. They’re often active at night, so it’s normal not to see them often throughout the day.
If there’s been a change in behavior or your hamster is displaying other strange behavior, your hamster might be very stressed or ill, in which case a vet visit is advisable.