>2 old hamster suddenly VERY active

[Dr M]

Hello! I know usually a hamster being very active is usually a sign of a healthy hamster, but I have a case that seems somewhat unusual. I have a dwarf hamster named Rachmaninoff who I got as a gift Christmas of 2012, so I know he's at least two years old. He's been pretty lazy for almost his entire life, usually runs in his wheel and climbs in the early evening and throughout the night, but appearances during the day (unless I was feeding him) were VERY rare.

Most of that time I was keeping him in my bedroom. Nobody is in my bedroom much of the time (I was a little afraid of having him downstairs with the cat around). But about a month ago, now that he's nearing the end of his lifespan, I decided to keep him downstairs in the living room so the rest of the family could enjoy him. The cat has been completely ignoring him which is great.

But I am stunned by the radical change in his behavior. He runs in his wheel constantly, all hours of the day, almost non-stop, and climbs the bars of his cage over and over, frantically.

I live with three other people, so could this be because of all the added stimulation of having people walking by his cage so often, talking, watching TV, etc? Hamsters are supposed to be less active as they age but mine seems to have done the opposite. I'm worried because he doesn't seem to be resting hardly ever, like maybe there's something wrong with him I could be preventing. Should I take him back upstairs, or remove the wheel for certain hours of the day, etc?

I don't want him to run himself to death. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[kyrilliondaemon]

It does sound like the change of environment is whats caused it. Is there any chance he's just up all day and asleep at night now?
I think I'd move him back upstairs and see if he settles down, he might be stressed out by the change and suddenly being in such a noisy area

[Skeever]

Even if it isn't noisy and the cat leaves him alone, he can SMELL everything....all those potential human and feline predators....he's probably scared witless to stay in the cage?

[cypher]

I agree it does sound as though the change with all the new smells & activity has stressed him out too much, moving him back where he was seems like the best idea.

[Thin Lizzy]

A hamster smelling all these different smells will be overwhelming. It's time to put him back where he was and let him settle.

[Dr M]

Thanks for the advice everyone! He seems to have settled down a little since I posted but I'm taking him back upstairs just in case, so he can live out his final months in peace.