The Proper Way to Hold a Hamster
Below are the steps and precautions for safely picking up a hamster, incorporating advice from multiple authoritative sources:
1. Help Your Hamster Get Used to Your Presence
- Initial Interactions: Avoid picking up your hamster immediately. First, let it become familiar with your scent and voice. You can crouch beside the cage and speak softly, or build trust by feeding it.
- Hand Testing: Gently place your hand inside the cage and stay still to let the hamster explore it on its own. If it nips you, slowly withdraw your hand to avoid scaring it.
- Treat Lure: Use small pieces of fresh vegetables or fruit to attract the hamster closer, gradually getting it used to taking food from your hand.
2. Preparations Before Holding
- Wash Your Hands: Use unscented soap to avoid leaving the smell of other hamsters or food on your hands.
- Signal Your Movements: Let the hamster see your hand approaching. Avoid reaching out suddenly from behind or above, as this can trigger its instinct to perceive a predator.
3. The Correct Way to Pick Up
- Let It Climb Onto Your Hand: Open the cage, place your palm upward and flat, and wait for the hamster to climb onto your palm on its own.
- Support with Both Hands: Use your other hand to gently cup the hamster from below to prevent it from falling or struggling.
- Alternative Tools: For highly wary hamsters, you can first use a plastic spoon or a cut - open soda bottle to transfer them, and then move them to your hands.
4. Precautions While Holding
- Keep Steady: Move slowly to avoid startling the hamster with quick movements.
- Soothing Methods: If the hamster is nervous and fidgety, gently stroke its back to calm it down.
- Sensitive Areas: Avoid touching its ears, tail, or abdomen, as these areas can easily cause panic.
5. Correction of Wrong Behaviors
- Nibbling Fingers: Gently push its nose as a reminder. Repeated training can reduce biting behavior.
- Forbidden Rough Grabbing: Especially when the hamster is sleeping, hungry, or pregnant, forcibly grabbing it will increase the risk of being bitten.
Key Takeaway
The core of holding a hamster lies in patience and respect for its habits. By building trust through gradual contact and avoiding triggering its defense mechanisms, you can achieve safe interaction.