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Cage Rage in Hamsters: Taming the Aggression
For those who’ve ever seen your hamster busily gnawing away on the cage bars, you may assume that that is simply typical hamster conduct. But it surely won’t be.
Hamsters that chew on the bars of their cage and begin to present aggression, similar to lunging and biting your hand if you put them within the cage, are affected by a psychological dysfunction known as cage rage.
This dysfunction can vary from delicate to extreme, so right here, we focus on the first causes for it and the methods you could assist your hamster, which ought to preserve them happier and more healthy total.
What Precisely Is Cage Rage?
Cage rage is a psychological dysfunction that may have an effect on any animal residing in a cage, however the indicators will fluctuate relying on the species.
Relying on its severity, it could show harmful to the hamster, you, or different hamsters that share the cage. It’s also extremely annoying for the hamster, impacting their well being and shortening their lifespan.
Indicators of Cage Rage
The indicators will depend upon what stage the cage rage is at, however the next are the commonest ones:
The ten Methods to Cease Cage Rage
The way you cease the cage rage entails figuring out what precipitated it within the first place. Let’s cowl the strategies that you should utilize to assist your hamster.
1. Put money into a Bigger Cage
A main reason behind cage rage is the habitat being too small. This may particularly be the case with Syrian (Golden) Hamsters as a result of they’re a big hamster species (sometimes 5–7 inches lengthy).
Most specialists advocate {that a} hamster’s cage needs to be as giant as doable, however as a basic guideline, a cage for hamsters of any dimension needs to be no smaller than roughly 40 x 20 x 20 inches.
2. Add Enrichment Toys
Past the same old operating wheel, hamsters want varied enrichment toys to assist preserve them occupied. Goal for objects that the hamster can chew on (and never the bars) and issues that they will discover.
You must also be certain that the operating wheel is secure on your hamster. It needs to be giant sufficient for his or her physique, and being made from stable plastic could be perfect. You may as well make your personal hamster toys or buy a couple of good ones.
3. Take away Cage Mates
That is significantly important for Syrian hamsters, that are sometimes fairly territorial and normally aggressive towards different hamsters. In case you are housing hamsters collectively, take into account rehousing one to a brand new cage.
Some are effective residing in same-sex teams, however many feminine hamsters will be fairly aggressive and territorial. For those who witness aggression directed towards different hamsters, separating them ought to assist.
4. Embrace Locations to Disguise
Together with tunnels and toys, it’s essential to be certain that your hamster has a couple of hideaways, which will help cut back stress. Having a spot to cover makes hamsters really feel safer, significantly if they should disguise from a annoying state of affairs.
In case your hamster builds a nest, you need to all the time watch out to maintain it as intact as doable when cleansing out the cage.
5. Socialize Your Hamster
Your hamster needs to be given common alternatives to work together with you, significantly outdoors the cage. At the very least 3 times every week, deal with your hamster outdoors the cage, and permit them to securely discover an space just like the sofa or a mattress.
Keep in mind that some hamster species don’t prefer to be dealt with a lot, so get to know your hamster, and be taught the correct quantity of dealing with for them.
6. Let Them Sleep
Hamsters are nocturnal, which any hamster proprietor is aware of if the cage is of their bed room! However this implies your hamster shall be sleeping in the course of the day, which is if you may need to deal with them.
As tempting as it’s, you need to all the time depart your hamster to sleep. Think about abruptly being picked up if you’re having a pleasant nap. It’s jarring! This may result in extra stress on your hamster, so solely deal with them when they’re awake.
7. Preserve the Cage Clear
An unclean cage provides to a hamster’s stress, so you need to clear it weekly and spot clear it every single day—take away dirty and moist litter and exchange it with recent litter.
If the cage is common sized, you need to do a deep cleansing as soon as every week or each 2 weeks. That is why having a big cage can turn out to be useful. For those who spot clear every single day, you may go longer between deep cleans, probably each 1 or 2 months.
8. Use Tubes/Tunnels
Tubes are perfect objects for hamsters to discover safely. Simply be certain that they don’t take up area contained in the cage; use those that may create bridges and areas up alongside the ceiling.
Remember to monitor your hamster as they navigate the tunnels, and do not forget that they will even want cleansing.
9. Test the Base of the Cage
If the bottom of your hamster’s cage is shallow, they gained’t be capable to burrow as a lot as they would like. Burrowing provides your hamster one thing to do and makes them really feel secure. So, for those who’re already out there for a more moderen, larger cage, verify that there’s a deep sufficient base to allow burrowing.
10. Guarantee That There Is Sufficient Air flow
That is particularly essential if you’re utilizing an aquarium to deal with your hamster. A plastic habitat will want sufficient common holes to make sure correct air flow, and an aquarium ought to have a mesh ceiling.
With out the appropriate air flow, the habitat shall be too scorching and humid, and the hamster will even be trapped with the robust smells of their cage.
They will even expertise further stress if they’re moved from a wire cage into an aquarium, as it should have much less air flow than the cage, and the reflection may trigger them nervousness.
Information About Cage Rage
Easy methods to Forestall Cage Rage
Stopping cage rage should begin with the scale of the cage and sustaining cleanliness. Separate any hamsters housed collectively on the first signal of cage rage, and be certain that their cages are far aside sufficient that they don’t know the opposite is there.
Be sure that their cage has no less than two ranges to discover, sufficient toys, and an acceptable operating wheel. Give your hammy sufficient time with you for socialization, the power to discover outdoors, and sufficient locations to cover contained in the habitat.
Conclusion
Avoiding cage rage depends on giving your hammy sufficient area—area away from different hamsters (for some species), area from an excessive amount of noise and stress, and area to run round in.
Like all pets, hamsters want loads of consideration, love, and care, which implies feeding them, cleansing the cage, and making certain that they’re completely satisfied. Even when your hammy appears effective, double-check the scale of their cage, and get them enrichment toys and frequently rotate them to forestall boredom.
The second that you simply suspect that cage rage is likely to be occurring, take these steps, and you need to be capable to cease it earlier than it turns into a major problem.
Featured Picture Credit score: stock_shot, Shutterstock
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