Do Hamsters feel unhappy when we clean out thier cage?

Prinze Burnzo · 08-13-2013, 03:21 PM

Just a random question really I wondered for a while. I know that Hamsters spend time getting their homes how they like them, kinda makes me feel a bit bad when I have to clean them out and remove all their hard work! Do Hamsters feel annoyed they have to do it all over again? Or do they like the challenge?

**DrKMcK** · 08-13-2013, 04:05 PM

Most hammies would much rather you left their cage alone. That's why it's so much better to have a nice big home for them. Less total cleaning with only daily spot cleaning. And you can do one half of the cage, and the other at another time. This keeps their scent in there. Training them to toilet tends to help too since the worst part of the mess a hammy makes is from urine. Hamsters are territorial animals and too much messing with their cages can make them upset and, sometimes, bitey.

Prinze Burnzo · 08-13-2013, 04:14 PM

Yea I did think that. Thank you ^^

fluffydd · 08-13-2013, 06:01 PM

Ligeia hates it when we clean even a part of her cage. I wish we didn't have to do it at all.

Bailey · 08-13-2013, 06:05 PM

I always leave a bit of the nest so it smells somewhat familiar. Also, when getting a new hamster, I insist that they give me some of their bedding from the shop so their new home does not smell completely foreign. To me, Syrians are more fussy about a cage cleaning than dwarfs, but perhaps that is just my hamsters.

Syrian Hammy · 08-14-2013, 07:13 AM

My Syrian certainly hates me even changing his cage layout. He'll go off his food for a few days when I change his cage around. He's due a clean out this week so he'll not be a happy boy but he gets to snuggle in fitch.

Kissa · 08-14-2013, 12:59 PM

My hams seem to find it more confusing than upsetting

but I very rarely do full cleans, I do weekly partial cleans and only do full cleans every 6 or 8 weeks, so everything still smells like home to them

gellerbing · 08-14-2013, 02:53 PM

i know many people say their hams get upset if we clean their cage but ive found mine sulk if i don't, he definitely seems happier once its cleaned

SoapyVP · 08-15-2013, 08:13 AM

Most of mine don't like it. But it has to be done sometimes doesn't it.

I usually hide a couple of treats somewhere in the hope that they won't hate me too much!

jaguarakat · 08-15-2013, 11:03 AM

my girls could care less but my butter...oh he gets really pissy if you do a full clean. he wont let us touch him for days...some times even weeks XD