Hamsters are the eighth most common pets in the USA, and it’s easy to see why. Hamsters are great pets: they’re cute, fluffy, usually friendly, and mostly quiet. However, while they are typically quiet creatures, their toys can be noisy-especially their wheels!
Here are 6 tips to make a hamster wheel silent:
- Oil the wheel.
- Upgrade to a higher-quality wheel.
- Soundproof the cage.
- Place a mat under the wheel.
- Play with your hamster regularly.
- Add other toys to the cage.
By reading this article, you’ll learn various techniques to make your hamster wheel quieter. Therefore, your hamster can still run and get important exercise and enjoyment without any annoying noise!
1. Oil the Wheel
This is a simple solution to the problem of a noisy wheel. All you’ll need is a cotton pad and some non-toxic vegetable oil.
I always have these Simply Soft Cotton Rounds from Amazon.com on hand in my house for various purposes. I like these because they are 100% natural and they have a 4-layer design for extra absorbency. Not only that, but they’re more durable than other cotton pads I’ve used.
It’s important to use vegetable oil because it’s non-toxic and won’t harm your hamster if it consumes some of it. I like the AVO Organic 100% Vegetable Oil from Amazon.com because no harmful chemicals are used in the extraction process. Therefore, I know it’s safe to use not only for cooking, but also on my hamster’s wheel.
Additionally, AVO is committed to reducing its environmental impact, and the oil is made completely in the USA.
After you have your cotton and oil, the rest is simple. All you need to do is:
- Remove the wheel from the cage and take it apart.
- Put some oil on the cotton pad.
- Rub the oily pad all over the axle until it’s completely lubricated.
- Reassemble the wheel and return it to the cage.
Additionally, you can use butter instead of vegetable oil if you prefer.
You’ll need to repeat this process every time the wheel gets squeaky again, but it’s minimal effort for some peace and quiet as your hamster runs.
2. Upgrade to a Higher-Quality Wheel
One of the main reasons hamster wheels squeak so badly is that they’re typically made from cheap plastic material. Consider upgrading to a higher-quality and quieter wheel if your wheel is bothering you.
I highly recommend the Niteangel Super-Silent Hamster Exercise Wheel on Amazon.com. This wheel comes in a bunch of fun colors (I love the pink!), and it’s made with a double-bearing design that’s specifically designed to reduce noise.
The wheel is also available in three different sizes, so you can choose the small size for a dwarf hamster and the large size for a big teddy hamster.
Wooden hamster wheels are quieter than their plastic alternatives, and they’re more durable. As a bonus, your hamster will enjoy chewing on the wood (which is not harmful to their health at all).
My favorite wooden hamster wheel is the Small Pets Exercise Wheel available on Amazon.com. The wood is eco-friendly and non-toxic. Additionally, the widened and thickened base provides a stable mount for the wheel, so you won’t worry about your hamster running the wheel off the axle. And the best part- the wheel is completely noiseless!
3. Soundproof the Cage
The openness and airiness of hamster cages are one of the reasons the noise from the wheel is so audible. One way to silence this noise is to insulate your hamster cage.
This may seem like a big undertaking, but soundproofing a hamster cage is a relatively simple process that anyone can do.
The first thing you can do is place a thick blanket underneath the cage. This blanket will absorb the impact noise of the wheel, and it will also collect any bedding or food that the hamster flings from its cage!
Impact sound is the noise that occurs when an object hits another object, such as the hamster wheel hitting the side of the cage, and placing a dense material where the noise originates from is an effec