If you have a hamster and have noticed it pulls its poop out, you’re likely confused! It is funny yet odd to witness, and there is a reason for it. So, why do hamsters pull their poop out?
Hamsters pull their poop out so that they can eat it, throw it, or store it somewhere. They primarily pull their poop out to eat it when they want to get the nutrients they may have missed out on before. They do this by placing the poop directly into their mouths after pulling it out.
The rest of this article will discuss why hamsters pull their poop out in greater detail. It will also discuss whether it’s safe or not, whether they enjoy it, and if it’s possible to stop them from doing it.
Is It Normal for Hamsters To Pull Their Poop Out?
It is normal for hamsters to pull their poop out. Hamsters digest their food relatively quickly, meaning they don’t always get all the nutrients they need. By pulling their poop out, they can place it directly back into their mouths and eat it to get all the nutrients they need.
Although this is normal for hamsters, many people don’t realize it! This is because people don’t watch their hamsters 24/7, so they may not even know it’s happening.
The official term for eating feces is coprophagy, and there are many animals other than hamsters that practice this technique, including man’s best friend, the dog.
Hamsters can often tell whether their poop is worth eating or not by the texture and smell. If they sense that there are plenty of needed nutrients leftover, they will be happy to eat the poop.
However, they likely won’t eat it if it’s low in nutrients. If this is the case, you may notice them flinging it around rather than eating it.
Although they mostly pull out their poop to eat it, they may pull it out and not eat it. If they do this, they may have realized after pulling it out that they don’t want to eat it due to the lack of nutrients. Alternatively, they may wish to store it for later.
These are all typical actions and shouldn’t be a cause for concern.