The 4 Finest Locations to Pet a Hamster (Information With Infographic)

Hamsters have been widespread pocket pets for many years, which isn’t that shocking when you concentrate on it. They’re straightforward to take care of and are cute as well!

However they’re additionally small, and determining one of the best methods to pet a hamster could be difficult. It’s vital to study your hamster’s physique language so you’ll be able to decide when they’re blissful and sad. You additionally want to make sure that you’re dealing with them correctly.

So, listed here are one of the best locations and methods to pet a hamster, together with directions on the way to decide in case your pet is having fun with it and even within the temper for it.

Earlier than You Start

Earlier than petting and stroking your hamster, remember the fact that they’re tiny, fragile animals and have to be dealt with gently. All of your actions should be sluggish and easy.

Getting Your Hamster Used to Being Held and Petted

If in case you have a brand new hamster, as soon as they’re positioned of their cage, it is best to go away them alone for the primary few days, apart from feeding them and altering their water. They want time and house to regulate to their new atmosphere. You possibly can sit close to your hamster with out touching them, which can enable them to begin to really feel protected round you. You’re constructing belief.

After a number of days, sit in entrance of the cage, and in case your hamster comes nearer and rubs in opposition to the bars, strive slowly placing your (washed) hand into the cage.

If they’re curious, you’ll be able to gently choose them up if they appear comfy with it. However it’s finest to permit them to crawl into your open hand once they’re prepared.

Nevertheless, if yours is a shy hamster, begin by placing a small quantity of meals in your hand and handfeeding them. It’d take some time earlier than they’re comfy sufficient to be picked up, however you by no means wish to rush the method.

When you’ve picked them up, simply maintain and flippantly pet them for as much as 20 seconds or so, after which put them down. You possibly can steadily enhance the time.

The 4 Beneficial Locations to Pet a Hamster

1. Alongside the Again

That is the commonest space that hamster homeowners use for pets. Given how small hammies are, the again is likely one of the bigger areas for stroking and the simplest to get to.

Watch out about your method earlier than stroking or choosing up your hamster. Method them from a low-down place relatively than looming over them and zooming in.

When petting the again, simply use light and lengthy strokes utilizing one or two fingers. Some folks will even use a knuckle. Both method, your hamster ought to get pleasure from it, so long as you aren’t urgent down too exhausting.

2. The Head

Giving your hamster gentle strokes on the highest of the pinnacle between their ears is an effective place to pet them. You may give them little scritches or simply use light stroking.

Nevertheless, keep away from touching the face and particularly the whiskers—a hamster’s whiskers are delicate. They use them to navigate small tight areas, and touching their whiskers could be uncomfortable for them.

3. Across the Ears

Whilst you’re on the pinnacle, you may also fastidiously give them tiny scratches across the ears. It is a delicate space, so many hamsters will get pleasure from this very a lot.

4. On the Stomach

It is best to solely give your hamster a stomach rub while you’ve constructed up some belief. Nearly all animals are protecting of their stomach as a result of it’s their most susceptible space. It comprises their important organs, so most animals will solely expose their bellies once they know that they gained’t get harm.

So long as you proceed to deal with your hammie gently, they’ll begin to belief you, and also you may get to offer their stomach a couple of gentle rubs. Nevertheless, bear in mind that it is best to by no means flip a hamster onto their again; this may solely frighten them, and so they may chew you as a protection mechanism.

The Finest Approach to Pet a Hamster

There’s a proper approach to pet your hamster, and we’ll take you thru every step:

Studying Their Physique Language

It’s vital to study the physique language of a hamster, notably when they’re blissful or sad. The second which you can inform that your hammie is just not blissful, it’s time to offer them time to themselves.

Indicators of a Pleased Hamster

Indicators of an Sad Hamster

Conclusion

If you wish to get pleasure from a cuddling/petting session together with your hammie, solely do it whereas sitting down. The very last thing that you really want is in your hamster to by accident fall from a peak and get injured.

Bear in mind to solely deal with them once they appear comfy with it. By no means drive interactions in your pet. Identical to any of us, each hamster is exclusive, and whereas some will probably be outgoing, others will probably be shy, and also you may by no means be capable of pet them.

However so long as you go at a gradual tempo—sluggish sufficient in your hamster—you may get a pleasant and delicate petting session in.

Featured Picture Credit score: Victor FlowerFly, Shutterstock