When you keep a hamster at home, you will be amazed to find how active this little creature can be. It will always run and hide in all the difficult corners. Along with that it will also jump from high furniture or climb the curtains easily. This aspect of their nature is not known to many but hamsters can be very jumpy and can crawl to high places.
Can all hamsters jump and climb?
No, not all the breeds of hamsters jump and climb like squirrels. There is a difference in their behavior according to their different breeds. Though otherwise they may not need any special care or attention for such behaviors, but this special activity or skills need them to be in a wider space. Also, the owners often get worried due to the behaviors and they find it difficult to manage such behavior.
The hamster would jump and climb more if the cage that you have kept is smaller than its requirement. They do not like small spaces, so they would show their agitation by jumping and climbing the walls of the cage. Hamsters are athletic-natured creatures and thus, they do not like to sit idle for the whole time.
How high can hamsters climb?
Climbing comes naturally to the hamsters and they find it relaxing. When you do not provide them with ample space and opportunity to jump and climb they will feel suffocated. So they need a good 7-15 inches length of space so they can climb.
Their cage or shelter should provide this space unless they are left free in the room. For a small-sized creature like a hamster, this is a great height to climb.
How do the hamsters climb?
Hamsters use their nails to stick to the fabric or any other surface. They pull their body upwards with the help of the force and thus they climb to a high place. You may not be able to find it once it reaches the top of the cupboard or curtains.
Is it normal for the hamsters to jump?
Jumping is actually a normal behavior of hamsters. So there is nothing to worry about it. They just jump when they are happy or jump when they are bored. There is no specific reason behind it as this is a natural habit of the creatures. They sometimes jump when they are curious about a thing that is quite far from them. Also, they can jump when they feel scared or agitated about some place or thing, so by jumping they move away from that.
Do hamsters get hurt when they fall from jumping or climbing?
Hamsters are small creatures and they can get hurt due to their fragile body type. They climb to high places and there is a chance of their falling down from there. From a shorter height, there would be less risk of falling or getting hurt though.
So you should keep an eye on the pet and see that it does not try to climb higher places like the top shelf of the cupboard or doors and windows. Even if they climb to such places you should try to bring them down and make sure that they do not get scared and fall from there. When they hit the hard ground they can get severely hurt and their bones can break.
Why does my hamster try to jump from my hand?
If you hold your hamster in your hand and it jumps out of the hand, then do not interpret it as a sign of disliking on the part of the pet. Rather it can be that the creature is easy and used to around your and can act normally with you.
This also indicates that the creature is behaving freely with you, unlike the situation when the hamster is initially held by you and becomes afraid and stiff. When it is free and moves around you then you can assume that it is friendly to you and thus it is jumping out of your hand.
Why does my hamster climb the cage?
Sometimes the owner sees that their hamsters randomly trying to climb the roof of their cage. This happens when the hamster is always locked inside the cage. The hamsters do not find any other way to burn their energy and thus, climb the roof as well as jump from it.
Hamsters are pretty high in energy if compared to their small body size. Thus they need to spend their energy through various physical activities. If you do not take the creature out of the cage at least once a day then it would feel suffocated and bored. Thus they are seen exhausting their energy by climbing inside the cage.
How can you keep the jumping habit of the hamster in control?
If you are not fine with the jumping and climbing of your pet hamster around your room and furniture and wish to control it, then you have to arrange for toys and activity equipment so the hamster gets enough opportunity to exercise and burn energy.
The cage of the hamster should be wide and there should be enough space to move and roam inside. Also, the height of the cage should be more than 10 inches. Or else the hamster would not be able to move or jump inside it.
The pet should have toys like wheels that will keep the hamster engaged and this way it will be well exercised. Also, the pet will not feel bored or exhausted due to the lack of fun inside the cage.
Is it ok for the hamsters to climb the bars of the cage?
Some owners use wired cages for the hamsters. Others get solid wooden shelters. Hamsters by their habit, climb on the wires of the side walls or even try to get on the roof. When they do these activities, it seems to many owners that they are willing to escape the shelter.
This may not be the reality as the hamsters get tamed easily, but what they need is actually more space to go upwards or climb. It does not harm them as they can easily ride with the help of their nails. But what is difficult for them is falling from height. If you keep the bedding item on the floor then the cushy floor will support them when they will drop on the floor.
Why the hamster is crawling on the cage walls?
Sometimes the hamsters actually try to move out of their cage. That is caused by the trigger that is scaring or irritating them, and it is hard to understand by which thing it is getting anxious. But the instinct of getting away from the item the hamster tries to come out of the cage by climbing on the walls.
Also, boredom can be another reason that makes the hamster climbs the walls. If you do not give them climbing toys, play ranch, or wheel then it will quench the thirst for activities by climbing the walls of the cage only.
Climbing the walls or roof is not a safe option for them so it is better to arrange for a few toys and equipment which will keep the creature busy and active for the whole day.
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