Chewing on the cage

[Felixle]

So I’ve had my Female Syrian for six months, I’ve never really had a problem, she used to bite when I first got her (she had previously been returned twice for biting) but she soon stopped after she got used to me. Last week, she escaped twice from two cages. She chewed a hole in two cages, leaving them both unusable in one week. Second time I’m not sure how she survived because she wa hiding under my cats chair, which he was on. We now have a much more heavy duty cage for her, very thick wooden walls, multiple floors, plenty of toys and things to chew on. But she insists on chewing on the wood around the door. I’ve wouldnt mind so much if it wasn’t so noisy. I have three hamsters in my bedroom and my other two I silent angels. But I am losing sleep and running out of options. Moving her is out of my bedroom is not possible. I will try anything.
Any suggestions?

[Ria P]

A big enough fish tank should work because she couldn't chew through glass but you would need to make a meshed, cat proof lid.

Second hand ones come up on Gumtree etc.

Do you know why she wants out? Does she get out of cage time in a play pen or hamster proof room?

[Felixle]

Yeah I give them all some time to run around an empty room we have. She’s getting out often

[Wisper]

You say you have two other hamsters in your room, males by any chance? Sounds to me like she is in heat, female Syrians become intent on finding a mate when they come into heat and will do all they can to escape and get to any nearby males. A glass tank might be the only option unless you are able to house them further apart in separate rooms.

[dmasyutin]

We also had a situation that female hamster was chewing the cage (and two other hamsters were also in the same room). We moved female hamster form the bedroom but she kept chewing. Maybe it’s simply due to her teeth growing? Did you try to get her wooden sticks or wooden home so that she chews? Also it’s good to occupy her with other activities as hamster wheel.