Hamsters Aren't Jerks. Here's How To Stop Them From Biting

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When you pick up your hamster, you want them to feel safe. The best way to lift them out of their cage is to place your hands on either side of their little potato body then bring your hands together under that fuzzy, round belly. Very much not like the way a hawk would pick up a rodent.

Hamster being held
A little girl cuddles her hamster in her hands. If that hamster makes a break for it, it doesn't have far to fall. Sol de Zuasnabar Brebbia/Moment/Getty Images

When you have a happy enough hamster in your hands, let it sit in one palm while the other kinds of cups them behind that fuzzy butt. Make a little den out of your hands. Hamsters like dens.

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It also helps to wash your hands before holding your hamster. If your hands smell like food, they may give a little trial nibble just in case that thing that smells like a carrot is actually a carrot and not a human finger. "I call that 'tasting,'" Kipnis said. You'll be able to tell the difference between a happy hamster tasting your finger and a scared hamster biting you.

A hamster's tiny, sharp teeth feel more like being pinched than being bitten. Do your best not to yell. Just lower it into its cage, and it'll let go. Their bite is not very damaging, and they're very unlikely to carry rabies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Washing your hands and sticking on a bandage typically are all you need post-bite.

Now That's Recycling

While your hamster is in training to not bite, you still need to clean its cage. If you have an empty 2-liter bottle around, you can make it into a small-animal scoop! Wash the bottle with soap and water, then cut off the bottom. The edges can be sharp, so be careful when scooping your hamster out of the cage. Then just put the hamster somewhere safe for a few minutes while you clean its house.

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