Should You Let A Hamster Out Of Its Cage?

Hamsters have tiny bodies that can fit in very small spaces. They can even fit through their cage bars if the bars are not very close together.

Their small size can make you, as a pet owner, wonder if it would be okay to let them out of their cage. What if they got lost?

Well, that worry is real and we’ll be looking into it right now. So read on to find out more.

Should you take a hamster out of its cage?

You should take a hamster out of their cage. This is because it’s good for their exercise and general well being. Staying in the cage all the time can make them bored or restless because they are naturally adventurous animals that love to explore. However, because of their small sizes, hamsters can easily get lost so you should keep an eye on them whenever they are out.

Why is it important to let a hamster out of their cage

Letting a hamster out of their cage is important to both you and the pet due to reasons like:

Exercise

Hamsters are very active animals. They have so much energy that they need to let out regularly.

This makes them require exercise daily. Letting them out of the cage gives them the opportunity to stretch out and exercise better than they would have within the walls of their cage.

Cleaning

While fully cleaning your pet’s cage, you will need to take everything out. This will make it necessary to let out your pet too.

Letting them out will give you an easier time cleaning as they will not get in your way or even get confused and stressed when they see you overturn their cage.

Happiness

A hamster that is always in their cage will be bored and they could even become dull. This is because they are always in the same spot with no change in their surroundings.

Letting them out enables them to change their environment, breathe in fresh air, and explore which makes them happy and they will look forward to going out again.

When should you take a hamster out of their cage

You can take your hamster out several times a week but it’s advisable to do it on a daily basis. Having a schedule makes it easier for both of you and your pet will look forward to it.

20-30 minutes will be enough exercise for your pet and they will enjoy it.

Where should you let out your pet

You can let out your pet either indoors or outdoors depending on whichever is convenient for you.

When letting them out, you should ensure that the space they are going to be using is closed out. This is to prevent your pet from escaping.

Block out any space they can pass through even under your furniture. All windows, doors, gates, or pet openings should be closed out too.

You can let them out into open space, a playpen, or even an exercise ball.

Risks of letting out your pet

Letting out your pet is not only necessary but very beneficial to their overall happiness and exercise needs. However, it also comes with some risks of its own.

They include:

Pets

Hamsters are small making them good targets for prey to larger animals. If you have other bigger pets in your house like cats and dogs, they may pose a risk to your pet.

They may see a hamster as prey and begin preying on it. If you are not nearby, they could start chasing them or pounce on them for a meal.

Keep other pets away from your hamster to prevent this from happening.

Cords and wires

All cords and wires should be picked up from the floor before you let out your pet. This is because your hamster could begin chewing on them and suffer from electric shock or even hang on them while running around.

Getting lost

Your pet is very tiny making it possible for them to fit through and under small areas. Your pet could hide in your shoes and get lost for a while until you find them.

Sometimes though, they could pass through a small hole in your fence and run off, getting permanently lost. You should always cover up all small spaces to avoid this.

Toxic human food

Some human food like that containing onion and garlic is harmful to your pet. This is because they are toxic to them and can affect their health.

If you let your pet out, they could find toxic food and ingest it because they would not know that it’s bad for them.

Choking hazards

There are many hazards outside your pet’s cage. Small items lying around can present choking hazards for your pet if they were to ingest them.

What will happen if you do not take out your hamster

If you keep your hamster in their cage all the time without letting them out it will lead to things like:

Boredom

Your pet will get bored with staying in their cage all through. This can make them have some bad behaviors.

They could begin chewing on their cage bars or rattling their water bottles.

Restlessness

Hamsters have a lot of energy and they will need to use it up on some activity. If all they do is stay in their cage, they may become restless.

They could begin climbing all over their cages or walking around trying to use up their pent up energy.

Conclusion

Hamsters are very active and energetic animals. They should be let out of their cage regularly.

Letting them out helps them exercise how they are supposed to. It is also necessary so as to clean up their cage well.

Risks of letting them out will be losing them, attracting other pets who could think that they are prey, feeding on toxic human foods, electric wires, and ingesting things that could choke them.

You should always keep an eye on your pet when you let them out.

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