Why Is My Hamster Chewing on Everything in Her Cage?

Hamsters are very easy to care for, and quite entertaining. As members of the rodent family, hamsters possess the natural instinct to chew on anything they can get their mouths on.

  1. Teething

    • A hamster's teeth grow continuously throughout their life, so it will often chew on things in its cage, and even the cage itself, as a means of keeping them filed down.

    Attention

    • Hamsters also chew on things in their cage out of boredom or because they are trying to alert their owner to something amiss, such as a newborn litter.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Wood chews sold at pet retail stores and hard dog biscuits can provide hamsters with healthy objects to chew on, according to Hamster-Care.com.

    Warning

    • According to Hamsterific.com, excessive chewing on the bars of its cage can cause a hamster to suffer chipped teeth or even brain damage.

    Fun Fact

    • According to A-Z Animals.com, hamster babies are different than other species because they are born with a full set of teeth that they retain for their entire lifespans.