How intelligent are hamsters?

[gellerbing]

theyre probably not as intelligent as rats for example but i do believe they are more intelligent than some people think, i used to have one hamster that arranged her woodshavings and bedding into a big mound so she could use it to reach the mesh to bite it

[Tutu]

My dogs way more clever than most humans let alone 2 year old child
Hamsters I don't know really. So far my Syrian seems to know how to get food out of most tricky places and seems to use most toys I give her. I'm still learning.

[Gazmo]

I tied a bit of carrot up by a string once, pumpkin isn't so bright, so pulled at it for hours and nothing happened obviously, until she finally bit through it. Pebbles on the other hand, pulled the knot of the string through and pulled and chewed at the knot, ignoring the carrot, so it untied and she carried it off.

Also, pumpkin redeemed herself shes figured out how to pull the hooked hanging food sticks, by pushing it up so it unhooks, and pulling it through the bars

Puffle also hangs off the top of the cage on the door, so when I open it he comes up with it :P

[hammy2]

I think hamsters have the intelligence of a baked potato lol mainly instinct I think, where as rats and mice know how to problem solve and adapt and even learn tricks

[de4life]

It's a difficult question for two reasons. Firstly you have to decide how you're measuring intelligence and secondly you have to work out how hamsters are applying their intelligence to the criteria provided. Considering there is so little scientific study on such things (in comparison to dogs, cats and larger animals) I don't think there is a clear answer beyond what we experience.

Most of what hamsters do is based on instinct, I don't think they have a sense of self in the same way animals with higher intelligence do. They have survival rules in-built and adhere to them as much as possible. They definitely have the ability to solve problems but don't really seem to learn from their mistakes. For example, I had a female Syrian who repeatedly filled her pouches full to bursting then tried to squeeze her head through a tube. She got stuck over and over, but never learned from it. Similarly hamsters will continue to jump from heights even if they've had a fall in the past. Their memories apparently lapse between 2-3 weeks for non-repeated actions, so this will by default impact their ability to possess genuine intelligence. They can be entertained for hours just by running on a wheel

Their instincts are amazing, and in some way a form of intelligence, but I doubt they know too much about their place in the world - domesticated hamsters in particular would really struggle to survive without humans to stop them from harming themselves through crawling into unneccessary spaces, jumping off things they shouldn't, going near dangerous objects, etc.

[Munchalot]

I believe hamsters are really quite intelligent. It's something I've noticed with the hammies I have now, the development of trust and knowing who it is they are associating with.

My little Finley is an incredibly shy little ham, probably the most shy hamster I've owned. I am the only person he will allow to pick him up, and he becomes very relaxed when I handle him. When I put my hand into his box, I let him sniff me before I pick him up, and he immediately relaxes when he knows it's me. He had learnt to trust my mum, because she gives him treats when I'm not at home, so although he won't allow her to pick him up, he associates her with treats and is fine with her. Any other person who has tried to touch him has been bitten, because he doesn't know them and he panics.
He has actually taught me some things, and now I apply how I treat him to the untame baby hamsters I have to deal with at work.
I believe he sees me not only as a source of treats, but a source of security and friendship. For such a flighty little creature, he loves his cuddles in bed with mummy. They definitely have the ability to distinguish people, and respond to different people in accordance. They know people for reasons other than 'they get food when this person appears'.

Todd is another matter. I think he is very clever, and I have a very close bond with this little man. He responds to several words, including his name, and when he's out having free range of my room, he will come back to me if I call. Even more interestingly, if I sit on the floor whilst he's running around, every now and again he'll come back to me to 'check on me' so to speak. :L He'll come dashing out and climb up onto my knee, give himself a quick groom, lick my hand (yes, I need grooming too xD) and then he'll dash off again. He does this every 3 - 5 mins or so.
He loves his cuddles with me, and like Fin I think he enjoys a sense of security and sociability when I hold him. He snuggles into my hand and when I stroke his back he'll lick my fingers. We have lovely little cuddles. ^^

I'm going to see what I can teach Todd, because he's so responsive to voice and touch, I think I could teach him quite a lot. He also knows if I scratch the carpet whilst he's running around, I want him to come back to my hand, in case he hasn't heard my voice.

[BrainGirl]

I agree that a lot of what hamsters do is instinctual, but I also have seen them pull off some things that I can only describe as intentional, requiring thought and planning. And there are HUGE differences between the hammies I've known!

Watching Theo's behaviour change in his last days I could tell I was no longer really "there" for him. Everything he did was automatic, like he was following a set of instructions in his head, and he seemed to lose awareness of what was around him. I knew he was dying but I had a heck of a time trying to decide if he was suffering or not because his instincts kicked in and just kept him doing the essentials. It's possible he was barely conscious the whole time. The change was subtle, but striking to watch: From a conscious being to a robot. Doing only what was necessary to maintain life.

de4life: I wasn't sure how to describe hammy intelligence either, but I tried to describe it in terms of self-awareness as compared to developmental stages in human babies. I don't think they'd pass the one with the mirror

[de4life]

Originally Posted by BrainGirl

de4life: I wasn't sure how to describe hammy intelligence either, but I tried to describe it in terms of self-awareness as compared to developmental stages in human babies. I don't think they'd pass the one with the mirror

I'd say the mirror test is definitely beyond them I don't think they have any awareness of self, as such, but they know they are something which exists within a wider world - which is kind of dumb but the best way I can think of putting it. Their self-awareness is based upon being a conscious constant in a changing environment, with most of their behaviour centred around best surviving in their environment with the tools at their disposal (mainly smell and sound).

[Pilgrim77]

I reckon when it comes to trying to escape they're up there with Mensa. One of mine actually has the sense to push things to where it's easiest to get to the roof of the cage.

[hammy2]

Sometimes hamsters show signs of intelligence when trying to take home a large piece of food or remember exactly how to get home or know where to turn in their ball to get round corners but then go and do something stupid to cancel it out like running in their wheel thinking they're actually going somewhere different, biting bars when you tell them not to repeatedly or jumping off a high ledge. I've only owned Syrian hamsters maybe dwarf hamsters are more intellect due to the fact they have to have family groups?