How to tell if a hamster is happy

Signs your hamster is content

• It moves around curiously when awake: sniffs, climbs, runs in its wheel and checks out anything new.
• It digs and builds a nest, carrying bedding to its house with its cheeks full and arranging it.
• It grooms often, with a clean, glossy coat and bright eyes.
• It eats with appetite and keeps its weight, hoarding food in its larder.
• It yawns and stretches calmly, or sleeps curled into a ball without startling.
• Given time and patience, it comes to you, takes food from your hand and climbs onto it.

Signs of stress

• Chewing the bars over and over, or climbing them non-stop: it is trying to escape, usually because the cage is too small or it is bored.
• Running the same route in a loop.
• Hiding all the time, even when it would normally be awake.
• Over-grooming until it has bald patches.
• Hissing, squealing or biting whenever you come near.

What it needs to do well

• A large cage: animal welfare charities recommend at least 100 × 50 cm of floor.
• Deep bedding to dig in, a wheel of the right size and sand to bathe in.
• Hides, things to gnaw and changes now and then to explore.
• Respect its sleep: it sleeps by day, so do not wake it to play.
• Handle it calmly and gradually, always scooping from below, never grabbing from above by surprise.

When to see a vet

Take it to an exotic-pet vet if it stops eating or drinking, loses weight, has a wet tail or diarrhoea, dirty eyes, lumps, or if it is listless and does not move. In such a small animal any problem moves fast.