Buzz
For hamsters, a temperature range of 18 – 24°C is the most comfortable. When the temperature rises beyond that, you'll need to find ways to keep your hamster cool. Since hamsters don't sweat like humans, they rely on you to ensure they stay happy and comfortable in hot weather.
Steps
Prevent Overheating
Be cautious not to let your hamster overheat. Hamsters are very sensitive to heat and can easily become overheated. Watch out for signs of heatstroke in your hamster, including:
- Heavy panting
- Bright red tongue
- Excessive drooling
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Unresponsiveness
- Seizures
Move your hamster's cage to a cooler spot inside the house. Walk around your home to find the coolest area and try moving the hamster's cage there.
- Place the cage in a lower area of the house. Warm air rises, so the coolest spot may be in the basement.
- The bathroom or kitchen can also be cooler places in the house. Tile floors tend to stay cool and comfortable for hamsters.
Use a fan. Avoid directing the fan straight at your hamster, as it could cause stress or make them too cold. Instead, ensure the room where the hamster's cage is located is well-ventilated and has a fan. This will help air circulate and cool down the room.
Avoid direct sunlight. On hot days, make sure to keep the hamster's cage out of direct sunlight coming through windows. Direct sunlight can easily cause heatstroke in hamsters and other small pets.
- Avoid other heat sources like heaters, stoves, and radiators as well.
Ensure proper ventilation in your hamster's cage. Make sure your hamster's cage is well-ventilated. Experts often prefer using wire cages instead of aquariums.
- If you keep your hamster in an aquarium, it's especially important to place it in a well-ventilated room!
Provide cool water. A simple way to keep your hamster cool is by offering them cool water. Hamsters can quickly become dehydrated, so it's essential they always have access to fresh water to drink.
Limit your hamster's playtime. Since hamsters cannot sweat, they are at a higher risk of dehydration compared to other animals. It's important to limit their play during hot weather to prevent overheating.
- If you wish to handle your hamster, it's better to do so in the early morning or evening when the weather is cooler.
Never leave your hamster in a hot car. Never leave a hamster, or any pet, in a hot car! The temperature inside a car can rise quickly to levels that are dangerous and potentially deadly. If you’re taking your hamster to the vet or on an outing, ensure they are not left in a place with dangerous temperatures.
Make use of the freezer
Provide frozen treats for your hamster. Frozen snacks can help cool your hamster during the hot days. Be cautious to choose safe foods for your hamster. Consider freezing items such as:
- Parsley
- Cashews
- Flaxseeds
- Millet
- Oats
- Peanuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Cooked potatoes
Place a frozen water bottle in your hamster's cage. Fill a bottle (or an empty soda can) halfway with water and place it in the freezer. Once the water is frozen, wrap the bottle in a cloth or fabric and place it in your hamster's cage.
- Make sure to wrap the frozen bottle in fabric to avoid harming your hamster's skin.
- It's a good idea to freeze the bottle horizontally so your hamster has a larger area to lie against when placed in the cage.
- You can also use frozen ice packs.
Freeze your hamster's sand bath. Hamsters enjoy sand baths. You can provide your hamster with a cool bath by freezing the sand. Pour a cup of sand into a ziplock bag, place it in the freezer for a few hours, then pour the sand out and place it into your hamster's cage.
Freeze your hamster's ceramic house. If your hamster has a ceramic house in its cage, you can place the house in the freezer to create a cool retreat for them. The ceramic material retains coolness and will provide your hamster with a chilly hideout.
- You can also freeze ceramic tiles or marble stones and place them in the cage.
Place a frozen towel over and around your hamster's cage. Dampen a towel with water and freeze it for a few hours. Then, drape the towel around the outside of the hamster's cage and tuck it under the bottom. The towel will form a cool barrier that your hamster can lie against.
- Just be sure not to block airflow into the cage.
Warning
- Hamsters can be just as harmed by being too cold as they are by being too hot! You must observe your hamster's behavior to ensure they are safe and comfortable.
Items You Will Need
- Freezer
- Fan
- Bath towel
- Snacks
- Ceramic house or plate
- Water
- Water bottle
