Being Active at Night “Hamsters are nocturnal animals,” says Dr. Shermaine Wilson Cox, a small animal veterinarian based outside of Atlanta, Ga. “This means they are less active during the day and more active at night. They are really energetic and will exercise for three to four hours each night.”

3 Sleeping Habits: Hamsters are nocturnal. They sleep during the day and become active in the evening. Interfering with this normal cycle may cause stress, biting, health problems, and possibly early death. 4 Bedding: Carefresh or Aspen bedding is recommended.

Wood shavings are a common bedding source, and Aspen shavings are recommended most for your little one. Stay away from Cedar shavings, as they can cause nasal and bronchial irritation for your hamster. Shredded cardboard can be a safe bedding source, but it can also be coarse and uncomfortable for your hamster.

Squeaking: Hamsters tend to make a squeaking sound if they’re feeling distressed or scared. You may notice this noise when you move your hamster into your home for the first time, although they might also vocalise in this way at any time that they’re feeling agitated.

Hamster Cuts And Scrapes For small cuts, wash gently with lukewarm water on a ball of cotton wool. Don’t use any medicated product intended for humans, such as plasters, bandages, antiseptics or creams. If the wound is deep or bleeding a lot, take the hamster to the vet.

Broken Bones in Hamsters Because hamsters are very small, broken bones are difficult to treat. However, healing of fractures in hamsters is quite easy, but the hamster should be properly restrained and given adequate rest to ensure complete healing.

Recovery is most likely if it is spotted within the first 24–48 hours, and veterinary advice should be sought. A vet may choose to give the animal drugs.

Affected hamsters may die very quickly, exhibiting signs such as diarrhea (causing wetness around the tail), lethargy, loss of appetite, and a ruffled coat. Not all hamsters with diarrhea have wet tail but if your hamster has any of these symptoms you should seek veterinary care.

The shorter answer is yes, you can bathe your hamster, but you probably shouldn’t except in certain circumstances. Wet or dirty bedding should be removed from a hamster’s cage every day and the bedding changed once a week for a cage containing one hamster, she says.

Hamsters need a lot of room – especially when they are active at night – so buy as big a cage as possible, ideally with a deep plastic base (minimum 3-5cm) and wire top. Hamsters need a comfortable, dry, draught-free, clean place to live, in a quiet place where they can rest undisturbed.