How to know if you hamster doesn't want to be in their ball?

[LocoRocoPanda]

Izu loves his ball. Which is good because two rooms in my house are 100% cat-proof and he doesn't like being in the bath so I use a ball.

He's almost definitely blind but he knows how to voice his opinion when he's angry or frustrated he'll chirp and screech so I know he doesn't hate being in the ball plus he knows the layout of my study now so he doesn't bang into anything.

He tells me he wants out by repeatedly running at me. XD

[SnickersTheFirst]

It does depend on the hamster, Snickers loved her ball and always wanted to go back in.

[Holly's Mum]

I generally know if Holly doesn't want to be in his ball, because he just sits and doens't move it (usually facing the TV!) until I come and let him out. Mostly he rolls around in it for about ten minutes and then he rolls over to where I am sitting in the corner at the PC and gets the ball under my feet so I know he wants out.

[Roxie]

Originally Posted by Christmas_hamster

I don't believe that hamsters don't know what a ball is once they've been in it. Many of my hamsters have loved it and quickly learned the layout of the room, knowing when to turn and when to stop so as not to a hit a wall. Hamsters have poor eyesight anyways, a ball isn't impairing that much and they can certainly still smell and hear from them. Watching them and observing their behaviour is an easy way to distinguish what they are feeling about the ball- it really isn't hard. Not all of them will like it, but some do and it is just another option for them to do something. If used responsibly by the owner then for hamsters that enjoy them, they can be a great option.

I've really started to notice that Cookie has worked out the layout of the room I use, there's also a rug in there which at one end she finds difficult to get over. However, she's worked out that if she goes to the other end she can get over fine. Now, she only ever goes to that one end.

[AliKati]

I think Evie likes her ball. She makes it quite known what her opinion is, and when I offer her the ball, she leaps straight in, and then doesn't try to get out while I put the lid on. She then runs very quickly around in it, and likes to sniff out various things - like my shoes, the door, the area near the kitchenette etc. I listen out for when I no longer hear movement, and I find her in a little corner, grooming. Then I take her out.

Hamchan likes the ball less, but that's cos he thinks he should be allowed to run everywhere.

[Sammybingo]

Fur-nando currently LOVES his ball. I lift him out of the cage in it, as that's the least awkward way for me to get him out (it's at a funny angle to my arm chair hahaha, Grandma Sam!). He often doesn't want to come out for treats or anything until he's had a good run. Then after he'll come out for a rest and a treat. He always has the choice, and so far, has always chosen the ball. It's a safe way for him to explore , and as we now have a cat in the home, I like the security of knowing he is unlikely to decide he now lives under the fridge or something heh.

Chewbacca used to run at my feet when he was done in his ball. If I didn't retrieve him fast enough, he would then run to the sofa my best friend sits on when she is here and wait patiently . He made it very clear when he was done. Fur-nando doesn't yet, but he is just a baby and doesn't know his limits, so I take him out after ten minutes.

[nibble]

Originally Posted by racinghamster

I don`t use hamster balls either. If a hamster has a good enough (and big enough) wheel, they don`t need a ball. All a ball does is contain a hamster from running free, so enclosing them in one is`nt something I would ever do. It`s not interacting with them physically so all a ball really does is allow the hamster to run inside a sphere that does`nt allow natural exploring. It can`t see or smell anything outwith the ball and then finds itself back in it`s cage again. My syrian Boris is nervous now because his previous home used a ball rather than handling him and also housed him in a Rotastak, so now I have a hamster who is biddable, but nervous of being handled.

I would say ditch the ball and make him a run from old cardboard boxes and clip them together to make a large open run/play-pen.

I disagree my hamster loves his ball and wheel plus when you clean there cage they can run around in there ball so they dont get board or something

[Gizmo_Gonzalez]

I put my ball in the cage and when Gonzales climbs in and trys to run around his cage in it, I take it out and put the lid on. He will stay in the ball for an hour and still not want to go back to bed, Gizmo (shares a cage with Gonzalez) will jump in the ball when he wants out but only spends half an hour in his. I let them have free run of the house in their balls because I have a bungalow, i introduced them to each room bit by bit, opening a new door each time they got use to a room. They know the rooms well!

I put they're cage on the floor next to the table it normally stands on and when they want back in bed ususally they run around they're cage or smash into it a few times. I'll then put the ball back in the cage. Giz comes out and goes to bed, Gonzales run around his bed checks it and gets back in the ball.

It's all about getting to know your hamsters behaviour, your'll begin to understand them in time. Just remember that 1 hour is a max time as they should be in and the ball is not a substitue for handing. Mine are brushed with a hamster finger brush daily and love running over me while I lay on the sofa.

[Roxie]

I must admit, 1 hour ball time would worry me unless there was some breaks for a bit of water.

[Womblehands]

I keep the boys play ball by the side of the sofa.. when Peanut is fed up he returns the ball back to the side of the sofa.. like he's cleaning up.. They have 7 mins ball time ( I have worked out that 7 mins is the average time my boys get fed up of a toy before i need to include more stimulation) they enjoy floor time and bath time much more..