The correct methods and techniques for petting a hamster include the following steps and precautions:
1. Preparation Before Petting
- Wash Your Hands: Before petting a hamster, make sure to wash your hands with unscented soap to remove odors and bacteria, which will make the hamster feel more at ease.
- Choose the Right Environment: Select a place next to the hamster's familiar nest. The environment should be quiet and safe, making the hamster feel full of security.
- Adaptation Period: If the hamster has just arrived home, first let it get used to the environment, familiarize itself with your voice and smell, and then approach it slowly.
2. Correct Petting Techniques
- Head Massage: Start from the hamster's head and gently stroke along the direction of the hair growth, just like giving it a head massage.
- Slide Down the Back: Slowly slide down along the back, and when you reach the buttocks, apply a little force and gently lift it up.
- Cheek Petting: The hamster's cheeks are a source of pleasure. Gently petting them will make the hamsters feel very comfortable.
- Chin Petting: Gently scratch the hamster's chin, and they will feel very relaxed and delighted.
- Belly Petting: The hamster's belly is a sensitive area. If it trusts you very much, you can carefully touch its belly.
3. Forbidden Actions
- Do Not Pinch the Back of the Neck: Pinching the back of the hamster's neck will hurt it.
- Avoid Rough Movements: Do not roughly lift the hamster out of the cage, as this will startle it.
- Avoid Sudden Movements: Do not reach out suddenly. Let the hamster have some mental preparation to avoid scaring it.
- Gentle Force: The force used for petting should be gentle. Stroke along the direction of the hair growth and do not hurt it.
4. Cultivating an Intimate Relationship
- Give Time: Give the hamster enough time and space to get used to the new environment and its owner.
- Gentle Communication: Talk to it gently every day so that it can get familiar with your voice and feel your care.
- Companionship Time: Spend more time beside the cage with it so that it knows you care about it.