Is it Safe to Have a Hamster in your Bedroom? And 19 more questions

Is it safe to have a hamster in your bedroom? 

While it’s safe to have a hamster in your bedroom, there are some things to consider;  

• Hamsters are crepuscular animals which means they are most active at night and could keep you awake 
• You could be disturbing them during the day which could result in a grumpy hamster 
• You might not be able to keep your bedroom at a warm temperature to avoid your hamster going into hibernation. 
• Hamster cages can be smelly which isn’t pleasant when you are trying to sleep 
• Other pets might have access to your bedroom which can stress out your hamster 

Is it safe to have a hamster in your bedroom? In short -yes, it’s safe but not always convenient.

Can I let my hamster roam in my room? 

You can hamster-proof your room by checking the room for holes and small gaps in which your hamster can disappear before you let your hamster roam free. You might also want to check if there is a gap under the door, which should be closed when your hamster is out of his cage. It’s easy for a hamster to hide in small places, and you don’t want your pet to escape! 

What room should I keep my hamster in? 

Keep your hamster in a quiet room so your hamster doesn’t get disturbed during the day when he’s trying to sleep and somewhere where you are not disturbed by your hamster at night, when he’s active and making lots of noise. 

You might also be interested in:

• Is it Bad if my Hamster Sleeps at Night? 20 pressing questions answered!
• Can Hamsters and Mice Live in the Same Room?
• How Often Should I Hold my Hamster? 
• How Long Can an Escaped Hamster Survive?  

Can humans get diseases from hamsters? 

Yes, there are some diseases hamsters can pass on, though very rarely, which are Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, rabies and salmonella. Humans can be infected with Lymphocytic choriomeningitis which is a virus and can be fatal in immune compromised people. Hamsters can – in theory – also infect you with rabies but it’s near impossible for a hamster to get rabies and pass it on, as they are more likely to die from the bite than to live and pass it on. And salmonella is a bacterium which can live in their feces which can make humans ill too. 

Find out more about your favorite pets at Dexter’s pet friends

Is hamster poop harmful to humans? 

Hamster poop can have the bacteria Salmonella which can be dangerous to humans. That’s why you need to wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning your hamster’s cage and whenever you remove poop from the cage. 

What are hamsters scared of? 

Hamsters are prone to stress and fear nearly everything, but just to give you an idea; they are scared of loud sounds, other pets, sudden movements and you, if you haven’t spent time with your hamster and tamed it. Always try to view your home through the eyes of your hamster to make sure their cage is placed in the right place without lots of noise and stress. 

Are hamster beds safe? 

Bedding is essential but not all bedding is suitable for your hamster. To keep your hamster comfortable and to keep the cage clean, you can use Aspen and Timothy hay as well as ink free paper shreds. Don’t use any scented bedding, cat litter, pine or cedar shavings or fluffy bedding. 

Should you cover your hamster cage at night? 

If you cover your hamster’s cage at night, it might make it less noisy in the room, but it can become uncomfortable hot in the cage without the free flow of air. It’s best to place your hamster in a room where he doesn’t disturb anyone during the night when your hamster is most active. 

How often should you clean your hamster’s cage? 

It’s important to check your hamster’s cage every day and to remove any dirty bedding and any leftover fruit and vegetables, so you only need to properly clean the cage every week to 10 days (about 1 and a half weeks). If you don’t stay on top of it daily, the cage will get dirty quickly which means you should give it a deep clean at least every week. 

Can I put my hamster cage on the floor? 

If you don’t have any other pets and you don’t walk past the cage often, then there is no problem to have the cage on the floor. Just remember that hot air rises, so the floor will be the coldest place. This means you will need to keep the temperature in that room high and constant, so your hamster doesn’t go into hibernation accidentally. 

You might also be interested in:

• Has a hamster ever killed someone? 
• Can You Get Rabies from a Hamster?
• Cage Rage in Hamsters
• Is it safe to have a hamster in your bedroom?

Do hamsters need sunlight? 

Hamsters need natural light but it’s important not to place your hamster in direct sunlight as hamsters are sensitive to light, both from direct sunlight and from artificial light. They have sensitive vision as they can see better in low levels of light, like at dusk and dawn when they are most active. 

Can I put my hamsters cage in my closet? 

While you can put your hamsters cage in a closet, it might make it a hard to enjoy your pet. The closet can also become hot and smelly due to a lack of fresh air. If you were planning to place the cage in a closet just during the night, then please know that hamsters can become stressed when their surroundings change, so it’s best not to move their cage, but instead to find a spot in your house where you can place your hamster day and night. 

Should I cover my hamsters cage during the day? 

Hamsters need daylight and even though they are asleep for most of the day, the light is still beneficial to your hamster. Fresh air and a good airflow are also important for your hamster, so it’s best not to place a towel over the cage as it will otherwise become uncomfortable in the cage. 

Can I get sick from my hamster? 

It’s not likely you will get sick from your hamster, but there are two diseases you could get from a hamster bite, which are a virus called Lymphocytic choriomeningitis and rabies and there is a bacteria called Salmonella, which lives in hamster poop, and which could passed on to you. 

Will a hamster stink up my room? 

A hamster cage can be quite smelly, especially if your hamster marks their territory often by spraying urine around the cage, which is normally only done when your hamster feels threatened by another pet nearby, is super stressed or has cage rage from being in a cage too small to live in.  

How do you get a hamster smell out of your room? 

Firstly, make sure your hamster is well, not stressed or upset and doesn’t feel threatened by another hamster nearby so it stops marking his territory. Air the room well if it stinks and clean the cage thoroughly as dirty bedding will leave a stink.  

Why does my hamster cage smell like pee? 

Probably because it’s covered in pee either from not removing soiled bedding or because your hamster is marking his territory as he feels threatened by your other pets. Deep clean the cage and remove the stress from your hamster’s life. 

Do hamsters need vitamin D? 

Hamsters need vitamin D as well as vitamins A, C, E and K for which they don’t need vitamin drops but healthy foods, because if they are fed a healthy and balanced diet, they will get all the vitamins they need. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, clover leaves, dandelion and broccoli are a must for your hamster so make sure you always have some on hand.  

What will strengthen my hamsters’ bones? 

For healthy bones it’s important for your hamster to have enough Vitamin D intake, as it helps the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the diet. As hamsters are nocturnal, the most important source of vitamin D for your hamster is not sunshine, but the ingestion of dark leafy greens, so make sure your hamster gets different greens daily. 

What happens if my hamster lacks vitamin E? 

Vitamin E is an antioxidant which helps protect your hamster from toxins in the body and it also boosts the immune system, while a vitamin E deficiency can lead to muscle paralysis, lameness and stiffness and can lead to anemia, which is a lack of red blood cells in the blood.  

We answered the question ‘Is it safe to have a hamster in your bedroom’ as well as several other hamster related questions in this post. Here are some of our most popular pages to find out more about these lovely little pets.