What Is The Proper Way To Hold a Hamster

By Pets and Paws 6 Min Read

Maybe you are reading this because you are wondering what Is The Proper Way To Hold a Hamster you’ve never held a hamster before. Well, don’t worry! it is easy and so fun to do so. If your hamster has gotten to know you, then you made it halfway, the next step is to hold them and get them to sit in your hands. Just follow these steps.

Before you start, it’s good to know that if you scare your hamster, you risk getting bitten. Their only real defense is to bite, and that’s their main way of telling you to stop doing something. if this is your first time trying to hold your hamster whether you’re having it for a long time or it is a new member of the family try to tame it first.
Once your hamster is tamed (and awake!) follow these steps to properly pick up and hold your Hamster:

Wash your hands

Give your hands a thorough wash with soap and water because Hamsters have a great sense of smell. Washing your hands will also get rid of any smells that might scare or unnerve them, like the smell of cats, dogs, or even other hamsters. It will also stop hamsters from licking anything off of your hands, they will try to eat anything, even if it’s not good for them!.

Approach gently, Introduce your hand

Approach gently, Introduce your hand

For your hamster having a big, scary hand in his home is a total threat, so don’t go straight on grabbing your little pet. Predators do grab hamsters, and you don’t want it to see you like any kind of threat or it will run away from you, feel uncomfortable near you, and maybe even bite you! Place your hand, palm facing down, on the cage base for about ten or fifteen seconds before moving it towards your pet.

Let Your Hamster Take The Decision

Turn your palm up and wait for your hamster to crawl onto your hand. This part may take a while, you have to be patient and to allow the pet to come to you, in some cases you need to repeat the whole process a few times until your hamster realizes that there is nothing to afraid of. If your hamster does not crawl onto your hand, you can slowly and carefully try to carry your pet by scooping up some of the bedding it’s sitting on.

Keep It Safe

Keep your hands in the cage in the first attempts you pick up your pet. It may try to jump out of your hand, and you don’t want it to fall on the ground. Once both of you are comfortable, you can gently place the other hand on the top to make sure that your hamster will not jump unexpectedly, and then you can move it around very slowly. In general, though, it’s best to keep your pet fairly near to the ground. Hamsters are exceptionally wriggly little animals, and even the most confident owner is at risk of one squirming out of their hands. Minimize this risk by keeping your pet close to the floor.

 

Use a Treat

For the first time holding your hamster, it’s a good idea to give It a treat. This is because you’re trying to train your hamster to enjoy your company. A nice treat will create a positive association.
It’s best to hold your pet for one or two minutes. Keeping it short for the first few times you hold your hamster will minimize stress – being picked up for the first time by a stranger will be a bit scary, but if it’s only for a few minutes, with a nice treat, then your hamster will soon look forward to spending much more time into your hands.

If you are not sure what Treat to use. Here is a list of the best  Hamsters  Treat Hamster  Treats  Hamster treats 

Send them back home

Gently move your hands to a centimeter or two above your hamster’s cage floor. Then, lift away one hand, and allow your hamster to jump off. If hamsters fall for more than a couple of centimeters, they can hurt their little legs.

win their hearts

You can repeat this process three times a day for several days until your pet actively seeks out your hands when you open the enclosure. At this stage, it’s fine to start holding your pet for longer periods of time, and you probably don’t need to give them a treat every time you hold them.

 

Read also:

What do hamsters eat? | The Hamster Food Guide

125 Cute Names for Girl Hamster

Things You Need to Know Before Getting a Hamster

 

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Pets & Paws is a free resource offering expert, researched information on pets. We publish pet care news, tips and pet product buying advice for owners of a wide variety of companion animals, from cats and dogs to hamsters.
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