Hamster puffing

[Pin]

Hi all

Over the last couple nights ive noticed my hamsters puffing air through his nose, he does ocasionally sniff loudly when hes really interested in something but he keeps doing it. His bedding is a mix of safe wood shavings and care fresh and its not constant or happening in his sleep so I think its a deliberate thing not a breathing issue.

Ive seen some people say its communicative?
I did recently remove a shelf in his cage, could that be upsetting him should I put it back (I removed it to modify it because I couldnt clean under it and urine was becoming an issue at the back of the cage)
Hes acting normally otherwise, drinking and eating and accepting treats plus playing with toys/running on his wheel so I dont think hes feeling ill.

[Ria P]

I can't answer your puffing question because i haven't come across it before.

Hamster are not keen on changes so he may be miffed that his shelf has gone. Could it be that he feels exposed now? That is something they don't like.

I took out the shelf in my hamster's Alaska cage to free up space but immediately replaced it with a smaller corner shelf. Maybe that is something you could look into.

Does your hamster have a toilet filled with sand to pee in? If not i'd put one in the place where he pees. Makes spot cleaning so much easier.