Why does a hamster chew on a cage and how to wean him?

If you decide to get a hamster, then, it is possible that soon you will be faced with the fact that he begins to chew on the cage. It is worth considering in more detail why a hamster is gnawing on a cage, how to wean him from this, and also what recommendations from specialists should be followed.

Hamsters in the wild feel great because they don't have time to get bored. They search for food, dig holes, and hunt. Their life is quite interesting and dynamic.

Nature conceived that a hamster's teeth grow throughout its life, so at home, the pet can begin to gnaw the rods of the cage. It is worth taking a closer look at the reasons why a hamster gnaws a cage.

• Grinding teeth. Since the animal's teeth are constantly growing, it grinds them down in this way. This usually happens at night. Since he does not have branches of fruit trees or mineral stones nearby, he begins to gnaw on everything that is nearby, including the rods of a metal cage, creating a lot of noise for those around him.
• Boredom... As the rodent becomes shielded from the usual actions carried out in the wild, he begins to get bored - for this reason, he chews on the cage.
• Hunger... Lack of food is also one of the reasons that the animal began to gnaw on the cage. You should not forget about your pet, monitor its diet.
• Sleeps a little during the day... Since hamsters are nocturnal inhabitants, they sleep during the day. If you interfere with a rodent during the day, you can expect it to behave inappropriately at night.
• Small cage. If the hamster is cramped, then he can show his protest by gnawing on the rods.Thus, he wants to leave an uncomfortable home.

If the hamster, while chewing on the cage, does not harm its health, you should not focus too much on this. Obviously, he just likes the process itself - not only the busyness, but also the noise it makes. Usually baby rodents suffer from this weakness. After 6 months, they should lose interest in their cage. It is worth knowing that the consequences can be quite serious. The animal can not only break its teeth on metal rods, but even rub its nose quite hard, sometimes even to blood.

If your pet began to gnaw its cage at night, then you should be prepared for the fact that it is almost unrealistic to wean him from this action. Nevertheless, it is worth trying, because experts offer various methods.

• It is worth focusing on replacing the object that the hamster gnaws. It is imperative to add grass and vegetables to the animal's food, as well as tough foods, with their help it will be able to grind them down. The constant growth of teeth can not only harm the animal, for example, injure the mouth, but also lead to its death. If the situation is already very running, it is worth seeking help from a specialist who will shorten them. But this method is already urgent, it is worth moving on to it if other options have not yielded results.
• Pay attention to the rodent's food. It should include all the vitamins and minerals you need. It is worth adding a mineral stone to it, as well as tree twigs. With little financial investment, your hamster will get a lot of benefits and will forget about chewing on the cage.
• If the animal feels a lot of energy, while it cannot be directed in the right direction, then he may become interested in his cell. The solution to this problem is to increase the load. It is enough to present the rodent with a new apartment, more spacious. You can complement the cage with various accessories. A running wheel or ball is a great choice.

For example, you can treat your hamster with a favorite treat and put on a running wheel. This will save you from noise, the hamster will be able to keep himself in shape, thereby strengthening the immune system.

It is worth considering in more detail the most common methods.

• Favorite delicacy. A wide variety of rodent treats are on sale today. You can treat your pet not only to chips, but also to dried fruits. It is better to give preference to something solid so that the animal can grind its teeth. The treat should be served once a day before bedtime. Thus, you can enjoy sleep, and the animal will be busy with its own affairs.
• Mineral stone - This is a very useful device, since it includes both vitamins and useful elements. In appearance, it is no different from an ordinary stone. Such a stone can be purchased at a pet store, while it will last for a long period. To make it easier for the hamster to gnaw it, the stone should be fixed on the wall of the cage or on a twig.
• Branches of various trees. You can prepare them yourself, while you should pay attention that they should not contain harmful resins, since they are toxic to animals. You should prepare small twigs, carefully cut off all protruding and prickly parts to protect the hamster from possible injury. The branches should be fixed in the cage. You need to keep track of them in order to replace them with new ones in time, then your pet will always have an interesting activity.
• Some experts advise using some unpleasant substance, to discourage the animal from gnawing the rods of the cage. But it is strictly forbidden to use chemical solutions that can lead to the death of the animal. Lemon juice or red pepper is the best choice.If the baby realizes that the cage is tasteless, then soon the desire will disappear by itself.
• You can cope with the situation with a special spray, but it does not work for all hamsters. Usually sensitive persons feel its effect. Its performance is individual.
• It is worth paying attention to when and in what place he gnaws the rods. For example, if he takes action when he sees you with food, then he is simply hungry. If he gnaws at a place near the doors, then the animal wants to take a walk. It is worth fulfilling his desire - so he will cease to bother you.

Experts recommend following a few simple tips to wean hamster gnaw the cage.

• Usually, hamsters begin to gnaw metal rods out of boredom. Therefore, it is worth adding entertainment, such as toys, to his house, devote time to games, and also choose a more spacious cage for your pet.
• If you did not notice the hamster while it chews on the cage, then you should pay attention to the rods - if they were previously painted, and now there is no paint in some places, then the animal is gnawing them. If initially they were not painted, then it is worth taking a closer look or there are scratches or deformations on them.
• Try not to wake up your pet during the day, because in this way it becomes more aggressive, which can manifest itself in bites.
• During sleep, the animal's cage can be covered with a towel, which will create a comfortable environment for rest.
• It is strictly forbidden to mock the animal - it does not need to be thrown, squeezed, shaken, because all these actions can not only be accompanied by various injuries, but also dizziness, which will negatively affect the work of the brain.
• If the hamster runs freely, then you should carefully look after him, and also hide all sharp objects, because the animal can be injured.
• It is strictly forbidden for children to take the hamster in their hands, as they can greatly harm him. It is better if the animal is held by an adult, and the child just strokes it.

For information on how to wean a hamster from chewing on a cage, see below.