Classification of sounds
The busy rustling of paws can often be heard from the hamster cage, but not all owners hear the voice of the pet. The Syrian hamster is a calmer and more silent breed; it begins to bawler only in cases of extreme dissatisfaction or illness. But Djungarians more often express their feelings with their voices. It happens that a hamster makes strange sounds, and the owner cannot correctly identify them. Accordingly, it is impossible to establish the reason for this pet’s behavior.
Here are the sounds a hamster makes:
- Squeak. The sound is high-pitched, but the animal’s mouth does not open.
- Hissing or wheezing. Nasal dull sound.
- Cry. He sounds pitiful, his mouth slightly open. At the same time, the animal is inactive.
- Snorting. Sounds like a muffled sneeze.
- Scream. A repeated sound comes out of a wide open mouth. At the same time, Khoma makes sudden aggressive movements or tries to hide.
Having determined the type of sound, you need to understand why the Djungarian hamster makes it. In general, the reasons are the same for all small rodents, it’s just that the jungarians are the most “talkative”.
What sounds does a hamster make?
In a “normal situation,” hamsters, as a rule, are not noisy and loud, behaving quietly and not annoyingly. But this does not mean that they cannot create a whole cacophony of:
- squeak;
- scream;
- snorting;
- crackling;
- crying;
- hissing.
Find out what to do if your hamster is itching; what can you train a hamster to do?
And for each such case, there is usually an explanation, if only you carefully observe the rodent.
Did you know? Thrifty hamsters can load their cheek pouches so tightly that they contain an amount of food equal to 20 percent of the animal's weight.
Why do hamsters squeak?
The most common sound is the squeak of a hamster, which can vary in volume, from a barely audible squeak to a clearly audible whistle. What causes this behavior?
- the animal is happy to see its owner and greets him. If your pet is cheerful and cheerful, but every time you appear it begins to squeak quietly, rejoice: the fluffy one says hello to you!
- the pet wants to talk about his problem. If the hamster squeaks, but he has not done this before, check the contents of the feeder and drinker, in case he has nothing to eat or drink. Also, by squeaking, a homa may hint that the cage needs to be cleaned;
- cares for the female and sings a song to her. There are very gallant hamsters who perform serenades for their chosen one, squeaking before starting mating.
You can hear the sound of a hamster even when the animal is sleeping. Usually the pet squeaks intermittently and wags its paws. It’s not at all difficult to guess why a hamster squeaks in its sleep. The cute animal is simply dreaming of something very exciting.
How to deal with a screaming hamster
The behavior of the pet owner should depend on the cause of the noise, since hamsters squeak not only because of discomfort. Single beeps should not be a reason to contact a veterinarian if there are no other signs of illness. The pet may squeak at night in its sleep and move its paws. This indicates the presence of dreams. Peeling, spots on the skin, constant snorting are reasons for concern and contact a veterinarian. If the animal screams and does not calm down, it must be taken to the clinic as quickly as possible.
First aid
It depends on the symptoms. If the hamster makes strange sounds, but has no visible injuries or signs of pathology, it is enough to provide the pet with peace. The cage should be placed in a dark place away from drafts. You cannot pick up an animal. If an unpleasant odor appears, it is advisable to clean it and replace the water and food.
In most cases, the pet calms down after this. If your pet continues to squeak, snort, or make other sounds, you should contact your veterinarian. This is especially important when it comes to the Syrian hamster: they are less sociable and prefer to remain silent.
Local preparations
When a hamster itches and starts screaming, dermatological pathologies are most often the cause of the unusual behavior. The list of local medications depends on the nature of the disease. For example, for lichen, Miconazole, Clotrimazole, Sanoderm, etc. are prescribed. For demodicosis, the lesions are treated with Ivermectin, Fipronil or Premetrin, covering part of the healthy skin to prevent the spread of infection. Small wounds are treated with saline solution and antiseptics.
Decoding other sounds
Sometimes rodents snort, like many other animals. If a hamster makes a short, repeated snort, it is simply trying to clear dust or small pieces of food from its nose. Usually homea manages to clean the spout quite quickly.
But if you hear hissing or snorting, then this is a reason to sound the alarm. The little creature could get sick from dampness in the cage or draft. What to do if your hamster is constantly sniffling and choking? The answer is obvious: contact your veterinarian immediately.
Sometimes you may hear your hamster crying. Then think about your behavior: maybe you disturbed the animal at the wrong time, or offended it in some way? By the way, if you continue to pester your hamster, peaceful crying may turn into an angry scream. Small hamsters often cry; they are afraid because they are not yet accustomed to their new home and owner. But if no one has offended the animal, and the pet makes plaintive, drawn-out sounds, then something clearly hurts. Be sure to visit your veterinarian soon.
For one reason or another, the homa may become angry. Then you will hear the hamsters scream, and you will regret that you angered a harmless creature. An animal in a state of aggression is capable of not only screaming heart-rendingly, but also rushing at people. But rage and anger are not the only reason for this behavior. A hamster can also scream from very severe pain.
Attention! Do not pull your pet by the ears or pick it by the scruff of the neck. This kind of disrespectful behavior can make your pet angry!
The range of sounds that rodents make
Normally, hamsters make noise relatively rarely. The only exceptions are the sounds of grinding teeth and rustling bedding. If your pet makes noise frequently, this may indicate health problems or poor health.
When decoding sounds, you need to take into account their nature. For example, hamsters sometimes emit a simple squeak during mating games. Crying in most cases indicates illness or stress.
Squeak
It represents a high pitched sound. When playing it, the rodent's mouth does not open. An animal can squeak either when it is dissatisfied or, for example, when it wants to greet its owner.
Snort
It sounds like a muffled sneeze. Hamsters make such sounds when any particle gets into their nasal cavity: bedding, dust, food, etc. Most often, the pet quickly manages to get rid of the irritant. If an animal often snorts or grunts, you need to pay attention to its health. This behavior may indicate the presence of allergies, colds, rhinitis, pneumonia, etc.
Sniffling
This is a dull nasal sound. Normally, a pet should not make it. Most often, wheezing indicates problems with the respiratory system. Rodents are susceptible to colds, complications arise quickly, so it is recommended to consult a veterinarian.
Sniffling occurs when you have trouble breathing.
Cry
An uncharacteristic sound for hamsters. Sometimes rodents remain silent even if they are severely injured. Crying indicates extreme stress. It can be associated with both harmless and dangerous reasons. For example, a hamster sometimes cries for several days after moving. In this case, there is no reason to worry. It is enough to place the cage in a quiet and dark place so that the pet gets used to it.
If the conditions under which the hamster is kept have not changed and he has everything, you need to pay attention to the health of the rodent. Animals often cry when they have colic. The latter are often provoked by fermentation. In this condition, it is necessary to adjust the rodent's menu. Severe fermentation can lead to the death of your pet. However, colic is not the only problem that can cause crying. The animal may suffer from scabies, demodicosis, plague, etc.
Hamsters, unlike people, cry without tears. Discharge indicates pathologies of the organs of vision or breathing, allergies, etc.
If they appear, you need to contact a veterinarian.
Crackling
It is considered one of the sounds that does not cause concern. It is not the hamster itself that makes noise, but the objects around it when it comes into contact with it. For example, this happens when an animal climbs into a house and begins to intensively clean its coat of debris. While washing, the pet touches the walls of the house with its paws.
The cracking sound occurs due to contact with surrounding objects.
Hiss
It may be due to several reasons. First of all, this sound is a normal reaction of a hamster to a threat. The animal emits it after moving or at the sight of another pet, a stranger, etc. If the rodent begins to hiss, the owner needs to analyze the situation and try to reduce the level of stress for the hamster. If there are no apparent reasons for nervousness, it is worth considering the version with respiratory diseases: the pet may hiss due to difficulty breathing.
What to do if Homa makes sounds?
If your Syrian or Djungarian hamster squeaks or makes other sounds, do not ignore it! First, figure out why your hamster is screaming, and then try to eliminate the cause.
- A newly acquired rodent should be left alone for a while so that it can settle into its new home. You will see: in a few days the pet will stop crying and begin to arrange its life.
- Check if everything necessary for a hamster's happiness is present in the cage.
- If the fluffy screams with anger, tries to rush and bite, there is no need to approach the animal, you will irritate him even more! Leave the homa alone for a while, let him come to his senses and restore his peace of mind.
- But plaintive crying or cries of pain should not be ignored. Find a good Aibolit who will save your funny friend from all ailments.
Respect for the animal, proper care and care are the key to a good mood for your pet. When the fluffy is healthy and happy with everything, you will only hear a joyful squeak of welcome from him.
Remember: a hamster's emotions and the reasons that cause them are very similar to human ones. Think about what kind of treatment you yourself would like and do everything to ensure that your baby has a good life. Don’t bother with it at inopportune times, but don’t forget to visit the animal so that it doesn’t get bored.
How to decipher sound signals
Caring owners will not deliberately tease the animal in order to hear the hamster squeak. The added stress shortens a hamster's already short life. But it's helpful to have an idea of what beeps might mean.
Squeak
Djungarians make a faint squeak as a greeting. Little hamsters are happy to meet their owner and try to attract his attention. But the reason may be more mundane: the pet has run out of food and is asking for a refill on the feeder.
Interesting! Males use squeaks to attract the attention of females. The hamster squeaks love melodies to his beloved before mating.
Pets sometimes make strange squeaking noises when they sleep. During an exciting dream, the hamster may move its legs. However, constant squeaking at night indicates pain, so you will need to consult a veterinarian.
Snort
Hamsters sometimes begin to snort or snore loudly. The most common cause is nasal congestion. A short sneeze will help clear your pet's airways of dust and crumbs, but a cold will require special treatment.
Sniffling
Heavy breathing signals a problem in your pet's body. Most likely, the animal was in a draft for a long time and caught a cold. If the snoring is accompanied by shortness of breath, the rodent needs to be treated immediately.
Cry
Screaming and crying - these sounds are made by hamsters very rarely. Small animals cry in an unusual environment when they are brought to a new home. The only means of calm is loneliness. Owners should only approach the cage to change food and water. After a few days the situation stabilizes.
Hamsters willingly communicate with humans, sit on hands and play. But rodents do not tolerate rough treatment. Constant pestering can turn a good-natured pet into a screaming hamster that can sink its teeth into the hand of the offender.
Important! When rodents cry, tears do not flow. If drops are visible on the face, then the pet has caught a respiratory infection.
The hamster screams from overexcitation of the nervous system. Owners with constant attention can aggravate the situation, and a quiet squeak will turn into a hysterical roar. The only thing that will console the animal is complete loneliness in its own house.
Crackling
Periodically, a chirping sound, like the sound of a woodpecker, is heard from the cage. This means that the animal takes care of its fur. These animals carry out hygienic procedures with the help of their hind legs; sometimes they touch the walls of the cage, and the owners hear a crash.
Hiss
The loudest sound is hissing. This is how the rodent tries to scare the enemy and make him flee. The aggressiveness of the animal's intentions is evidenced by its posture: the mouth is wide open, the front teeth are exposed, the body is arched. If the enemy ignores the warning, a fight may break out.
The hamster screams from strong fright. Usually he tries to escape, but if unsuccessful, he turns over with his paws up and makes a piercing sound.
