How to Recognize if Your Hamster is Pregnant

You may have observed that your hamster has been acting differently lately. One possible reason behind this change in behavior is that your hamster could be pregnant. By knowing which signs to watch for and how to handle your hamster, you can determine whether it’s pregnant, while also ensuring the safety of the upcoming litter.

Check the gender of your hamster. Of course, only female hamsters can get pregnant. Most people are aware of their hamster's gender, but if you're unsure, you can refer to How to Identify the Gender of a Hamster for more details on distinguishing whether your hamster is female.

• Gently grasp the skin at the back of your hamster’s neck (without pinching) and carefully flip it over to check its gender. Male hamsters will have noticeable testicles around their tail, causing their bottom to appear more pronounced, while female hamsters won’t have this feature, but will instead have more noticeable nipples on their belly.
• If you’ve always assumed your hamster was female based on its name, it might be a good idea to check again.
• Keep in mind that if you think your hamster might be pregnant because its belly appears swollen, it’s likely already at a stage where you should minimize handling, as picking up a hamster in the late stages of pregnancy can cause stress.

Consider whether your female hamster has been near a male hamster. The average pregnancy duration for a hamster is between 15 to 21 days. Therefore, your hamster must have mated with a male in the past three weeks for her to be pregnant. If she has not encountered a male hamster in over four weeks, it is unlikely she is pregnant.

Check the age of your hamster. Hamsters can begin reproducing once they reach 6-7 weeks of age. The only way to rule out pregnancy due to immaturity is if the hamster is under 6 weeks old.

• This also means you need to be careful when separating hamster litters around the 6-week mark, as they will start mating at this age. Male hamsters should also be separated from their mothers.

Rule out other health conditions. A swollen belly on its own is not enough to confirm that a hamster is pregnant. In fact, a bloated belly could indicate a medical condition or another issue. Conditions that might make a hamster look pregnant include:

• Pyometra, a uterine infection that causes the uterus to swell with pus.
• Enlargement of internal organs like the liver or spleen, which could indicate cancer.
• Heart disease, which could lead to fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
• Intestinal problems that cause bloating due to poor digestion.
• You may also notice other symptoms of illness, such as increased thirst (water bottles depleting faster than usual), loss of appetite (you may notice you are feeding less often), and body fat loss (often around the ribs).

Observe your hamster's swollen belly. This might be the first sign that your hamster is pregnant, but if not, watch to see if her belly begins to gradually expand. If she is eating and moving normally and has had the chance to mate, this could indicate pregnancy.

• Note that hamsters typically do not show signs of pregnancy until the third trimester (around 10 days into pregnancy). Therefore, if you notice a growing belly, she may be less than a week away from giving birth.
• Besides the swollen belly, your hamster's nipples will also enlarge. However, with smaller hamster breeds, these enlarged nipples can be difficult to spot, so don’t worry if you can’t find them under the fur. Hamsters may also become agitated when handled in the late stages of pregnancy, so avoid picking her up to check for nipples.

Watch for nesting behavior. Female hamsters often build nests in the final stages of pregnancy, so if you see her collecting materials and bringing them to a quiet corner of the cage, this could be a sign that she is about to give birth.

Watch for food hoarding behavior. Pregnant hamsters may start eating less than usual and might hide more food, possibly storing it in their nest. While this behavior alone cannot definitively confirm pregnancy, it serves as an additional sign to be aware of.

Look out for signs that the hamster is about to give birth. In the final stages of pregnancy, hamsters may become more frantic. Signs that the hamster is nearing labor include restlessness, frequently switching between eating, grooming, and nesting, and possibly squeaking if you get too close.

Take the hamster to a veterinarian. If you are unable to observe all the signs mentioned above, a veterinarian can help you determine if your hamster is pregnant. However, vets often caution that even experienced animal caregivers may cause stress by handling a hamster, which could lead the mother to abandon or eat her babies.

• If your hamster’s belly remains swollen for 7-10 days without giving birth (and no other behavioral signs of pregnancy), take her to a veterinary clinic as this may indicate a medical issue rather than pregnancy.

Do not touch the pregnant hamster’s belly to feel the babies. Pregnant hamsters are extremely sensitive to disturbances, and if they experience stress, they may harm their babies after birth. Touching the hamster’s belly will undoubtedly cause stress, which could endanger the health of the newborn hamsters.

Ensure the mother hamster eats a nutritious diet throughout pregnancy. You should pay extra attention to the diet of the pregnant hamster to ensure the health of her babies. Stick to her usual food routine, as sudden changes may upset her stomach. The ideal diet for a hamster includes pellet food designed for rodents, as hamsters don't have the ability to select healthy food (though it's not as tasty).

• A small amount of milk or cheese will provide calcium for the unborn baby hamsters and help the mother produce more milk after giving birth.
• You can offer a moderate amount of boiled eggs, nuts, barley, and oats as a protein supplement.
• Fruits and vegetables like broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, apples, grapes, bananas, and strawberries can provide beneficial vitamins and minerals. However, you should give them in very small amounts to avoid digestive issues.

Allow the mother hamster to have some quiet time starting around day 13 after mating. Pregnant hamsters typically prefer being left alone for at least 2 days before giving birth. This means you shouldn't interfere with her cage or nest after day 13 of mating. Be cautious when providing food as well, as the mother hamster might eat her babies after giving birth if disturbed.

• You might not know exactly when mating took place, so assume that day 10 after mating is the point when signs of pregnancy first appear.

Separate other hamsters into different cages. In addition to stress, having other hamsters in the same cage can cause the mother to eat her babies. To ensure the safety of the baby hamsters, move other hamsters into separate cages as soon as you confirm the mother is pregnant.

• If hamsters that previously got along begin fighting instead of living peacefully, it could be a sign that one of them is pregnant, especially if accompanied by other behavioral signs.

Do not handle baby hamsters during the first two weeks. In the first two weeks after birth, the mother hamster recognizes her babies by their scent. If you handle the babies, even accidentally, the mother may attack them. After about two weeks, it’s safe to handle the baby hamsters.

• This includes inadvertently transferring your scent into the cage. Avoid cleaning the cage during this period.

Adjust the position of the water bottle. Remember that the water bottle is usually positioned at the right height for adult hamsters, so make sure to adjust its placement so the baby hamsters can drink as well.

Begin introducing food to the baby hamsters after 7-10 days. Although baby hamsters aren't fully weaned until after the third week, you can start placing food in their cage around 7-10 days. They can eat pellet food, but you should soak it in water to soften it before offering it to them.

Take baby hamsters to the vet immediately if you notice the mother abandons them. Especially with first-time mothers, the hamster may abandon or even eat its babies due to stress factors in the environment. In this case, you should separate the mother from her babies and take the babies to a veterinarian right away. The vet might recommend an animal rescue center or a veterinary hospital capable of caring for abandoned baby hamsters.

• Do not grip the hamster's neck tightly, as this could cause the hamster's eyes to bulge out.