Hamster question?

Question

my question is really quite disgusting, but my hamster has been eating her droppings. i was just wondeing why she's doing this and can it harm her? it wont happen often because i clean out the droppings every day and clean the whole cage once a week.

Answer 1

it won't hurt her she'll get back good nutrients from it

Answer 2

guinea pigs do it as well..

its their way of getting the nutrients in their body that they didn't get from their food first time around :)

Answer 3

Don't worry, my hamster used to do that too!!

Its really just a habit, but hamsters sometimes eat they're droppings because they can get more nutrients out the second time!

She'll be fine, please don't worry about her!

hope this helps!

x :)

Answer 4

Yes, it's completely normal and nothing to worry about. Your hamster is getting the nutrients she hasn't absorbed the first time around. You may notice 2 types of droppings - softer, lighter ones which may get re-eaten and hard black ones which I find don't. My girl hamster (Cherry) does this regularly, I know it seems disgusting to humans but it's natural in the hamster world.

She will be fine doing this and you are doing the right thing cleaning the cage once a week.

Answer 5

this action is called coprophagy. they do this because their dropping contain vitamin rich recycled vegetable material that is essential for good health. so basically shes getting the nutrients that her body didn't digest the first time through. it wont harm her and is actually quite normal and healthy.

Answer 6

what big bright green eyes said eyes said

Answer 7

never hear of that one. only rabbits. i cant remember why hey do it! sry ♥

Answer 8

I don't know why she is doing that.  I have had many hamsters and they haven't done that.  Check with the petstore ask them why she is doing that.

Answer 9

ive got two hamsters and i dont think mine do that, but interesting to know why they do it.

Answer 10

many-animals-eat-their-droppings-to-get-...

Answer 11

wow, I havent ever heard of a hamster eating it's droppings.

Answer 12

A lot of idiots have answered this question indicating that it is not normal.  They're wrong - it is perfectly normal.  Hamsters don't have the best digestive systems and so a lot of what comes out first time around is still pretty much the same as it was before the hamster ate it (although it doesn't necessarily look that way), so they eat it again to make sure they get the nutrients.

The people who have said that their hamsters don't do it are simply wrong - all hamsters, and a lot of other types of animal for that matter, do it.

I would strongly advise against asking about it at the pet store, as one or two people suggested.  They might, if they are responsible people, refuse to sell you animals in the future if they think that you haven't done your homework on them beforehand.