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Old 08-31-2012, 01:08 PM   #1
bonkers4hamsters
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Question Please help, smelly hammie!

Ok, so the story is that my hammie lives in my room, and i would really like to get another, but my mum says I am not allowed, partly due to the smell of my Syrian. If I can reduce this it wwill increase my chances of getting another hammie. She has a litter tray of carefresh which I clean out every day, would potty litter be better? She also has acage which I think is small and people on here would agree, it is taller rather than having a large base and if I can get one cheaply I want to upgrade her to a hh. Would this help? I can't open my window at the moment as it is broken but when it is fixed I will. Does anyone use pet safe air fresheners and do they work?
Thanks!
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Old 08-31-2012, 01:09 PM   #2
laurajaey
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Default Re: Please help, smelly hammie!

It's difficult to get the large cages unless it's a bargain, I'd say go for a bin cage.. So easy to make and they're great!
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I have one Syrian hamster named Theodore. I don't know his exact birth date, but with some educated guessing I would say it was approximately the 6th June.
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Old 08-31-2012, 01:17 PM   #3
delbert
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Default Re: Please help, smelly hammie!

If you can find out where your hamster wees and clean this out each day, then it really helps. Every day i clean out Bistos wet shavings and wipe the shelf with a baby wipe. I have found this really cuts down the smell.
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Old 08-31-2012, 01:55 PM   #4
souffle
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Default Re: Please help, smelly hammie!

Hamsters should not smell very badly after only a day or so. It may be worth having her checked by a vet for a urine infection or something else. Does she have sticky vents or any discharge? Some people are very sensitive to the odour of a female hamster which does change though her 4 day heat cycle. Some colours like Cinnamon are particularly pungent too!
I would not advise air fresheners though as hamsters have sensitive chests and they can set up wheezy breathing and make them unwell.
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Old 08-31-2012, 02:51 PM   #5
shiny
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Default Re: Please help, smelly hammie!

When we got our Syrian as a rescue, he was in a very small cage & he started to smell really quickly in that cage. We got him into a new large cage as soon as we could (Hamster Heaven off eBay) & the smell problem just disappeared. He has deep substrate of megazorb which is really absorbent & he is now using a litter tray so I just empty that every couple of days & all is well. I would recommend a bigger cage & deeper substrate if you can manage it.
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Old 08-31-2012, 04:43 PM   #6
BrittanyCaple
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Default Re: Please help, smelly hammie!

Hamster shouldn't smell bad in a day, Their actually very clean animals so this is quite unusual, Like someone else as said perhaps you should check her for infections and such like.

Ruling that out then make sure you are cleaning the cage properly (I'm sure you're already doing this though) Remove the soiled bedding and substrate daily to keep any smell down, and also keep an eye for where they pee because you can stick a potty where he pees and it will hopefully be easier to clean up afterwards.
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Old 08-31-2012, 08:56 PM   #7
lmh
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Default Re: Please help, smelly hammie!

Quote:
Originally Posted by souffle View Post
Some colours like Cinnamon are particularly pungent too!
^^Why do you think that is?? Does anybody know?? Very interesting....

I do have to agree that girls are more smelly then the boys. whew! I have a 6wk old Cinnamon and I think she is very strong smelling compared to my other 7 month old Golden girl. My boys never seem to have any kind of odor.
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Old 09-01-2012, 12:32 AM   #8
souffle
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Default Re: Please help, smelly hammie!

Quote:
Originally Posted by lmh View Post
^^Why do you think that is?? Does anybody know?? Very interesting....
I really have no idea to be honest but perhaps it is something to do with the genetics of the cinnamon changing some chemical balance in the secretions? Perhaps it gives them an advantage in finding a mate if they are strongly scented
It is well known amongst breeders that they smell more (this is for the females) and when you judge them at shows they are always the whiffy ones!
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Old 09-01-2012, 02:11 AM   #9
NotsoLittleOlive
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Default Re: Please help, smelly hammie!

To answer your question about potty litter, that does contain smells better than carefresh on its own. But as long as you're cleaning out the soiled bits from the toilet every day/other day then it shouldn't smell. Potty litter clumps when it's wet so it makes it easier to clean out the dirty bits.
Do you ventilate your room often (if you can)? If you leave your doors and windows closed most of the time the smell will build up. I have two hams in a very small room and as long as I open the window (just a cm) most days then there is no smell whatsoever.
What substrate are you using in the rest of the cage? I find wood shavings can be very smelly.
A bigger cage with more substrate would help. In the meantime putting thin layers of substrate on any shelves you have too may help as they scent mark all over the cage.
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Old 09-01-2012, 06:12 AM   #10
Holly's Mum
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Default Re: Please help, smelly hammie!

Quote:
Originally Posted by souffle View Post

It is well known amongst breeders that they smell more (this is for the females) and when you judge them at shows they are always the whiffy ones!
I assume you also mean that it is the hamsters who smell .....
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