Hamster afraid of heater

Natasha95 · 12-23-2017, 12:44 AM

My hamster has been really nervous lately, and I thought it was because of recent Christmas activity around the house, but tonight I was watching him in his cage, and he seems to be really scared of the noises that the heater makes (which he obviously wasn't used to hearing for most of his life, since he was born in the spring). I have no idea what to do. He hasn't been himself lately and I think this might be the reason. Will he just get used to it, or is there something I can do to ease his anxiety? It's not a space heater, but a normal house heater, so the noises are heard in every room, so I can't move him.

CMB · 12-23-2017, 03:00 AM

He will get used to he noises in time. Food/treat distraction may help.

cypher · 12-23-2017, 03:06 AM

They do normally adjust to household noises fairly quickly so he should be fine in a short time but it may depend on what you mean by Christmas activity, if your house is a lot busier in general, more people, noise, Christmas lights etc that may be making him a bit nervous so he could be overreacting to the heater noise.
Are there any other animals around that aren't there normally?

Natasha95 · 12-23-2017, 09:04 AM

What I mean is my family has been going around decorating the house and there are more people around, and of course Christmas lights and the music from the decorations. Our dog was upstairs at one point (he usually stays downstairs and isn't allowed up) and ended up meeting my hamster, but he seemed fine and that was about a week ago. That was when I had the hamster in the dining room (which we don't use except for holidays) because it was warmer. But, like I said, I moved him back to his old room a few nights ago and that seemed to make him more comfortable, until the heater started making noises.

Pebbles82 · 12-23-2017, 09:06 AM

Ooh big scary monster! It's probably more likely the noises round the house that have unsettled him and now everything is making him jumpy. He'll settle down and get used to it. If I do any bustling, tidying or sorting in the room Newt is in he gets a bit like that - as if I've messed with his room and it's changed and smells different and I've MOVED something (ie his playpen slightly). Eventually they'll even get used to doors banging occasionally. The light switch pull going on and off in the bathroom next door to Newt's room used to make him jump but he's used to it now.

As Cypher says, treats may a distraction. Also maybe a bit of extra out of cage time so he can check everything out

In a secure area obviously.

Fluffagrams · 12-23-2017, 09:41 AM

I agree with what the others have said. It sounds like the additional activity of decorating for Christmas and meeting the dog has made him a little bit nervy. I've seen it once or twice with my Chinese and it's usually because of a new resident moving into the hamster room or one moving out. They do settle after a while but if they're feeling a little nervy I usually give them a little bit more substrate and bedding so that they can dig themselves a nice secure nest.

Natasha95 · 12-28-2017, 07:39 PM

He seems to be doing better now! Thanks! He's got a blanket over his cage and that seemed to help.

Pebbles82 · 12-29-2017, 12:26 AM

Yes I had to put a blanket over our last Syrian's cage in winter - it seemed to make him feel safer and helped with draughts. I only put it over the top and a few inches down the side to make sure enough air could still get in (ie a thin fleece blanket folded in half). Just keep an eye on it as I couldn't do that with our current syrian because he chews at fabric between the bars! Any sign of chewing and I'd remove it.

Natasha95 · 12-31-2017, 12:41 PM

Haha I tried putting a towel over my hamster's old cage, and he chewed it up and made a nest out of it in just about an hour! The cage he's in now is a bigger guinea pig cage, and it's covered with mesh, so he can't get to the blanket.