Can Hamsters Survive in The Cold?

Taking of your pet is more than just feeding them and leaving them alone. Hamsters also require the right temperature to survive!

Read on to learn if hamsters can survive in the cold.

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Can Hamsters Survive in The Cold?

The Humane Society of the United States advises keeping the hamster’s dwelling space between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Be very careful to prevent the hamster from ever being too cold or hot. Make absolutely sure, for instance, that its cage is not near a fireplace.

In winter weather, ensure that the temperature never drops below 60 degrees since it might cause fatigue and drowsiness. The hamster may enter hibernation if the temperature falls below 50 degrees. Hamsters may die from extreme cold.

Also read: Which Small Pet is Smarter – Guinea Pigs or Hamsters?

How to Tell If My Hamster Is Too Cold?

It may be chilly if the hamster drags most of its bedding near its hiding place. Even if the hiding place is filled with plenty of bedding material, hamsters will instinctively do this.

However, a hamster who believes its home is excessively chilly will obliviously layer the bedding.

Hamsters react to cold by scraping and shifting all the bedding to a side where their hiding place is. No matter how many pieces of toilet paper, cardboard, or paper towels you might give it.

Another indicator is if your buddy loses their appetite and gets sluggish. You could see them less often since they might attempt to preserve body heat and energy by resting much more.

Your hamster could tremble and shudder in very chilly conditions! Take the hamster to a warmer room right away if this occurs.

How Can You Build the Ideal Home for Your Hamster?

Making a temporary winter home for the hamster is a way of taking charge of it.

Before anything else, you must choose the best cage. To guarantee that the furry pet has the necessary freedom and space of movement and the ability to live happily, it must be adequately large.

Never place the enclosure in a moist environment, next to a heater, or in the direct sun since the sun’s rays may cause unwanted temperature changes. Place it in a warm area of the room that is free from drafts if possible.

Put some heat-retaining material, including hay or wool, inside the hamster’s little home, and if the tiny pet doesn’t sleep in it, put a portion of it into its nest. You’ll see an improvement in its naps and attitude!

Additionally, it’s a common practice to place some untreated wood (like chipboard and pellets) on the bottom of the enclosure because it keeps the hamster cozy and warm and reminds it of its natural environment.

What Happens if a Hamster Gets Too Warm?

Even if you wish to keep the hamster comfortable, exposing it to excessively high temperatures, particularly those higher than 90°F, may be harmful.

Keep the environment warm for your pet, but avoid placing it in direct sunlight or too near to other sources of heat that could unintentionally elevate the air’s warmth.

Is It Safe to Put My Hamster in The Sun?

Hamsters are extremely fragile when it refers to the intensity of sunshine. Keep the pet’s cage far from the uncovered windows if you reside in a warm region like Arizona with sunny days. Hamsters shouldn’t be exposed to bright sun.

Click this link: Hamsters and Fleas: A How-To Guide on Getting Rid of the Pesky Pests

What Are the Dangers of Hamsters Living in Cold Climates?

What is known as hibernation is among the biggest risks. Yes, a hamster can hibernate, but it can only do so in the wild. Weather gives wild hamsters numerous warnings that the winter cold is approaching, giving them plenty of opportunities to prepare to survive.

No time or cautions are given to a hamster placed in a highly chilly room. It will need to take action quickly and enter a state of drowsiness that won’t remain alive for much time and will also cause him to get dehydrated.

In severe circumstances, what seems to be sleep is hypothermic shock, which may be deadly. You should read this post to learn how to prevent such a scenario and rescue the hamster from it.

The hamster having a cold is yet another issue that could arise. Hamsters can acquire colds, just as other animals and people do. They’ll sneeze, get a runny nose, and feel like they have to sleep for a prolonged period of time.

How Can I Tell If My Hamster Has a Cold?

Does your furry friend have the flu? There are a few techniques to determine this. What to look for is:

A runny or wet nose. Even though hamsters don’t have the convenience of tissues, their noses sometimes run.
Sneezing
Possible secretion from the eyes or even sticky eyes
Matted, ruffled hair
Lack of energy and appetite loss
Spending more time asleep
Thirstier than normal
Hot to touch when you hold it up

If one or more of these are present, you can be confident that the hamster is sick. The small pet has to see a vet, who will suggest a course of action.

Based on the severity of the cold and the veterinarian’s recommendation for the hamster, a course of antibiotics might be prescribed.

Can I Spread a Cold to My Hamster?

By interacting with them, you may be able to infect the hamster with your cold. Since colds are very contagious and may spread across species, spending time up close with the hamster when you’re sick can harm them.

Just like humans, hamster s may get cold in their environment. Hamsters may quickly get cold if exposed to it or placed in chilly environments. We advise against bathing hamsters unless absolutely necessary since they are susceptible to colds when given baths.

Also check: How Long Do Robo Hamsters Live?

If My Hamster Is in Torpor, How Can I Help Him?

Hamsters that cannot sense the weather do not hibernate. Torpor is the term for the hibernation-like condition that an animal might enter if its confinement becomes too chilly or they run out of water or food.

The hamster will begin to lower its body temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate when it enters torpor to stay alive. A hibernating creature may still awaken to seek food when in torpor.

The hamster has to be warmed up gradually. A hamster’s blood may warm up too rapidly during rapid warming, which can cause heart failure.

To help, try these steps:

Syringe feed the hamster with electrolyte, which can be given once every one to two minutes for half an hour. To make it, combine a cup of warm water with half a cup of sugar and a teaspoon of salt.
Don’t hide the hamster’s face when you wrap him up in something warm.
Put it near anything warm, like a hot water bottle.
Place the hamster against your chest while you are both covered by a blanket.
Call a vet

Can I Warm My Hamster Up with a Space Heater?

Consider installing a space heater inside the room where the hamster’s habitat is if you typically maintain a house temperature below 65°F, possibly during the daylight hours when no one is home or at nighttime for sleeping.

This may assist keep the surroundings of the hamster within the desired temperature range even while being less expensive than warming the whole home. If you decide to use a space heater, keep it away from the hamster’s enclosure and turn it off when you exit the room.

Additionally, ensure the space heater you choose has undergone safety testing and certification. It would help if you also looked for options like tip-over protection, automatic shut-off, adjustable thermostat, and shut-off timer.

Check out: Can Hamsters Eat Strawberries?

How Can I Handle the Cold in My Hamster?

Do not panic if the hamster companion has a cold; hamsters can typically get over a cold with little care.

The veterinary care you get will be effective. But keep in mind that whether they are cured or not, colds often go gone by themselves in about a week. You can only ease its symptoms.

You may replace the hamster’s bedding once and then leave it alone to create a warm, fresh nest to assist it in overcoming the cold more easily.

Give the hamsters more nesting materials than you might think it needs. He’ll make a huge mess out of it all to hide out for a couple of days and stay warm.

Maintain the hamster’s space in the appropriate temperature range of 68–75 F (20–23 C). Do not exceed that range because a warm environment can cause the hamster to get overheated and have breathing difficulties.

Make sure the space is adequately ventilated while avoiding drafts. In that regard, you could also ensure that its cage is not placed near an exterior wall, a window, or a door.

If you have many hamsters, be careful to keep the ill one apart from his companions. Even moving the sick hamster to another room may be necessary.

If everything goes as planned, the buddy will be healthy and able to resume regular activities in approximately a week.

In Conclusion

Now you know if hamsters can survive in the cold. Make sure to keep them at the right temperature for their health.