Source of smell
Those who breed and keep hamsters know that the problem of unpleasant odor lies solely in improper care.
Causes of odor in the cage
Many who have ever kept a hamster at home have noticed that a specific aroma appears in the cage 8-15 days after cleaning. The interval depends on the number of animals and the size of the cage. The smaller the house and the more rodents, the faster the cage gets dirty.
The smell in the cage is the result of hamster feces that accumulate over several days. The smell becomes strongest when the animal goes to the toilet in the same place at least 3-4 times.
Causes of hamster odor
There are several reasons why your hamster may produce a foul odor. Let's look at them all in more detail.
Leftover food
A common mistake that owners make is the misconception that the hamster will eventually eat the leftover food. However, this is not so - the animal is unlikely to take up stale crumbs - it will prefer to eat something fresh. Every time your pet refuses to eat the leftovers, it is better to remove them immediately so that the smell does not have time to spread throughout the house.
Bad filler
As a filler, it is necessary to avoid those materials that do not retain moisture and odor well. These include dirty rags, torn newspapers or hay. It is better to choose ordinary pressed sawdust, corn or cellulose filler.
Dirty cage
One of the most common mistakes is not cleaning the cage properly. Cleanliness in your pet's house is the key to the absence of an unpleasant odor. Ideally, you should wash and clean the cage every day, not once a week . It will not be superfluous to clean the rodent's toys and remove unnecessary scraps and scraps of paper.
Health problems
Improper care and poor food can cause a number of diseases in your animal. Vegetables containing nitrates should be excluded, otherwise your pet will experience an upset stomach and diarrhea. In addition, the hamster can pick up parasites or develop diabetes. All this causes a bad smell emanating from the rodent, and there is a serious reason to take it to the veterinarian.
Stress
Hamsters are very timid animals; they are easily susceptible to external factors that affect their mental state. An unpleasant surprise for your pet can be a new cage that does not suit him.
He may also be afraid of bright lights, loud noises, increased attention, or the presence of other animals in the house (cats, dogs). In this case, the little furry will let you know about his dissatisfaction - he will begin to mark the cage and start fights to defend his territory.
Something is rotting somewhere
This is clearly a problem of insufficient animal care. The hamster's house (and the cage as a whole) needs to be cleaned regularly, and the more succulent food and animal products the animal receives, the more often. If the hamster cannot eat pieces of vegetables, fruits and berries, a piece of boiled egg or cottage cheese and other delicacies at once, he will naturally put them in his house, where they will begin to rot. Therefore, as a general rule, a cage for one or two hamsters is cleaned once a week, but if you are sure that the hamster ate, as a rodent should, mainly on grains that do not spoil, then cleaning can be done a little less often, say, once every 10 days . If we have a temporary overcrowding (for example, a married couple’s offspring are growing up), naturally, we clean the cage more often than once a week.
As you can see, the simplest hygiene measures (equipment and timely washing of the toilet and regular cleaning of the cage) can turn “this terrible, smelly hamster” into a cute pet.
Which breed smells less?
Hamsters themselves do not emit any odor, but your efforts to combat unpleasant odors are directly related to the size of the pet. If it is a large animal, then it will produce more excrement than a small one. This explains why the level of dirt in the cage of Syrian hamsters is higher, and they need to be cleaned more often.
It is also important to consider the length of hair in rodents. The longer it is, the more odors accumulate in it from contact with dirty filler. Even despite their cleanliness, hamsters cannot clean their long fur thoroughly enough, and this responsibility falls on the owners. This explains why Syrian hamsters' cages have to be cleaned more often.
The least problematic is keeping small rodents with short hair. These include Djungarian hamsters; such breeds are less difficult to care for.
Do hamsters stink?
There is no dependence on the breed. In terms of cage care, Syrian hamsters, Djungarian and other breeds are equivalent. Their home needs to be cleaned with equal frequency - at least twice a week.
Important! The Syrian breed is larger than the Dzungarian breed, which is why such a hamster produces more waste. However, when it comes to odor, it is not the quantity that is important, but the “age” of the accumulated feces. They begin to stink after a few days, and it is the same for all breeds.
Similarly, the hamster’s smell is not affected by its gender and age. Males and females are equally clean. Caring for them is the same, and the animals themselves carefully monitor the cleanliness of their coats.
If the cage is clean, then there is nothing to stink.
How to get rid of hamster smell
As mentioned earlier, the filler should be chosen one that eliminates moisture and odor. The best fillers are wood (compressed sawdust), cellulose or corn. Each species has its own characteristics, including the time during which they actually hide a specific odor:
- Sawdust is changed every 2-4 days.
- Wood filler every 5-8 days.
- Corn every 7-10 days.
If the filler is selected correctly and you do not overexpose it in the hamster’s cage, then there will be no unpleasant odor in the house.
When the smell comes from the animal itself due to various circumstances, try to eliminate the source of its nervousness:
- If these are foreign animals, then move the rodent's house to a place where it will not see large animals or smell them.
- If the pet is afraid of the owner or his new home, then you will have to give him time to get used to it. In this case, it is better to offer the animal his favorite treats and soft paper napkins so that he can use them to build a nest. So, over time, the fluffy will get used to the new place and owner.
- In case of illness, it is necessary to take the animal to the veterinarian; after following all the doctor’s instructions, the smell along with the illness will go away.
Besides the hamster, do you have other types of pets at home?
The animal is unwell
A hamster is too small to smell when sick so that it is noticeable to the human sense of smell, and even more so - it hits the nose even when approaching the cage. In addition, the signs of the disease are quite noticeable (here, smell alone is rarely enough), and hamsters get sick at lightning speed due to their high metabolic rate. That is, a hamster cannot get sick - and at the same time have clear eyes, not inflamed or scratched skin and, most importantly, live a long time. For a hamster, we dismiss this reason as fantastic.
Prevention of unpleasant odors
To maintain cleanliness, follow these tips:
- Wash your rodent's cage and toys daily.
- Pre -select the right bedding .
- The filler should be removed at the appointed time.
IMPORTANT: The accumulation of dirt in the cage will not only cause an unpleasant odor, but also make your pet sick.
- Choose a cage according to the size of the rodent.
- Place the cage in an area where there is fresh air flow but no drafts..
Potty training a hamster
The lack of a permanent place for a toilet is another reason for the spread of unpleasant odors. To train your hamster to go to one place:
- Keep track of which corner your pet goes to most often.
- Place a box of filling there.
- You can also add a few dirty granules there along with clean ones. This will help the animal get used to its toilet faster.
After two months of such actions, your pet will begin to go to a strictly designated place.
Hamster cage contents
Since the cage is your hamster’s permanent home, approach this issue with care:
- Don't buy a small cage. For small individuals, its size should be at least 30x30x50 cm. Large breeds are comfortably located on an area of 40x40x60 cm.
- An important role is played by the choice of filler. It is not recommended to use compressed wood pellets or cat absorbent. The best bedding is corn or cellulose litter, as well as sawdust.
Do Djungarian and other breeds of rodents really stink?
Despite all the owners' complaints, hamsters do not tend to stink, since by nature these animals are extremely clean and regularly carry out hygienic procedures. Djungarians, like other species of rodents, carefully look after their sanitary area, trying to create maximum cleanliness. They devote a lot of time to washing procedures, which is similar to cats - they are the same lovers of washing their faces and other parts of the body. Nevertheless, unpleasant odors can bother rodent owners, but they are most often caused by external reasons or the usual ill health of the pet.
The smell comes from natural secretions (urine, feces, etc.)
This is the main reason that “hamsters smell.” In fact, the reason is not at all in hamsters (they are quite clean animals) - the reason is the lack of proper care. To prevent the smell, the owner will need:
- provide the hamster with sufficient living space;
- set up a “toilet” area away from the house and warehouse.
The main (and, in fact, the only one worthy of close attention) source of odor from a hamster is its urine. Therefore, the hamster must have a toilet that is easy to clean.
A “toilet room” for a hamster can be bought or made from scrap materials. Industrially produced toilets can be corner or free-standing, corner ones can be attached to the cage lattice or stand stably without attachment to anything (these are suitable for aquariums and for plastic cages with a plexiglass top).
For example:
- corner toilet, which is attached to the bars of the cage:
- corner toilet, which stands without fastenings:
- free-standing toilet:
As a toilet for the first time, if the animal suddenly appeared in your house, you can use a glass jar, placed on its side and supported with something on the sides so that it does not roll around the cage.
Why does everyone think that a hamster stinks? Yes, because for many these memories come from childhood, when the unfortunate animal lived in a three-liter jar. Naturally, in such conditions there was no question of equipping a toilet - which means that the urine was constantly in the jar, which contributed to the appearance of a strong odor.
There is no need to toilet train your hamster, as is done with kittens - just place the toilet in the corner that the hamster has already designated for toileting. You can pour a teaspoon of plain water into the bottom of the toilet - this will be a hint for the hamster, which he will not fail to use.
Cleaning the toilet with water without adding detergents is enough. When keeping one hamster, this is done once a day, pairs - twice a day, with a larger number of animals you will either have to wash it more often or install additional toilets so that there is enough space for everyone. Once a week, the toilet is washed with detergents, which (this is important!) must be rinsed thoroughly.
As for hamster poop, the animal is not able to pass it out in a specially designated place for this purpose, so the excrement will be mainly in the house and, little by little, on the floor of the cage. Fortunately, they have virtually no odor and are definitely not capable of creating a thick aroma that would scare people away from the cage.
Potty training a hamster
Breeders of these animals know that hamsters do not smell. They not only constantly clean themselves, but also choose a certain place in the cage, which they use as a “toilet”.
Watch your pet and pay attention to where in the hamster cage he relieves himself. You can make a small tray with your own hands, which will make cleaning faster and save on filler.
To do this, you can use a cut plastic bottle. In order not to frighten your pet and help him get used to the new “furniture” faster, you can initially put a little litter with traces of his feces in the tray. In a couple of months, the animal will finally get used to it and remember where it should go to the toilet.
Syrian hamster: description, history
The hamster is an animal that almost all people feel sympathy for. Such a pet is often adopted to please children. Caring for a hamster is not difficult, but it has more than enough positive aspects.
The Syrian hamster differs from its counterparts in color. Traditionally, its fur is golden in color, but other colors are also found. The belly is usually light, and the back is darker. Initially, the hamster's skin was short, although now long-haired individuals are also found.
Wondering how long hamsters live? The Syrian breed is considered to be long-lived. Usually hamsters delight their owner with their presence for about 2.5 years, although some individuals can live for 4 years.
Photo: pixabay.com: UGC
The hamster's body is not large - about 13 cm in length. The pet weighs approximately 100 g. The animal's muzzle is short, with round ears and small eyes. The tail is practically invisible.
As a rule, hamsters live in shallow burrows. Rodents are nocturnal and traditionally carry food in their cheek pouches.
The Syrian animal is considered more friendly than, for example, the Djungarian hamster. He easily gets used to hands, is not afraid of people and is not at all aggressive. If you are afraid of the smell, get a female. The male often marks his territory, so amber is possible.
Photo: pixabay.com: UGC
The first mention of Syrian hamsters was found in the writings of the Russell brothers in 1797. After some time, the breed was declared extinct.
However, this opinion was erroneous, since in 1930 the scientist Israel Ahoroni discovered representatives of the breed in a deep burrow. The zoologist transported the foundlings to the University of Judea and crossed them with each other.
Until some time it was believed that these were the only representatives of the Syrian breed. However, a little later, a population of hamsters was discovered in Iran, Turkey and other Asian countries.
Unkept housing
If you smell an unpleasant odor from your hamster, you should check the condition of the cage. A dirty and unkempt cage can produce these odors. A pet is not guilty of its owner's negligence.
Some thrifty livestock breeders use low-quality filler instead of specialized bedding - dried hay, torn rags or newspaper, which is absolutely not allowed. And it’s not surprising that the hamster stinks. This cage filler does not absorb moisture or unpleasant odors. It needs to be removed urgently and replaced with good bedding. Then the hamsters will stop smelling.
Today, there is no better flooring than wood and corn filler. This is an environmentally friendly material that absorbs moisture and unpleasant odors well. Just don’t forget to change it periodically, then there will be no smell from the hamster.
If you are looking for a more economical option, you can use cat litter. The main thing is that it is free of impurities and flavorings.
Do hamsters smell and if so, why?
Anyone who has kept these rodents knows that an unpleasant odor from healthy hamsters does not appear immediately, but a week after cleaning. The time period can increase or decrease depending on the number of individuals in the cage. This indicates that it is time to clean and wash the cage, because healthy animals themselves do not have a smell - it is their excrement that accumulates.
To understand the reason for the unpleasant aroma of a hamster, you need to sniff the animal and the cage separately.
Why does the hamster itself stink:
- The smell came from dirty wool.
- The rodent is stressed.
- The pet is sick.
If nothing has changed after cleaning the cage, the reason is in the animal itself. Stress in pets occurs due to various reasons - loud noises, moving the house to a new place, or close attention from cats or other animals. Some breeds of rodents can emit a scent due to the fight for territory with other males (this is what “Syrians” do).
To return the fluffy to normal, you need to seat the partners in other cages or let him get comfortable in a new place. He will calm down and the inconvenience will disappear by itself.
A common cause of odor is gastrointestinal diseases from the wrong food that it is fed. This entails poisoning or indigestion. However, it happens that a Djungarian hamster or any other one stinks, despite the fact that it is fed exclusively with special food. In this case, the animal should be immediately taken to the veterinarian, because it may develop pneumonia, diabetes, or contract parasites.
Food
Perishable foods are the main reason why hamsters smell bad. And it doesn’t matter whether they are Dzungarians or Syrians. Old food always gives off an unpleasant odor, and the animal should not be blamed for this. Try to give your furry only fresh food. Do not forget that this rodent of the Khomyakov family will hide it for the future, and in secluded places. Give fresh perishable foods in small portions so that they do not remain. This way you can get rid of the unpleasant odor.
Moreover, this is important for the health of the rodent itself. The rodent will transfer the remaining food to storage, where it will safely rot and decompose. Imagine - this is a real breeding ground for harmful bacteria and unpleasant odors. If a rodent eats such food, it may become poisoned, which will result in an unpleasant odor coming from the cage.
