Having your hamster flinch at your touch or run away when you try to pick it up can be quite worrisome. But figuring out why your pet is doing this is the key to getting them to trust you and feel safe around you.
Your hamster could be scared of you if you just adopted it or it isn’t tame yet. It may have heard a loud sound that upset it or been scared of other animals in the home. Finally, hamsters may be scared if they’re being fed a poor diet or are startled awake, sick, or just easily, naturally scared.
I’ll explain each of these reasons in detail throughout this article and then give you tips on how to get your hamster to trust you. Keep reading to learn more.
Reasons Your Hamster Might Be Scared of You
We’ve already discussed the most common reasons that your hamster might be scared of you. Now, however, let’s take a closer look at each one.
You Just Adopted It, So It’s Still Getting Used to a New Home
A recently adopted hamster will take some time to adjust to its new surroundings.
Think about how you’d react if you were placed in a home you didn’t recognize with people you haven’t ever met before. It would be terrifying.
That’s exactly what your hamster is going through in the first few weeks of being adopted.
It’s surrounded by unfamiliar sounds and smells. Your home won’t have the same scent markers as its old home.
If your hamster is a young pup, this might be the first time it has been away from its family. That kind of separation can take a while to get used to.
While you may love and adore your pet, it will take time for it to know that. Until it knows and feels safe around you, you’ll need to give it space or end up creating even further distance between you and your hamster.
Give the hamster time to acclimate itself to you and its new surroundings.
It is perfectly normal for pets to be scared of their new owners for a while. So don’t worry. Just give your hamster time and space.
Your Hamster Hasn’t Been Tamed
If your hamster hasn’t been tamed and you try to touch it, it will try to bite you.
This is a defensive strategy that the hamster uses to protect itself. It doesn’t want to hurt you but just wants to keep itself safe. It isn’t aggressive or violent; it’s just scared of you.
It will take some time for the pet to get used to you and your