Hamsters bite their cages for a number of reasons.The most common causes of cage biting are boredom, attention-seeking behavior, and the simple pleasure of chewing.Bar chewing can lead to broken teeth and other painful mouth injuries, which is why having a hamster biting his bars in your room is mildly disruptive.Understanding why your hamster bites his cage is the first thing you should do.
Step 1: Your hamster should play more.
He can be on your bed, or in a hamster-proof area.If your hamster is bored, exercise may be able to help.An exercise ball is an excellent way for your hamster to get exercise every day, while also protecting him from potential household dangers.Don't forget to watch your hamster while he's in his ball.Limit time in the ball to 15 minute intervals in order to avoid overheating.Make sure that the area where your hamster will be playing is hamsterproof.He doesn't want to chew on electrical cords.Close the door to a small room or set up walls around the hamster's play area to keep it out of sight.If you're worried about your hamster getting into something he shouldn't, use a hamster ball.While still being safe in your home, this will allow your pet to roam freely.Give your hamster a wheel.hamster wheels are a great way for hamsters to work out.If you have a hamster, avoid wire-frame wheels.
Step 2: Spend time with someone.
Hamsters need to spend a lot of time with their humans on a regular basis.Giving your hamster one-on-one attention, like holding him outside of his cage or letting him run around in your lap, is important for his emotional wellbeing and may be a factor in preventing attention-seeking behavior in the first place.To remove your hamster from his enclosure, hold a small box in front of him and use a scoop.Your hamster might feel like his space is being invaded if you reach into the cage.While you lie on the floor, let your hamster crawl around on top of you.Once your hamster has developed a trust in you as his owner, he'll want to climb on and around you.
Step 3: Allow your hamster to sleep.
Hamsters sleep during the day and are awake and active at night.It's a good idea to play with your hamster or clean his cage during the day.Interrupting his sleep schedule could lead to more bad behavior.
Step 4: A bigger hamster cage is a must.
It's possible that your hamster is bored and wants more room to play in his enclosure.Your pet might benefit from a bigger cage if this is the case.A dwarf hamster needs at least one square foot of space.You will need at least an additional half a square foot of space for each hamster in the cage.
Step 5: You can give your hamster wood.
The teeth of hamsters continue to grow.If your hamster doesn't have a chew toy, he may not be chewing for attention.Hamsters need to chew everyday to prevent their teeth from becoming too long, which could cause serious pain and harm your pet.The best chew toys are oil-free wood.This wood has not been inspected and could harbor harmful parasites or be treated with pesticides, so don't use it.The wood from an apple or pear tree has no harmful oils and is less likely to pose a threat to your hamster's health.Do not give your hamster pine or cedar wood.Your hamster can be harmed by the oils in the woods.
Step 6: Try to give your dog some treats.
An alternative chew toy for hamsters can be a hard biscuit.hamsters get dog biscuits about once a week.The dog treats you give your hamster should be free of garlic.Garlic can cause problems in hamsters.
Step 7: Take your hamster with you.
The cardboard tube from a roll of paper towel or toilet paper is an excellent chew toy for hamsters and can be used as a hiding place.Cut a small hole in the tube before giving it to your hamster.That may encourage him to make his own chew holes.
Step 8: Take your hamster to the doctor.
If your hamster has not responded to chew toys, a veterinarians can trim his teeth down to a manageable length.Having a vet trim your hamster's teeth will not hurt him.If you want to trim your hamster's teeth on your own, make sure your vet approves the procedure and gives you instructions on how to do it.
Step 9: Try a different cage and see what happens.
If your hamster continues to chew the bars of his cage, and you have ruled out teeth management as the cause, you may want to consider keeping him in a glass aquarium tank.Some hamster owners find that a glass enclosure is easier to clean than a metal or plastic cage, and is less likely to need repairs or replacements.
Step 10: Give him something else.
Rub a carrot or apple on the wood to get your hamster to use his wood chew.Give him hard-shelled nuts if he doesn't respond well to his wood chew.
Step 11: Think about using a bite deterrent.
If you can't move your hamster into a glass enclosure, you may want to use a spray on the bars of his cage.Bite-deterrent sprays can be used to make the surface of the bars unattractive to your hamster.You can use a small amount of olive oil.These products are often used by other cage-biting pets, like ferrets, and may work for your stubborn hamster as a last resort.A thin layer of olive oil can be used to cover the bars.If you spray the bars while your hamster is in his cage, it could cause him to be sprayed, which would be unpleasant.Before spraying the bars, take your hamster out of his cage and make sure the spray has dried.