Is it normal for my pet hampster to cough up her food?

Question

I just got a hampster yesterday, and my friend and I have been playing with her, in attempts to make her more comfortable around us. We noticed that she will scratch at her throat and then her food comes up? Is that normal?

Answer 1

This is very normal. Hamsters are hoarders, which means they store food (in their cheeks) Every hamster in the whole wide world does this. Its a natural thing.  When they want to get it out, they use thier paw and rub/ push it out. It looks like thier scratching, but theyr not. Ive watched my hamster do this ALL the time with his carrots and dry food.

Answer 2

Hamsters store food in cheek puches.  They are hoarders by nature.  When they want the food, they will push it out of their pouches.

Answer 3

its not exactly normal but they do that sometimes.

just like how a snake regurgitates it's food when being bothered by a predator

Answer 4

Hamsters would not scratch at their throat to make the food come out. They store the food in cheek pouches located at the sides of their face and will twitch the muscles there to get the food back in their hand to chew properly. If that is what your hamster is doing, it is perfectly normal and just what every hamster in this world does, so nothing to worry about.

Answer 5

Have you been feeding her the same food as the pet store? A sudden change in diet causes stomach upsets. Take her to the vet. If she is okay after the vet checkup, buy the same food as the pet store and gradually give her more and more of the regular food until you don't need the pet store mix.

Good luck with your new hamster!