Twenty-Five Hamster Fun Facts

Hamsters are very popular pocket pets. They are friendly, fun and easy to care for. Read on for more fun facts about these furry friends!

1. Hamsters are naturally nocturnal. They like to sleep during the day and play at night.
2. Hamsters are friendly. While they like to live alone, they do enjoy your companionship
3. Hamsters can learn their names. If you talk to your hamster frequently, she'll get used to hearing her name.
4. Hamsters' teeth are always growing. They require chew toys, sticks or chews to help keep them worn down.
5. Hamsters will relieve themselves in one or two corners of their habitat. Use a scoop to remove soiled bedding each day.
6. Hamsters do not like extreme temperatures. Do not place their habitat in direct sunlight or near heating or air conditioning vents.
7. Hamsters need a lot of exercise. Be sure she has a wheel in her habitat. Supplement her daily "spins" with a supervised in-house field trip in her hamster ball.
8. Hamsters like to hide. When they sleep, hamsters like to burrow or hide under a hideaway.
9. To a hamster, "large" means "predator." Want to reduce your chances of being bitten? Approach your hamster from the side and talk to them or call their name. Also, don't startle your hamster awake.
10. Hamsters like veggies and fruits. While they should only be about 10% of their total diet, a few bites of banana, strawberry, carrot or lettuce is a healthy treat. Be sure to remove any uneaten bits within 24 hours.
11. Hamsters like a clean home. Wash your hamster's habitat once a month in warm, soapy water. Never use an ammonia-based cleanser on your hamster's habitat.
12. Hamsters love to burrow in their bedding. Make sure it is made of crumpled paper or hardwood shavings. Never use cedar-based products.
13. Never feed your hamster caffeine, chocolate or alcohol. Any of these can cause serious complications.
14. Hamsters have a great sense of smell, but not great eyesight.
15. Hamsters can store food in special pouches in their cheeks.
16. Hamsters are natural explorers. Your hamster will enjoy short outings in her hamster ball. Be sure to always supervise her adventures and keep her away from dogs, cats and any other possible hazards such as stairs.
17. Hamsters will not overeat. Be sure to keep their food bowl clean and filled with high quality hamster food.
18. With proper care, hamsters can live to be 2-3 years old.
19. Hamsters prefer to live alone, but Dwarf hamsters can be kept in same-sex pairs, if they were raised together. Never house males and females in the same habitat; hamsters cannot be safely spayed/neutered.
20. The term "hamster" comes from the German word "hamstern," which means to hoard.
21. Hamsters do not require baths, but can be spot-cleaned with a warm, damp towel if necessary. Be sure to keep your hamster out of drafts until she is completely dry. Dwarf hamsters enjoy a weekly dust bath to help remove oils from their fur. For 6-12 hours a week, simply provide a small dish of small animal dust for your dwarf hamster to roll around in.
22. Hamsters like treats. Just not all the time.
23. Hamsters are natural explorers. Their hamster ball allows them to explore outside their cage and get a little exercise, too. (But always supervise; remember, they don't have great eyesight).
24. Hamsters are not one-size-only. There are three main types of hamsters: Syrian, which are about 34cm; Teddy Bear, which are about the same size as Syrian, but with shorter hair; and Dwarf, which includes Roborovski, Djungarian, Chinese and Russian, which are the tiniest at approx. 5-10cm.
25. Hamsters have tiny, hand-like front and back paws that enable them to grip.