Why Do Hamsters Run So Much?

In the wild, hamsters keep busy running from predators, foraging for food and digging burrows. As pets in our homes, they need our help to stay healthy and active. Life in a cage bores these curious, active little creatures, who need activities and exercise. To figure out why a hamster needs to run so much, you simply need to look at a hamster's daily activities in the wild.

  1. Avoiding Predators

    • Having fast feet can mean the difference between life or death for a hamster in the wild. According to the Young People's Trust for the Environment, stoats, mink, foxes, birds of prey, snakes, domestic cats and dogs, and even humans have been known to kill hamsters.

    Foraging for Food

    • In the wild, nocturnal hamsters travel several miles every night to forage for food. Their omnivorous diet consists of seeds, grains, fruit, vegetables and insects. In captivity, when all their food is handed to them in a dish, hamsters need to find other ways to exercise.

    Digging and Maintaining Burrows

    • In the wild, hamsters dig and maintain elaborate burrows with separate "rooms" for sleeping and storing food. Each burrow has many entrances. Pet hamsters use the energy they would have used digging burrows to run in their wheels.

    Finding Mates

    • Syrian hamsters in the wild live solitary lives until mating season. Then, they often travel great distances to find a mate. With pet hamsters, the urge to roam may heighten during breeding season.

    In Captivity

    • Pet hamsters can exercise in a size-appropriate, solid wheel with no spokes in the hamster's cage. Most pet stores sell rodent balls which allow hamsters to run around the house safely. Animal Corner says 15 minutes is enough time for your little friend to stay in a ball (less on a warm day), and you should supervise the hamster in the ball. A clean, large storage bin or a safely enclosed area can convert into a playground, maze or obstacle course by adding empty cracker boxes, paper towel tubes, plastic balls and chew toys. Letting your hamster run around in a hamster-safe room while supervised is the safest, most effective way to provide him with stimulation.