Preventing hamster bites

"Help! My hamster bites. Is there anything I can do to make him stop?"

If this sounds like your relationship with your little guy, you're not alone. More than any other companion rodent, hamsters are the most likely to bite, usually when they're startled, mishandled or awoken from a deep snooze. But with patience, respect for your little friend's inner time clock, and the following the pet care advice from experts, your family and your hammy can peacefully—and painlessly—coexist.

Let him get his sleep

You don't like being awoken in the middle of a deep sleep—and neither does your hamster. But because of their nocturnal nature, hamsters need to sleep most of the day—precisely the time that their human caretakers want to play with them. This unfortunate timing often results in repeated nips. For this reason, we do not recommend hamsters as pets for very young children; they're simply on different schedules. Some hamsters can adapt to become more active during the day, but these tend to be the exception, not the rule. The good news is that it's easy to stop these types of bites—simply respect your pet's nocturnal nature and allow him to snooze on his own schedule, uninterrupted.

Hamster bites on people can be avoided

In the event that you absolutely must wake a sleeping hamster, proceed with caution. Try slowly stroking your pet's back with a Q-tip; continue to gently lull him from his slumber by petting his back for a minute or two.

Handle with care

A large number of hamster bites can be chalked up to mishandling. Not to state the obvious, but people are a lot bigger and stronger than hamsters — and a too-tight grip or not enough support can easily cause injury to these fragile animals. For more pet care advice on the correct way to pick up a hamster, please read our topic on handling.

Female hamster bites

Female hamsters have also been known to bite at certain times during their reproductive cycles, particularly when they are ovulating. You may notice that your hamster becomes more active during this period, and her genitals will become swollen. Best to handle with extra-special care during these times. Hamsters may also bite when they are sick or in pain, so it's important to rule out the possibility of illness if your usually mild-mannered pet starts to nip more than usual.

We also have some important pet care advice for new and potential hamster parents. When you first get your pet, it can take him awhile to get used to you, especially if he has not been regularly handled. Remember, your pet is a prey animal by nature, and his instinct is to hide from larger animals. Too-rough handling (or any handling, if he has not yet been tamed) can cause him to nip out of fear. Although it varies from hamster to hamster, taming can take up to month.

Once you've gained your hamster's trust, however, the job's not over — it's actually only just begun! You'll need to regularly handle your pet to reinforce that trust. Consistent, gentle handling is the key to your hamster's heart — and a few of his favorite treats won't hurt either!