Hamsters are one of the most popular pets in the USA because they are mostly friendly, relatively easy to take care of, and super cute! However, they require a lot of equipment and accessories to be well taken care of and happy. Whether you’re already a hamster owner or looking to become one, you may wonder how many of these accessories are absolutely necessary.
Hamsters will not be okay without a wheel as they need to exercise in their cages regularly to be happy and fulfilled. Your hamster may become obese, depressed, and unhappy without a wheel.
The rest of this article will answer all of your questions about hamsters and hamster wheels and will empower you to be a responsible hamster owner. So, if you’re looking to become one of the 2% of people in the USA who own a hamster, or if you’re one of those people already, keep reading!
Does My Hamster Need a Wheel?
Your hamster does need a wheel. Hamsters require exercises to be happy and healthy, and without a wheel, they won’t be able to burn up their energy reserves. An inactive hamster is likely to develop lifestyle-related illnesses.
In the wild, hamsters can run up to 5 miles (8.04 km) a day, and even though your pet isn’t a wild hamster, it still requires this level of exercise to be healthy. Without a wheel in its cage, the hamster is in too much of a confined space to be able to run this much.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, hamster wheels are an essential supply for responsible hamster ownership in the USA. Technically, a hamster can survive without one, but it won’t live a happy life. However, it is not unheard of for a hamster to die of boredom or stress if it goes without a wheel for too long.
If you insist on not providing your hamster a wheel for whatever reason, you must give it enough space and freedom to be able to run for a sufficient amount of time a day.
You can use a hamster ball, but you’ll have to take the hamster out enough for it to get enough water, and you’ll have to keep an eye on it the whole time to ensure it doesn’t escape the ball and run away.
Additionally, hamsters are nocturnal creatures, so your hamster will want to run the most at night. If you don’t give it the ability to do so within its cage, you’re depriving it of its natural instincts, and it will not be a very happy hamster.
Overall, it is more convenient for you as the owner and better for the hamster to provide it with a wheel in its cage so it can run whenever it wants for however long it wants.
Read How Many Miles Does a Hamster Run at Night?
Benefits of Having a Hamster Wheel
There are many benefits of having a hamster wheel. Here are some:
- Your hamster can release its energy. Your hamster is an energetic creature, and when you put it in the confined space of a cage, it can’t release this energy unless it has a wheel to run on. If you don’t have a wheel, your hamster might find less desirable ways to release energy, such as trying to escape or chewing on things it shouldn’t.
- Your hamster gets much-needed exercise. All living creatures need exercise to be healthy. Your hamster is no different. Without a wheel, it is unlikely your hamster will get enough exercise, and it may become obese. Obesity is a serious health issue for hamsters and limits their mobility and happiness.
- A wheel reduces boredom. Cages are small, confined spaces, meaning your hamster needs to have enough toys and accessories so it doesn’t get bored. While toys can help hamsters expend energy, they are not sufficient enough to replace wheels, which are vital accessories for any hamster.
- Your pet can exercise without your supervision. The only alternative to not having a wheel is allowing your hamster to run in a hamster ball, but this requires your constant supervision. With a wheel, your hamster can run whenever it wants without you needing to be there, and it can get water as it needs.
- Running on a wheel satisfies a hamster’s natural love for exploring. Hamsters are