Screaming Hamster

aimsdavies · 10-02-2018, 05:54 AM

Hiya!

I’m home ill from school today and was on the computer doing school work when I heard the most awful noise. I am home alone for the moment, so it gave me quite a scare since I thought something or someone was in the house. I timidly went to investigate the noise when I found it was coming from my hamster, Puff’s, cage. I cannot describe the noise she was making. I can only describe it as when a baby is crying so hard they begin to scream. Extremely worried and scared, I gently tapped on her cage and called her name. After a minute or so, the screaming ceased and she -I assume- went back into a comfortable sleep.
I quickly Googled what in the world had happened and found that hamsters can have night terrors and nightmares, which is what I presume this was. I gently woke her up straight after and she came out timidly but looking fine, no injuries that I could see. She came up to the front of the cage that I was sat by and sniffed my hand through the bars. I gave her a small amount of food and a treat and she went back into her nest.
This is the first time that I have witnessed my hamster doing such a thing. Is it a regular thing? Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with it if it repeats?
Thank you!
- Aimee

Pebbles82 · 10-02-2018, 07:04 AM

I think it was a bad dream

Had this once. I shouldn't think it'll happen regularly. Maybe with the change of routine (ie someone coming in or being in during the day) it disturbed her sleep and she had a nightmare. I once heard a terrible loud squeak from our last hammy's house! I think it was the same thing - he also came out looking fine. I had put some hay in though and wondered if he had spiked his eye or something so haven't used it since! I think it's more likely a bad dream though. Probably dreaming about being chased by cats or something! You don't have a cat do you

?

aimsdavies · 10-02-2018, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I think it was a bad dream

Had this once. I shouldn't think it'll happen regularly. Maybe with the change of routine (ie someone coming in or being in during the day) it disturbed her sleep and she had a nightmare. I once heard a terrible loud squeak from our last hammy's house! I think it was the same thing - he also came out looking fine. I had put some hay in though and wondered if he had spiked his eye or something so haven't used it since! I think it's more likely a bad dream though. Probably dreaming about being chased by cats or something! You don't have a cat do you

?

I do not

Puff is the only pet that I have at the moment.

JennySTL · 10-11-2018, 08:59 AM

Poor Puff! Maybe it's because it's so close to Halloween.

Night terrors are so scary for humans. I can't imagine how scary they must be for hammies!

flowerfairy · 10-11-2018, 11:10 AM

I have had a a couple of syrian hamsters that would scream in their sleep. Quite a scarey noise it was too. They never seemed distressed so I just left them to it. It didnt happen a lot, just once in a while.

BubbyandHamper · 10-12-2018, 05:04 AM

Hamper has never screamed though I know they do it from YouTube and research.

Thin Lizzy · 10-13-2018, 03:52 AM

I've had that happen, the first time it happened, I jumped off the sofa. This has happened when they were very young and settling in. My last ham sometimes had dreams where he would make a lot of noise and I would just sit by his cage talking softly to him telling him he would be ok and that mom was here.

flowerfairy · 10-13-2018, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

I've had that happen, the first time it happened, I jumped off the sofa. This has happened when they were very young and settling in. My last ham sometimes had dreams where he would make a lot of noise and I would just sit by his cage talking softly to him telling him he would be ok and that mom was here.

Aww yes I talked to mine in soft comforting tones as well.