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Amanda Foster — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

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How to Tame Your Pet Hamster: A Guide to Building Trust

Bringing home a new hamster is exciting, but many new owners are surprised to find that these small creatures can be quite skittish. Taming your pet hamster is not about forcing interaction, but rather about building a foundation of trust. Because hamsters are prey animals, they are naturally cautious; the key to a successful bond is allowing them to realize that you are a source of food and safety rather than a threat. With patience and a consistent routine, you can transform a nervous hamster into a friendly companion who enjoys your company.

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Part 1

Making Your Hamster Comfortable

Give your hamster a nice home.

When you get your new hamster, you’ll need to provide it with a comfortable place to live. This means you need to set up a suitable cage for your hamster. You should put down some absorbent bedding to make your hamster feel comfortable. This also allows your hamster to go to the restroom in its cage. You’ll need to spot clean the bedding daily and replace the entire thing once a week or so.

When you get your new hamster, you’ll need to provide it with a comfortable place to live.
This means you need to set up a suitable cage for your hamster.
You should put down some absorbent bedding to make your hamster feel comfortable.
This also allows your hamster to go to the restroom in its cage.
You’ll need to spot clean the bedding daily and replace the entire thing once a week or so.

Feed the hamster regularly.

Hamsters are omnivores, which means they subsist on animal-based food as well as plant-based food. The most common thing to feed hamsters is dried hamster food pellets, but it is a good idea to supplement your hamster’s diet with small pieces of raw fruits and vegetables as a treat a couple times per week.

Hamsters are omnivores, which means they subsist on animal-based food as well as plant-based food.
The most common thing to feed hamsters is dried hamster food pellets, but it is a good idea to supplement your hamster’s diet with small pieces of raw fruits and vegetables as a treat a couple times per week.
Hamsters are omnivores, which means they subsist on animal-based food as well as plant-based food.
The most common thing to feed hamsters is dried hamster food pellets, but it is a good idea to supplement your hamster’s diet with small pieces of raw fruits and vegetables as a treat a couple times per week.
Hamsters are omnivores, which means they subsist on animal-based food as well as plant-based food.

Wait a week before trying to touch it.

You need to give your hamster some time to get used to you and to feel safe and settled in its new home. Don’t try to force any contact with your hamster for the first week or so.

You need to give your hamster some time to get used to you and to feel safe and settled in its new home.
Don’t try to force any contact with your hamster for the first week or so.
You need to give your hamster some time to get used to you and to feel safe and settled in its new home.
Don’t try to force any contact with your hamster for the first week or so.
You need to give your hamster some time to get used to you and to feel safe and settled in its new home.

Part 2

Introducing Yourself

Help your hamster recognize your voice.

When you’re in the same vicinity as your hamster’s cage, try talking to your hamster in a soothing voice. It's natural if the hamster is afraid of you at first. You want your pet to begin to recognize your voice as this will help it learn to not fear you.

When you’re in the same vicinity as your hamster’s cage, try talking to your hamster in a soothing voice.
It's natural if the hamster is afraid of you at first.
You want your pet to begin to recognize your voice as this will help it learn to not fear you.
When you’re in the same vicinity as your hamster’s cage, try talking to your hamster in a soothing voice.
It's natural if the hamster is afraid of you at first.

Give your hamster treats.

Begin to feed your hamster with treats in between the cage bars or through an opening in the top of the cage, depending on what type of enclosure you have for your pet hamster. Associating you with treats will help your hamster get over being afraid of you.

Begin to feed your hamster with treats in between the cage bars or through an opening in the top of the cage, depending on what type of enclosure you have for your pet hamster.
Associating you with treats will help your hamster get over being afraid of you.
Begin to feed your hamster with treats in between the cage bars or through an opening in the top of the cage, depending on what type of enclosure you have for your pet hamster.
Associating you with treats will help your hamster get over being afraid of you.
Begin to feed your hamster with treats in between the cage bars or through an opening in the top of the cage, depending on what type of enclosure you have for your pet hamster.

Wash your hands.

Before you try to pick up your hamster for the first time, you should wash your hands thoroughly. This will remove any scent of food that may be lingering on your hands. You don’t want your hamster to accidentally bite you.

Before you try to pick up your hamster for the first time, you should wash your hands thoroughly.
This will remove any scent of food that may be lingering on your hands.
You don’t want your hamster to accidentally bite you.
Before you try to pick up your hamster for the first time, you should wash your hands thoroughly.
This will remove any scent of food that may be lingering on your hands.

Start carefully inserting your hand into the cage.

When your hamster is awake, slowly put your hand into the cage. Let your hamster sniff your hand. And don’t force it to do anything. If your hamster is acting scared and backing away from you, remove your hand and try again in another week or two.

When your hamster is awake, slowly put your hand into the cage.
Let your hamster sniff your hand.
And don’t force it to do anything.
If your hamster is acting scared and backing away from you, remove your hand and try again in another week or two.
When your hamster is awake, slowly put your hand into the cage.

Pick up your hamster.

Once you have spent some time easing into contact with your hamster, you should try to pick it up. Be sure to hold it firmly in your hand so it doesn’t fall and hurt itself. After a while, your hamster will go into your hand all by itself.

Once you have spent some time easing into contact with your hamster, you should try to pick it up.
Be sure to hold it firmly in your hand so it doesn’t fall and hurt itself.
After a while, your hamster will go into your hand all by itself.
Once you have spent some time easing into contact with your hamster, you should try to pick it up.
Be sure to hold it firmly in your hand so it doesn’t fall and hurt itself.

Part 3

Strengthening the Bond

Try to make him or her feel safe.

Your hamster may be nervous at first, but once you start to pet your hamster and talk to it, it will be calmer than before. Be sure to read your hamster’s body language – if it backs away from you or makes squeaking noises, put it back in the cage. If it seems interested in you and approaches you freely, then feel confident in continuing your course of action.

Your hamster may be nervous at first, but once you start to pet your hamster and talk to it, it will be calmer than before.
Be sure to read your hamster’s body language – if it backs away from you or makes squeaking noises, put it back in the cage.
If it seems interested in you and approaches you freely, then feel confident in continuing your course of action.
Your hamster may be nervous at first, but once you start to pet your hamster and talk to it, it will be calmer than before.
Be sure to read your hamster’s body language – if it backs away from you or makes squeaking noises, put it back in the cage.

Continue interacting with your pet.

Be sure to spend plenty of quality time with your pet. The more time you spend engaging with one another, the more confident your hamster will be interacting with you. This will lead to a tame hamster before you know it. Soon, your hamster will be very tame and friendly.

Be sure to spend plenty of quality time with your pet.
The more time you spend engaging with one another, the more confident your hamster will be interacting with you.
This will lead to a tame hamster before you know it.
Soon, your hamster will be very tame and friendly.
Be sure to spend plenty of quality time with your pet.

Show your hamster love.

Never forget about your hamster. Remember that you have a little furry friend who wants to play with you and interact. Give your hamster lots of love and affection (and don’t forget the treats!). This is the single most important part of taming a hamster.

Never forget about your hamster.
Remember that you have a little furry friend who wants to play with you and interact.
Give your hamster lots of love and affection (and don’t forget the treats!).
This is the single most important part of taming a hamster.
Never forget about your hamster.

Part 4

Addressing Specific Issues

Handle biting hamsters.

If your hamster bites you, this usually means that they are scared or anxious. Biting is a natural response to fear for hamsters. If your hamster is biting you, give it some more time before you try to hold it. Keep talking to it and letting it smell your hand occasionally, but don’t force it into your hand for a couple more weeks. Wait until your hamster doesn’t seem nervous anymore (shown by biting, shaking, squeaking) when you put your hand in the cage.

If your hamster bites you, this usually means that they are scared or anxious.
Biting is a natural response to fear for hamsters.
If your hamster is biting you, give it some more time before you try to hold it.
Keep talking to it and letting it smell your hand occasionally, but don’t force it into your hand for a couple more weeks.
Wait until your hamster doesn’t seem nervous anymore (shown by biting, shaking, squeaking) when you put your hand in the cage.

Watch out for possible health problems.

Since hamsters are such small creatures, you’ll need to monitor them closely for potentially dangerous health problems. While most hamsters are generally healthy, a problem can worsen quickly in a hamster’s tiny body.

Since hamsters are such small creatures, you’ll need to monitor them closely for potentially dangerous health problems.
While most hamsters are generally healthy, a problem can worsen quickly in a hamster’s tiny body.
Since hamsters are such small creatures, you’ll need to monitor them closely for potentially dangerous health problems.
While most hamsters are generally healthy, a problem can worsen quickly in a hamster’s tiny body.
Since hamsters are such small creatures, you’ll need to monitor them closely for potentially dangerous health problems.

Deal with problems among pets.

Hamsters are territorial creatures, which means that they would not want to share their cage with other animals, including other hamsters. Though not ideal, some dwarf hamsters can sometimes be socialised with one another, but Syrian hamsters must be kept as solitary pets. If your dwarf hamsters are fighting among themselves, you may need to separate them permanently into different cages.

Hamsters are territorial creatures, which means that they would not want to share their cage with other animals, including other hamsters.
Though not ideal, some dwarf hamsters can sometimes be socialised with one another, but Syrian hamsters must be kept as solitary pets.
If your dwarf hamsters are fighting among themselves, you may need to separate them permanently into different cages.
Hamsters are territorial creatures, which means that they would not want to share their cage with other animals, including other hamsters.
Though not ideal, some dwarf hamsters can sometimes be socialised with one another, but Syrian hamsters must be kept as solitary pets.

Pro Tips

Be consistent with your timing; hamsters are nocturnal, so try to interact with them in the evening.
Keep a log of their progress to see which treats they prefer and what triggers their fear.

Warnings

Never force a hamster into your hand; this can lead to biting and a total loss of trust.
Avoid using strong-smelling lotions or soaps on your hands before handling, as it can overwhelm their senses.

Community Q&A

Q How long does it take to tame a hamster?

A It varies by individual personality; some tame in a few days, while others may take several weeks. Patience is key.

Q What should I do if my hamster bites me during taming?

A Do not react loudly or pull away sharply. Gently set them back in their cage and give them space before trying again with treats.

References

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