The only thing hamsters seem to like more than chewing on food is chewing on inedible objects. Cage bars are one of the most popular chewing targets.
They can harm your hamster, though, so it’s essential to understand why it’s happening and fix it.
Why do hamsters bite their cage? [1] Your hamster could be stressed, anxious, bored, or they might be trying to keep their teeth from growing too long.
Whatever the cause, you need to get to the bottom of it. This article will help you identify the cause and give you some solutions to the underlying problem prompting cage-biting.
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Table of Contents
Why Do Hamsters Chew Their Cage Bars?
Here’s a list of reasons why your hamster might be chewing their cage’s bars:
- Stress or anxious
- Bored
- Trying to keep their teeth from growing too long
- Your hamster wants to get out of their cage
1. Stress and Anxiety
One of the predominant reasons hamsters chew their cage bars is that they are stressed or anxious [2] about something.
Figuring out what they’re stressed about can be challenging, as hamsters can only communicate via squeaking and crying.
To help you solve the mystery, I’ve made this checklist that will help you figure out the root cause of your hamster’s stress and anxiety is.
- Your hamster’s cage might be too small. If a hamster does not have enough room to move about and live, they can develop a psychological condition known as Cage Rage. This condition has several distressing symptoms, including anxiety, that may lead to cage biting.
- Your hamster might be unhappy with its roommates. If you’ve placed more than one hamster into the same cage, there’s a good chance they won’t get along as well as you like. The stress caused by this unwanted intruder can lead your hamster to gnaw on its cage bars.
- Your hamster might have a lot of excess energy that it’s having trouble dealing with. One of the easiest solutions to this problem include buying an in-cage hamster wheel or a hamster ball to let your hamster roam outside the cage for some much-needed exercise.
- Your hamster’s nutrition might not be adequate for its mental health. Add hamster-safe fruits and vegetables to boost your little friend mentally.
Check out the things that hamsters hate in this video!
2. Boredom
Your hamster might be bored, and chewing on the cage bars is a way for it to relieve that boredom.
Here are a few things you can do to give your hamster an alternate outlet for entertainment [3]:
- Play with your hamster every day. It does live in the same cage all day, every day. Letting it out of the cage for some playtime in a neutral area will add a bit of excitement to its life.
- Give your hamster some toys. I already mentioned a hamster wheel, and that’s one of the best options because of the exercise factor. You can also buy chew toys, as they’ll provide a safer alternative for your hamster to chew on. Installing some levels for your hamster to climb is another way to give an active source of fun.
- Give your hamster some tasty fruits or vegetables. These can break from the monotony of eating the same pellet food for every meal. Just research what you’re giving your hamster to ensure it’s safe for them to eat.
Related: 7 Best Hamsters Toys To Play With
3. Tooth Maintenance
It’s hard-coded into hamster DNA to chew on stuff.
While it can be annoying for you as a hamster owner, it’s actually essential that they have something to chew on in their environment.
If they don’t, their teeth can grow to an unmanageable length. This can cause a multitude of health problems [4]:
- Cuts and scrapes inside the mouth. If the incisors grow too large, they can actually bite into the hamster’s mouth when your hamster goes to chew something.
- An inability to eat. Over-sized teeth make it extremely difficult for your hamster to chew food. This can lead to complications like starvation and illness caused by malnutrition.
- Broken incisors. If the teeth grow large enough, they can actually break off, which is painful for the hamster to deal with.
Check: Guide to Cleaning Hamsters Cage
The Risk of Cage Biting
Cage-biting can lead to broken teeth.
The metal bars are much harder than the other substances your hamster is used to chewing on.
If your hamster bites down too forcefully, bites down at the wrong angle, or bites too often, it can lead to broken teeth.
Cracked incisors come with all of the health risks we talked about in the previous section, which is why it’s imperative you find a chewing alternative for your hamster as fast as possible.
The paint applied to dwarf or Robo hamster cage bars can also be a concern. While usually non-toxic, you can never know what chemicals are inside of the paint, especially if the cage is an older one.
As chewing on the cage bars will inevitably lead to ingestion of some of this paint, this is yet another reason you should give your hamster some suitable chew toy alternatives.
For more information on how to stop your hamster from chewing on the bars of its cage, check out knoji’s article. It’s worth the read. [5]
You can also take a look at this video explanation:
Chew Toy Alternatives
Here are some of the more popular (and safe) chew toys you can give to your hamster as an alternative for biting the cage bars.
- Kaytee Perfect Chews for Hamster. This toy includes numerous wooden shapes attached to a rope. Easy and safe for your hamster to nibble on. You can also hang it from your cage, which will keep it free of dirt and fecal matter littering the cage floor.
- Niteangel Wooden Interactive Toy Ball. This wooden, hole-filled toy ball doubles as a chew toy and a jungle gym for your hamster.
- Pevor Pack of 5 Hamster Chew Toys. This pack of 5 wooden chew toys includes cute little dumbbells and a few different wooden cages with bells inside. Great for hamsters who enjoy making noise (though not so great if your hamster sleeps in the same room as you).
FAQs
My hamster has damaged their tooth, what do I do?
If the tooth is intact, the incisor should grow back and everything should be okay. If you’re concerned or your hamster looks to be in pain, a trip to the vets for a check-up would be a good idea.
Is it normal for hamsters to climb their cages?
Yes, it is quite common and completely normal for hamsters to climb up and down their cage bars.
My hamster is also chewing on its water bottle nozzle. Is this a problem?
It can be if they continue to consider switching to a water bowl instead.
Conclusion
Congratulations on reaching the end of our article on why hamsters bite their cage and how to stop them from chewing! We hope you found this article informative and helpful.
As we’ve learned, biting and chewing on their cage is a common behavior for hamsters that can have various causes. By identifying the root cause and providing appropriate solutions, you can help your furry friend stop biting their cage and stay healthy and happy.
Remember, patience and positive reinforcement are key when it comes to modifying your hamster’s behavior. With time and effort, you can help them develop healthier habits and provide them with a comfortable living space.
Whether you’re a new hamster owner or a seasoned pro, we hope this guide has provided you with valuable information and helpful tips to keep your hamster from biting and chewing on their cage.
Thanks for reading, and we wish you all the best in your hamster parenting journey!
Resources
- 1. Gardiner J. Hamster Care [Internet]. Animal Health Topics / School of Veterinary Medicine. 2019 [cited 2022 Jan 16]. Available from: https://healthtopics.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/exotics/hamster-care
- 2. Health and welfare | rspca.org.uk [Internet]. Rspca.org.uk. 2017. Available from: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/hamsters/health
- 3. How to Keep Your Hamster Healthy and Active With Mentally Stimulating Toys [Internet]. www.petmd.com. Available from: https://www.petmd.com/exotic/care/how-keep-your-hamster-healthy-and-active-mentally-stimulating-toys
- 4. How to Keep Hamster Teeth Healthy [Internet]. www.petmd.com. Available from: https://www.petmd.com/exotic/general-health/how-keep-hamster-teeth-healthy
- 5. How to Stop a Hamster from Chewing on the Bars of Its Cage [Internet]. Knoji. [cited 2022 Jan 16]. Available from: https://knoji.com/article/how-to-stop-a-hamster-from-chewing-on-the-bars-of-its-cage/
Why do hamsters chew their cage bars? Please share your opinion below!
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