Why my hamster bites - we explain it to you
Many people choose a hamster as a pet. The truth is that they are very endearing animals, but sometimes they have some behavior that surprises us because they can bite. It is a gesture that draws attention for being unexpected because of its small size and for being quite friendly.
But if you have a hamster, it will surely have bitten you on occasion and you may have wondered why my hamster bites? In we will explain the main reasons why this pet has this behavior and how it can be solved.
Why a hamster bites - causes
The causes that explain why a hamster bites are very diverse. In general, it can be said that it is because they are afraid of something or someone unknown or someone who is not very used to it. It is a totally instinctive reaction to defend yourself. However, there are still more factors that explain this behavior in this pet.
- Take it : when the hamster has been home for a short time and does not know us, he is not aware that we really want to take care of him and treat him well. In this way, whenever he tries to catch, he will bite instinctively to defend himself because he feels intimidated and believes that he can be attacked. A behavior that will maintain until we know well and have managed to tame it.
- Zeal : the hamster's breeding season usually involves some changes in its behavior, being more usual a greater activity and irritability, apart from noticing that their sexual zones are more inflamed than usual. The most normal thing is that on these occasions he is more inclined to bite. And, really, there are not many solutions, although he is already used to the home. The best thing is to wait until the reproductive cycle ends to catch it. While this is happening, it is convenient to keep the distance with the pet so as not to have to regret the bites.
- Food : Another of the main reasons that explain why the hamster bites is the smell of the hands and, in particular, any scent they give off that reminds them of food. And it is that the hamster will think that it has before it a food instead of your hand. This has easy solution. Always, before touching it, you have to wash your hands to be free of odors.
- Sleep : The hamster can also bite when it is sleeping and it wakes him up. No matter why your dream has been interrupted, even to put food, clean the cage or just caress it. They do not like anything that is interrupted in their time of rest.
How to make your hamster not bite
The best thing that can be done so that the hamster does not bite is to respect it . That is, you have to be aware of their tastes and preferences because, after all, it is like any other animal or person. We do not always want to be kissed or caressed.
And how do you know when you can be caressed? It's simple. The hamster sleeps mainly for the day because it is a rather nocturnal animal . In this way, the afternoon and evening hours are the most suitable, because the pet will be more active and more receptive.
This respect is fundamental in its stage or reproduction cycle because it will be more aggressive. It is a time that must be respected in order not to have problems, since it increases his bad mood. In fact, they even attack each other. All the more reason to stay out.
How to care for and educate a hamster so that it does not bite
Although it is not very common for a hamster to bite because it is taken badly (unless it has been harmed), it is worth learning how to do it well and, above all, learn how to take good care of a hamster. How is it done? It is easy. First of all, what you have to do is tame it so that it recognizes us and does not attack us when we try to touch it or we have to reach in to clean the cage and put water or food on it.
To achieve this, it is important that, when the hamster arrives home, have the cage well conditioned with everything you will need so you do not have to disturb it during the first day you spend with us.
After those first 24 hours, we must try to familiarize ourselves with them and get used to the presence of people in the home. In this way, we must approach him every day a little more, but without disturbing him so that he feels safe. Progressively, progress will be made with which, finally, it will let itself be caressed . At that moment you just have to grab it gently so as not to hurt it and caress it or play with it.
Since we hope that these explanations have answered your question of why my hamster bites? The tips and solutions are practical and simple to apply so you can enjoy your pet. But if you observe a more aggressive behavior than usual, it is always advisable to consult with the veterinarian.
