The main reasons why hamsters bite the cage include the following:
The Need for Teeth Grinding: Hamsters have the habit of gnawing, which is one of their instinctive behaviors. In the wild, hamsters need to gnaw to control the length of their continuously growing incisors and prevent the teeth from being too long, which may affect their eating. Therefore, providing appropriate teeth-grinding tools is the key to solving this problem.
Environmental Factors: If the environment where the hamster lives is too monotonous or unsuitable, lacking sufficient space for exercise and entertainment facilities, they may express their dissatisfaction by biting the cage. In addition, a new environment or changes may make the hamster feel nervous and uneasy, so it bites the cage to relieve its emotions.
Activity Requirements: Hamsters want to come out to play or move around. Providing toys and activity facilities such as running wheels, swings, and climbing furniture can give hamsters more space for entertainment and exercise, reducing the behavior of biting the cage.
The Estrus Period: Hamsters may become irritable during the estrus period, and they bite the cage in an attempt to break free from the restraint and find a mate. In this case, the hamster may appear anxious.
The methods to solve the problem of hamsters biting the cage include:
Providing Teeth-Grinding Tools: Prepare special teeth-grinding tools for hamsters, such as teeth-grinding sticks, teeth-grinding biscuits, apple branches, etc., and replace them regularly to ensure their effectiveness. This can meet the hamster's need for teeth grinding and reduce the behavior of biting the cage.
Improving the Living Environment: Ensure that the hamster cage is large enough to provide sufficient space for activities. Keep the cage clean and hygienic, and replace the bedding and clean the cage regularly. Creating a comfortable and quiet living environment for the hamster helps to reduce its nervous and uneasy emotions.
Adding Activity Facilities: Add toys and activity facilities such as running wheels, swings, and climbing furniture inside the cage to enrich the hamster's life and reduce boredom.
Increasing Interaction Time: Set aside time every day to play with the hamster, enhance the interaction with it, and make it feel cared for. This can not only cultivate the relationship but also help the hamster consume excess energy and reduce the behavior of biting the cage.
Adjusting the Size of the Cage: If the cage is too small, consider upgrading to a larger cage to provide enough space for the hamster to move around.
Through the above methods, the problem of hamsters biting the cage can be effectively solved, and their quality of life can be improved at the same time.