How can i get my hammie to stop biting the bars of his cage???

Question

she has a wheel(which she doesnt use) and a tube(that she doesnt chew on) i gave her a wood block with apple all over it but she just licked it

p.s. i know why she does it becuas hammies top teeth dont stop growing and all that stuff

i cant let her out becuase ive only had her for like 4 weeks and she will just run and hide(ive lost one hammie that way :( ) i dont have a ball yet so please help

Answer 1

My hamster used to do the same thing. It seems they want to chew on everything they're NOT supposed to! The bars held up, but the sound was awfully annoying! I had to keep her in our pantry.

Unfortunately there isn't much you can do. You can try the method the first person mentioned, but remember that hamsters aren't like dogs, or even cats; you really can't 'train' them.

I've heard gnawing on the bars of cages is often just a phase. Try waiting it out- she may stop. And offer her a variety of veggies/fruits, like carrots and such! She may find that she likes one more than another, and will chew on that.

Good luck!

Answer 2

It's OK.He's exercising his teeth.Do not try to stop him from this activity.

Answer 3

buy a ball and slowly introduce you hammy to it, open the cage in a secure room where there are no holes or places to escape and let the hampster get to know the area and you. hold her for short amount of times and buy a knawing block or knawing tooth brush. hide her food around the cage so she is kept occupied. she bites the cage cause she is bored! play with her and give her small activities to do!

Answer 4

git him some toys to knaw on he will stop chewing the bars and chew the toys instead

Answer 5

i dont think you can i tryed blowing a little on his face and she'd only stop for a minute then go back to biteing the bars or she could just want out or sometimes their hungry or thirsty

Answer 6

try to find a vitamen/salt block she may start eating it and start chewing the tube. this is what happened with my hammies. i hope that helps.

Answer 7

You already know the reason why the hamster is biting her cage bars - her teeth. She is actually doing good to herself by gnawing on the cage bars so that her teeth don't grow long and cause problems.

Hamsters can also gnaw on cage bars if they are bored or of they don't have much tunnels or space in the cage to move around. It is their answer to whiling away boredom.

So you can check her cage to see if there is enough space and enough toys for her to play. I don't mean expensive toys from shops, things as simple as toilet roll tubes and toothpaste cartons with their flaps removed make interesting toys for your hamster.

Hard dog biscuits can also be given to your hamster for biting, it might take her mind off the cage bars.

One of my hamsters used to be a fan of this cage biting habit but after a few months of me ignoring his habit, he actually gave up on it and started with more interesting things like wood chew sticks. Maybe you might have to give your hamster too some time.

Many pet shops sell stuff that you can apply on cage bars to put off hammies from biting the bars but I do not support those products since it is not a harmful thing that the hamster is doing by biting the cage bars.

These are options you can give your hamster but if she is still adamant on biting her cage bars, leave her to her whims. It is not going to harm her, it will only do good for her teeth.

Answer 8

Do you have room to put a little wooden house or hut in your cage? Mine wouldn't chew on the wood block but she sure chewed up the edges of her house. Unfortunately plucking the bars with her teeth isn't going to wear them down. She just likes the sound it makes. It doesn't hurt her so let her have her fun. (Or she may be bored if she doesn't know how to use the wheel.  Make sure she has enough toys... paper tubes, etc.) Keep an eye on her teeth. If they become overgrown then you will need to take her to the vet to have the teeth filed down. You are probably a long way from that point, though.  Also, I know you said you don't have a ball "yet" so I am assuming you are already looking for one. If she isn't using her wheel you really need to speed up the purchase of a ball. They also sell race cars with an enclosed wheel inside. She really has to have exercise and it is easier to clean the cage weekly if you can put her in a ball or race car. You mentioned you lost a hammie before... I have a trick that might help prevent it from happening again. Whistle EVERYTIME you feed her. If she gets out on accident you can walk around your house whistling (with food helps) and she will come out because she will think she is getting fed. Since she is a new ham you can prevent most biting with this- When you want her out of her cage open the door and hold your hands near the entrance for her to walk onto. Don't ever reach into the cage and pull her out. That was the best advice someone gave me. Hope I was able to help! Good luck!

Answer 9

I think that your hamster is trying to wear down it's teeth. My hamster does this, and it is REALLY annoying!!! I just blow at him to make him stop, also I give him Puppy Milk Bones for him to chew on so he chews on the bars less often. They actually like the Milk Bones a lot!!!

~Animal_Lover

Answer 10

blow on your hamsters face when its biting the bars. This will scare it but will not hurt it. It will eventually stop biting the bars. If it doesnt, try giving it a certain nibble stick to chew on, maybe it doesnt like the block.

mine did the same thing :) good luck

Answer 11

You can try and gently blow in her face everytime she does it. Nothing much, just blow and she'll be startled. If you keep doing it everytime she does it, she'll eventually learn to stop.

But this doesn't work with every single hamster and she may keep doing it despite this.