Ways to Play with Hamsters

Playing with your hamster on a daily basis will provide your pet with the necessary exercise that it requires, and it will also allow your pet to get used to your scent and being handled. Hamsters become extremely active at night as they are nocturnal animals, so get your hamster out of its cage for a play session in the evenings when it will be feeling energetic. There are a number of ways you can enjoy playing with your hamster.

  1. Walkies

    • Wash and dry your hands and then rub some of your hamster's bedding over them to introduce a scent that will be comforting to the hamster. Then put your hand into the hamster's cage and place it palm up in front of your hamster. The hamster has poor eyesight and will therefore smell your hand to see what it is. When the hamster climbs onto your hand lift it out of the cage and proceed to take it for a walk. Do this by placing one hand, palm up in front of the other continuously, allowing the hamster to walk from one to the other. If your hamster is feeling energetic it may move very quickly over your hands so do this in a sitting position to ensure that you don't drop it.

    Human Climbing Frame

    • Allow your hamster to climb on you while you sit in a chair or on the floor in a secure space. This allows the hamster to exercise and enjoy climbing and exploring while also getting used to your scent. Make sure that you know where your hamster is at all times when it's climbing on you, and do not make any sudden movements.

    Hamster Ball

    • Provide your hamster with a special hamster ball, which you can purchase online or in your local pet store. It's a transparent plastic ball with a removable door. You can put your hamster in the ball and place it on the floor to allow it to roll around. This enables the hamster to exercise without escaping or getting injured. Never place your hamster in a place where it could roll down a flight of stairs while in the ball as this could injure the animal. Avoid leaving your hamster in the ball for more than 15 minutes at a time as this could lead your pet to become dehydrated, according to Hamster Club.com.

    Play Pen

    • Set up a secure play pen for your hamster to run around in safely. Place toys in the pen for your hamster to play on. These could include special hamster toys, such as tubes, bridges and see-saws, or alternatively you can use cardboard toilet roll tubes and an array of small cardboard boxes that your hamster will enjoy chewing holes and hiding in. When you have your hamster in its play pen, make sure that other pets such as cats, dogs or ferrets are kept out of the room, as they prey on small animals.